In this day of apostasy, when men will not endure sound doctrine, but turn their ears from the truth unto fables; when there is so much to tempt the bold to be rash and censorious, and the timid and mild to daub the walls of Zion with untempered mortar, how instructive are the words of the Apostle, "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." Some seem to think that the truth is of little consequence; that they must fellowship almost everybody, even at the expense of the truth. They try to cultivate a good spirit, and pass along smoothly with apostates and hypocrites, without persecution and reproach for Christ's sake. Tell us, are such in the strait and narrow way to life, where there are but "few" travelers, or are they with the "many" in the broad road to death? The real Christian will be meek, humble, tender-hearted and courteous; but it will not be merely an outside work. It will be the very nature of Christ dwelling in the heart, naturally and simply, without affectation, shown out in all the duties of a Christian. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness," &c. With the real child of God this excellent fruit does not have to be tied on; for it grows there naturally. But the heart must first be purged from sin, and the mind freed from error and darkness, and occupied with the sanctifying truth of God, then the fruit of the Spirit will grow there bountifully. Error darkens and fetters the mind; but the truth brings freedom to the soul, and gives light and life. "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth." This was the prayer of Jesus for his chosen ones, and he adds, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." See John xvii, 17-20. Jesus, therefore, prayed to his Father that believers at the present time, as well as in past time, should be sanctified, not through the traditions and commandments of men, but THE TRUTH. Men talk in vain of sanctification outside of the truth. True charity [love] "rejoiceth in the truth." 1 Cor. xiii, 6. The Psalmist describing the great day of the Lord, and the protection of the saints in that day, says, "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his TRUTH shall be thy SHIELD and BUCKLER." "Thy law is the TRUTH." Ps. cxix, 142; xci, 4. St. John, the beloved disciple that dwells so much on the subject of love, says, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth." 3 John 4. "I rejoice greatly, that I found of thy children walking in truth." 2 John 4. Those who think to walk in love, and outside of the truth, greatly err, "not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." But others err on the other hand. While they see that salvation must come through the truth, as revealed in the Bible, they zealously advocate it, and do not always meet bitter opposition with all that meekness and patience that becometh saints. Such, in their zeal for the Lord and his truth, sometimes injure the good cause, and give unsanctified souls who are frequently heard to plead "charity," when the naked truths of God's word are set before them, a chance to cry "charity" with still greater effect, and prejudice the Lord's honest ones against the truth. Brethren, while we see the errors into which some have fallen on either hand, let us be instructed by the word of the Apostle, "But speaking the TRUTH in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."