A Conversation Between a Brother and a Messenger.
By John Byington
MESSENGER. Brother, how do you get along? BROTHER. Not very well. I am in trial. M. Have you been the cause of your own trials, or have your brethren injured you? B. I have not been very faithful, but I think the church have not done right. They have injured me. M. Have you taken your own wrongs out of the way? B. Well, I want to do it, but I do not know — M. Dear brother, I fear here is the difficulty. Let us be sure to get our own wrongs out of the way. Do you have good meetings? B. I have not been to meeting for several weeks. For this reason I do not feel free when I go. M. You may feel some bondage under the circumstances, but I think you feel much greater bondage to stay at home. By staying away, you not only grieve your brethren, but you wound your Saviour afresh, and put him to an open shame. Now, dear brother, go to the house of God and do your duty. If you have done wrong, make it the first duty to remove it, or confess it; and if the church have erred in your case, your faithfulness in the house of God will be the best means to lead them to correct their errors.