Living on Others' Faults.
By R. F. Cottrell
THIS is poor living indeed. Yet many reject good and wholesome articles of diet; and, like those beasts and birds which choose to live on carrion, delight to regale themselves with, and wallow in, putrefaction. Instead of calling to mind the most amiable traits in the characters of their friends and neighbors, they search for their faults and failings, as if greedy of something that they may use as an excuse by which to justify their own sins. It would be much better to take the counsel of an apostle in scanning the character of others: "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." All have faults, more or less; but if we would habituate ourselves to think on others' virtues, it would be much more agreeable to all. Some seek to excuse themselves from living a religious life because professors do not live up to their profession. That there is ample occasion for them justly to find fault cannot be denied, and a fearful responsibility rests upon all professors of Christianity who give unbelievers cause to blaspheme. But, my friend, this is no excuse for you. You belong to this same fallen family for whom Christ died; and if the light of revelation and the gospel, or good news of salvation, has come to you, as well as to others, you have an equal interest in it, and an equal responsibility to live agreeably to its teachings, thus setting the right example for others to imitate, as any one else has. It will not clear yourself to say, "Oh, I do not profess;" for you are under as great obligation to profess the truth, and engage in the work of saving others, as any of your friends and neighbors. They have an equal right to complain of you for not setting them the right example; if you are living a life no better than they. Do you plead ignorance? In your complaints against others you assume to know how a Christian ought to live. Then show the world, in your own life, how a Christian should live. Otherwise, if you are really ignorant of what a Christian life should be, it illy becomes you to assume the place of a judge. But we admit it to be a fact that the mass of professors of Christianity of the present day are mere worldlings, setting an example which it is not safe to follow. They are in the broad road to perdition. If you follow with them, you will share with them the like unhappy fate. But you have a soul to save or to lose; and though you undertake to excuse yourself on account of their failings, it will not save you. You may be saved, if you will; but a diet selected from their faults is not healthful, and will not give you life. Then avoid this filthy and life-destroying stuff, not worthy of the name of food, choose that which is good and live; and be assured that you will not regret your choice.
R. F. COTTRELL.