To hate and reprove sin, and at the same time to show pity and tenderness for the sinner, is a difficult attainment. The more earnest our own efforts to attain to holiness of heart and life, the more acute will be our perception of sin and the more decided our disapproval of any deviation from the right. We must guard against undue severity toward 504 the wrongdoer, but we must also be careful not to lose sight of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. There is need of showing Christlike patience and love for the erring one, but there is also danger of showing so great toleration for his error that he will look upon himself as undeserving of reproof, and will reject it as uncalled for and unjust.

Det er en vanskelig sag at dadle og hade synden og samtidig vise medlidenhed og nænsomhed mod synderen. Jo alvorligere vore bestræbelser er for at nå helliggørelse af sjæl og sind, jo skarpere bliver vor opfattelse af synden og jo mere afgjort vor misbilligelse af enhver afvigelse fra det rette. Vi må vogte os for uberettiget strenghed overfor den skyldige; men vi må også passe på ikke at tabe syndens overordentlige syndighed af syne. Der er brug for at udvise kristelig tålmodighed og kærlighed overfor den vildfarende, men det rummer også fare at vise så stor tålsomhed overfor hans vildfarelse, at han vil betragte irettesættelsen som ufortjent og afvise den som upåkrævet og uretfærdig.