THE GOLDEN RULE by A. S. Hutchins

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 20, 1859

THE GOLDEN RULE.

By A. S. Hutchins

"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke vi, 31. The principle here laid down by the Saviour, is, by way of convenience, sometimes called the "golden rule." And well it may be. Says Jesus, "This is the law and the prophets." Here is the substance of our duty to our neighbor.

"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord." Lev. xix, 18. "And let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart."

But, brethren, how many of us walk by this rule? If each of us were accurately measured by it, would not the measurement show a great deficiency? Let us examine ourselves closely on this point.

"As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

This rule is to be lived out in all our deal with all men at all times and under all circumstances, with the saint and the sinner, friend and neighbor. "And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God."

Let us here notice a few texts of scripture teaching our duty to our brother. "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." Matt. xviii, 15-17.

Mark well these steps. 1. Go to thy brother and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. Not proclaim it upon the house-top. You may gain him; but if not, 2. Take with thee one or two more, patiently continuing to labor for his recovery, for his salvation. But, 3. If he neglect to hear them, tell it to the church. The trial is now church property, and should not be before. 4. If he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.

A want of brotherly love, a substituting the iron for the golden rule, may lead us to count an erring brother as a heathen man and a publican, before taking the first step. Not perhaps till we have talked about him sufficient to have reclaimed him, had we followed the above directions, given by our heavenly Master.

The golden rule embraces a spirit of forgiveness. "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses." Matt. vi, 14, 15.

"Take heed to yourselves; if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith." Luke xvii, 3-5.

Peter on one occasion asked the question, if he should forgive his brother "till seven times." "Jesus said unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven." Matt. xviii, 22.

In connection with this answer the Saviour spake a parable showing the contrast between the immense sum which our heavenly Father forgives us, and the small amount we are required to forgive each other. Verses 23-35.

The spirit of the gospel leads us to labor also for the salvation of such as may err from the truth, or be overtaken in a fault, though his trespass be not personal. "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James v, 19, 20.

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Gal. vi, 1. Important injunction: "Considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

"Give me to feel my brother's woe, And lightly him condemn, If from the channel he should go, As we the current stem, I'll kindly whisper that he must The shoals and breakers flee; And when I need it, I would trust He'll do the same by me."

O for more of that love which enables us to feel our brother's woe. For more charity which suffereth long, and is kind; seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.

"Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." Rom. xii, 9, 10. "Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Phil. ii, 3.

"Let brotherly love continue. Finally, be ye all of

one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous." 1 Pet. iii, 8. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Ps. cxxxiii, 1. For this sweet union the Saviour prayed. "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." John xvii, 21.

A. S. HUTCHINS.