We know but little of our own hearts and have but little sense of our own need of the mercy of God. This is why we cherish so little of that sweet compassion which Jesus manifests toward us and which we should manifest toward one another. We should remember that our brethren are weak, erring mortals like ourselves. Suppose that a brother has through unwatchfulness been overborne by temptation and contrary to his general conduct has committed some error, what course shall be pursued toward him? We learn from the Bible that men whom God had used to do a great and good work committed grave sins. The Lord did not pass these by unrebuked, neither did He cast off His servants. When they repented, He graciously forgave them and revealed to them His presence and wrought through them. Let poor, weak mortals consider how great is their own need of pity and forbearance from God and from their brethren.

Vi ved kun lidt om vore egne hjerter og har kun ringe forståelse af vor egen trang til Guds barmhjertighed. Dette er grunden til, at vi har så lidt af den milde medlidenhed, som Jesus lægger for dagen mod os og som vi skulle vise over for (247) hinanden. Vi bør huske på, at vore brødre er svage, fejlende mennesker ligesom vi selv. Antag, at en broder som følge af uagtsomhed er blevet overvældet af en fristelse og i strid med sin sædvanlige færd har begået en eller anden fejl - hvorledes skal man optræde over for ham? Af den bibelske beretning lærer vi, at mænd, som Gud havde brugt til at udføre et stort og godt arbejde, begik alvorlige synder. Herren lod ikke disse blive ustraffede, ej heller forstødte han sine tjenere. Når de omvendte sig, tilgav han dem i nåde, åbenbarede sit åsyn for dem og virkede igennem dem.