The Path to the Bush 4
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"This is a hard saying, who can bear it?" will be the reply of many. Various are the excuses which are alleged by different people for the difficulty they find in complying with this part of Christian duty, and for the uncourteous manner in which they have resisted it. "I could have borne it," says one, "but it was an inferior who inflicted it; and who likes to be humbled by one below him?" Is not reproof a kindness, and do we reject other favors at the hand of inferiors?
"It was a person whose own failings rendered him unworthy and unfit to assume a superiority over me." Whatever may be his conduct in other things, admit his excellence in this one; and leaving his imperfections to himself, accept his attempts to do you good. "He has no good will towards me." You may have mistaken his intentions, and formed an erroneous opinion of his disposition. At any rate, in that act he has manifested a benevolence which you should not be backward to feel and to acknowledge. "He did not manage the reproof wisely."
Perhaps not; but will it not be a still greater lack of wisdom in you, to refuse on this account the benefit of his vigilance? "He was too sharp and severe." Probably you are not the best judge of that—and if he were, do not lose the advantage of the medicine, because it was made unnecessarily nauseous, or was not administered with a tender hand. "His motives were not good." As you cannot search the heart, you may have mistaken his intentions, and imputed that to him which he would disclaim.
Besides, you should never refuse good, even when it comes with an evil design, but should convert a malicious purpose into a beneficial result. It is both our wisdom and our duty to be so convinced of our imperfection, and at the same time to be so concerned for improvement, as to feel indebted to any and to everyone who will give himself the trouble of attempting to do us good.
If in the management of our health, or of our business, we were committing some great error, and a neighbor came to us unsolicited, to point out the error, and to warn us of its consequences; instead of being offended, and repelling him as an impertinent intruder, we would justly feel, and frankly express, our sense of deep obligation for his friendly warning. And are our souls of less value than our health or our property, that we should refuse the aid of Christian vigilance in promoting their welfare? Shall we allow the pride of our nature to operate to the prejudice and danger of our salvation? Shall we thank the man who would warn us of the danger of taking, or neglecting, an article of food; or giving, or withholding, our confidence in the transactions of business; and resent the still more friendly and important offices of him who interposes between us and the perils of our souls?
Why is it that, in the fellowship and fellowship of Christians, united as they are by the tie of the holiest bond in existence, the reproof of brotherly vigilance is so rarely given—but simply because in general it is so ill received? We are afraid to attempt it, even when prompted by the strongest affection, and conscious of the greatest delicacy and experience, lest we should excite animosity where we wish to produce improvement. What a reflection is it on the Christian church, and what a proof of the low state of its piety, that it should be so lacking in humility, as to deprive itself of the full benefit of mutual vigilance, and rather go on in evil, than be willing to have it removed by the voice of brotherly reproof.
Must we then go to converted Hottentots, Negroes, and South Sea Islanders—to witness the performance, and see the beauty of this Christian duty? And is it only in the countries where they live, that the grass growing in the path to the bush shall be noticed, and the fear which it excites shall be expressed in the language of affectionate inquiry and faithful warning? Shall there be more brotherly love, and more of its blessed fruits, among those who so lately were savages of the woods, and children of the desert; whose hearts have been the homes of such malignant passions, that their hands have been stained with each other's blood—than among us? Is theirs the soil where love, that heavenly exotic on earth, shall flourish in greatest vigor, beauty, and fragrance? Shall the Hottentot woman watch over her backsliding sister in Christ, with a more faithful and tender affection, than the polished matron of Europe or America? Shame upon us!
May the virtues of these tribes be invigorated in ourselves by observing the manner in which they are cultivated among them. By such facts as that which has given occasion for these reflections, may the effect referred to in the preface be realized, and a reflex power upon our own hearts be produced by our zeal for the salvation of the heathen.
And among the fruits and the rewards of our liberality to them, may it be one that through the knowledge of their simple piety, a stimulus has been given to our own. May many of the readers of this tract be roused from a neglect of private prayer and brotherly kindness, by this interesting anecdote of "the path to the bush;" and be led to the great and only Saviour. "My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous One. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2)
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