Suppressing Abnormal Traits of Character
IT is an evil teaching, however plausible it may seem, that these overweening, irregular tendencies are not to be suppressed. It is true that Bro. A is not to repress, or beat out of existence, Bro. B’s failings. It is true that his efforts to do so would result in stimulating and increasing them. But it is also true that Bro. B ought by the help of the Spirit of God to repress his own abnormal traits of character. And this kind of repressing and crushing out does not increase the trait, but destroys its abnormality, and makes the individual of a sound mind. To adorn such traits is to make sin attractive, or, in the words of Holy Writ, is to “glory in shame.” “But God forbid,” says the apostle, “that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Gal. 6:14, margin.