MRS. MAKEPEACE'S OPINION.
By Diotrephes
MRS. MAKEPEACE was well known in the town of — as a thorough Christian, not because of her lengthy prayers and eloquent exhortations, or a Pharisaical countenance, but because of her consistent life as a follower of the blessed Master. Her life was one of sacrifice and self-denial, ever seeking to alleviate the sufferings of others, and performing little acts of mercy toward the poor and forsaken souls for whom Christ died. It was to this woman Brother Pharisee presented himself with a basket of wares to distribute gratuitously among his neighbors. He had such a woe-begone look on his usually cheerful-looking face that Sister Makepeace inquired of him, "Are you sick?" "Any of the family sick?" "Lost some money in some of the suspended banks?" "Oh, no! It is worse than that." "Why, Brother Pharisee, tell me what ails you; perhaps I can be of some assistance." "Sister Makepeace, I don't want to say anything about it, and I wouldn't to anyone in the world but you. The fact is that I am so disgusted with Brother Sharp that it just about makes me sick. Why, he is a reproach to the cause which we so much love. Everyone is talking about him, and I don't believe he has a friend in the church or out of it. His business career is just a sham, and everyone who has had any dealings with him regards him as a sharper, one who will always figure for the best end of a trade, that he might lavish his ill-gotten gains upon his own dear self. Why, he has not a spark of Christianity about him, and everything he does just brings the precious truth into disrepute. Surely our church can't prosper so long as Achan is in the camp. I do feel so sorry for him. Oh, if he could only be converted and see the loveliness of justification by faith in Jesus, what a help he would be to us! But as he is he is only a bone of contention, always ready for a quarrel or a fight. Even his own family can't live with him. He is a perfect tyrant at home, and I have no words suitable to express my pity for poor Sister Sharp and the abused children. It's no wonder his children are so rude and ill behaved; it's just a wonder they do not demoralize the entire Sabbath school." "I thought I would like to talk this matter over with you and see if something couldn't be done to bring about a better state of feeling in the church, and give a higher tone to our work. I called on Sister C. and Brother B., and have talked with two or three others, and they think just about as I do, since I told them how hypocritical Brother Sharp is living. Of course what I have said to you is strictly confidential. I would not say a word against Brother Sharp to injure him, for my motive is just the purest in the world. But I have tarried longer now than I thought to. I must be going. I want to call on Brother J. on my way home and have a little talk with him, and try some way to bring about a better feeling and raise the church up to a higher plane." All this time poor Mrs. Makepeace sat without uttering a single syllable. And when the basket was empty, and Brother Pharisee arose to go, she quietly asked him if he could not remain a few minutes longer, as she wished to ask him a few questions concerning this unruly member. Her request was quite readily granted; and, fixing her keen black eyes upon her guest, she began by saying:— "I have known Brother Sharp for many years, ever since I was a child. I have spent considerable time in his family, and these things which you have told me are so unlike anything I ever noticed in him that I am utterly confounded. I had not the slightest idea he was such a deceptive person." "Yes, Sister Makepeace, he is a bad man, and needs to be severely dealt with." "How long have you known Brother Sharp?" inquired Sister Makepeace. "Ever have any dealings with him?" "Did he act square and honorable with you?" "Gave you all he agreed to for your labor?" "Did you ever hear of his defrauding his help in any way?" "Has he a good reputation among business men?" "Do you know of his quarreling with his neighbors or anyone else?" "Yes, he has quarreled with me." "Anyone else to your knowledge?" "Have you ever visited in his family?" "Was he kind and courteous to his wife and children?" "Yes, while I was there." "Does he provide well for his family, furnish them with proper food, fuel, and raiment, give them a comfortable house to live in, etc.?" "Yes, I suppose so; but then they say that"— "No matter what they say; 'they say' is a liar. Does he not do all he possibly can to make home cheerful and give his children an education?" "Does he let them run wild, and select just such society as they choose, or read such literature as the mind of the young generally craves?" "Is not Brother Sharp noted for his liberality?" "You said his work was a sham and intended to deceive. How do you know?" "Why, it's not as I would do it." "Then he must work to your standard, must he, in order to be just? Now, can't you see, my good Brother Pharisee, that, according to your own acknowledgment, Brother Sharp is not quite so black as the devil has pictured him. But, admitting he is just as sinful as you have thought him to be, how much better are you than he? Can you not see that a person who wants everybody to see as he does, act as he does, and talk as he does, is simply a fit subject for the Dark Ages? Who gave you the authority to judge your brother? What saith the Scripture?— 'Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.' Rom. 2:1. Don't you know, my brother, that when you go about from house to house circulating reports about your brother, either true or imaginary, you not only cripple his influence, but also belittle yourself and dishonor God by placing yourself in the place of God?" "James says: 'Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law; but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.' James 4:11." "Why do you judge your brother? Who gave you power to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart, that you can pronounce sentence on one man to condemnation, and another to justification? That is not of the Lord, and the individual who engages in such traffic 'is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings.' 1 Tim. 6:4. 'And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.' 1 Tim. 5:13." "Can you not see, my brother, that Satan is at the bottom of this mischief-making, soul-destroying business? And, instead of condemning a weak brother, we should pray for him? Paul says, 'We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.' Rom. 15:1-3." "Let us be careful lest we wound the feelings of one of God's children. 'It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.' Matt. 18:6. When you afflict one of God's children, you afflict Jesus Christ. They are as precious in his sight as the apple of his eye." "It is my opinion, and that opinion is based on the authority of God's word, that when we have anything evil to communicate, derogatory to another, we should first turn to Matt. 7:12, and read the command of the Master: 'Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.' Would you like to be lied about? Would you like to have your faults and failings peddled out before the brethren, and122heralded to the world? Would you?—No. Then don't do so unto others. 'Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.' 'Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself in anywise to do evil. For evil doers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.'" 'Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips,' for these things are an abomination unto the Lord. 'A heart that devisseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.' 'Now, my good brother, let me say in conclusion, be careful how you throw stones, lest they rebound and you become wounded. But seek the mind which was also in Christ Jesus. Phil. 2:5. Possessing the mind of Christ we shall do just as Christ did. Then nothing will be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind we will esteem others better than ourselves. We shall be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame; and, instead of talking about our brethren, we shall be studying the character of Christ, and in so doing behold the perfect model of character building, and thus grow up into Christ, our living head. 'The apostle says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." '"