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Test of Friendship

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 20, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 44, No. 17.

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Test of Friendship.

By Jos. Clarke

MANY will not accept of your friendship, unless you will indorse their principles, and approve their acts. This is the very pith of the friendship of the world, and the carnal heart; and it is just where the converted heart separates from the world and from its influence.
The heart where grace reigns, accepts and offers friendship and love, only on these principles: to love the sinner, yet hate the sin; to love the man and his principles if they are right; but to hate the principles if they are wrong, yet to love the man. To do this, yet to give no offense, is the wisdom of the saint; and to do this, yet to avoid the imputation of deception, is the triumph of Christian charity.
Only the evidence of Christian love can convince the world of the excellence of this principle and of its justice. Goodness may love the sinner; but it cannot give it complacency and fellowship.
JOS. CLARKE.