It is important to use great care and sweetness in reproving others.
Reprove only when alone with the person, and take not your own time,
but the moment of God. As we are not free from faults ourselves, we
must not expect too much from others. Be yourself very humble and
child-like, and this character will act sympathetically on others.
Jesus Christ was full of sweetness and charity. How patiently did he
bear with his imperfect disciples, even with Judas, without anger,
without bitterness, and even without coldness.
How lowly was Jesus! He "did not break the bruised reed." He imparts
to his little ones no tyrannic power. They use no violence in dealing
with souls, but say with John, "Behold the _Lamb of God_, who taketh
away the sins of the world." Our Lord, "rejoiced in spirit," in an
unusual manner, such as we find nowhere else in Scripture, when he
said, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou
hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto
_babes_." How happy are we in the presence of a little child; how much
at ease! It imposes on us no burden of restraint, of fear, of
management! It is in this childlike disposition of meekness, of
sweetness, of innocency, that we should seek to benefit others.
In the love of Jesus, yours.