Jesus Himself never purchased peace by compromise. His heart overflowed with love for the whole human race, but He was never indulgent to their sins. He was too much their friend to remain silent while they were pursuing a course that would ruin their souls,--the souls He had purchased with His own blood. He labored that man should be true to himself, true to his higher and eternal interest. The servants of Christ are called to the same work, and they should beware lest, in seeking to prevent discord, they surrender the truth. They are to "follow after the things which make for peace" (Rom. 14:19); but real peace can never be secured by compromising principle. And no man can be true to principle without exciting opposition. A Christianity that is spiritual will be opposed by the children of disobedience. But Jesus bade His disciples, "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." Those who are true to God need not fear the power of men nor the enmity of Satan. In Christ their eternal life is secure. Their only fear should be lest they surrender the truth, and thus betray the trust with which God has honored them.

Jesus selv tilkøbte sig aldrig fred ved et kompromis. Hans hjerte strømmede over af kærlighed til hele menneskeslægten, men han viste aldrig overbærenhed over for deres synder. Han var i alt for høj grad deres ven til at forholde sig tavs, medens de fulgte en vej, der ville virke ødelæggende på deres sjæle, de sjæle, han havde købt med sit eget blod. Han arbejdede for, at mennesket skulle være sand over for sig selv og sand over for sine højere og evige interesser. Kristi tjenere er kaldede til den samme opgave, og de bør passe på, at de ikke slår af på sandheden, når de søger at undgå uenighed. De bør "stræbe efter det, der fører til fred," (Rom 14,19), men virkelig fred kan aldrig opnås ved at gå på akkord. Og intet menneske kan være sine principper tro uden at vække modstand. En kristendom, som er åndelig, vil være i modstrid med ulydighedens børn. Men Jesus sagde til sine disciple: "Frygt ikke for dem, som dræber legemet, men ikke kan dræbe sjælen." De, som er tro mod Gud, behøver ikke at frygte for menneskers magt eller for Satans fjendskab. Det evige liv er sikret dem ved Kristus. Deres eneste frygt burde bestå i, om de skulle komme til at give afkald på sandheden og således svigte den ærefulde tillid, som Gud har vist dem.