BEARING WITH THE FAULTS OF OTHERS
UNTIL God ordains otherwise, a man ought to
bear patiently whatever he cannot correct in himself and in others.
Consider it better thus -- perhaps to try your patience and to test
you, for without such patience and trial your merits are of little
account. Nevertheless, under such difficulties you should pray that
God will consent to help you bear them calmly.
If, after being admonished once or twice, a
person does not amend, do not argue with him but commit the whole
matter to God that His will and honor may be furthered in all His
servants, for God knows well how to turn evil to good. Try to bear
patiently with the defects and infirmities of others, whatever they
may be, because you also have many a fault which others must endure.
If you cannot make yourself what you would wish
to be, how can you bend others to your will? We want them to be
perfect, yet we do not correct our own faults. We wish them to be
severely corrected, yet we will not correct ourselves. Their great
liberty displeases us, yet we would not be denied what we ask. We
would have them bound by laws, yet we will allow ourselves to be
restrained in nothing. Hence, it is clear how seldom we think of
others as we do of ourselves.
If all were perfect, what should we have to
suffer from others for God's sake? But God has so ordained, that we
may learn to bear with one another's burdens, for there is no man
without fault, no man without burden, no man sufficient to himself nor
wise enough. Hence we must support one another, console one another,
mutually help, counsel, and advise, for the measure of every man's
virtue is best revealed in time of adversity -- adversity that does
not weaken a man but rather shows what he is. |
Of bearing with the faults of others
Those things which a man cannot
amend in himself or in others, he ought patiently to bear, until God
shall otherwise ordain. Bethink thee that perhaps it is better for thy
trial and patience, without which our merits are but little worth.
Nevertheless thou oughtest, when thou findeth such impediments, to
beseech God that He would vouchsafe to sustain thee, that thou be able
to bear them with a good will.
2. If one who is once or twice
admonished refuse to hearken, strive not with him, but commit all to
God, that His will may be done and His honour be shown in His
servants, for He knoweth well how to convert the evil unto good.
Endeavour to be patient in bearing with other men's faults and
infirmities whatsoever they be, for thou thyself also hast many things
which have need to be borne with by others. If thou canst not make
thine own self what thou desireth, how shalt thou be able to fashion
another to thine own liking. We are ready to see others made perfect,
and yet we do not amend our own shortcomings.
3. We will that others be
straitly corrected, but we will not be corrected ourselves. The
freedom of others displeaseth us, but we are dissatisfied that our own
wishes shall be denied us. We desire rules to be made restraining
others, but by no means will we suffer ourselves to be restrained.
Thus therefore doth it plainly appear how seldom we weigh our
neighbour in the same balance with ourselves. If all men were perfect,
what then should we have to suffer from others for God?
4. But now hath God thus
ordained, that we may learn to bear one another's burdens, because
none is without defect, none without a burden, none sufficient of
himself, none wise enough of himself; but it behoveth us to bear with
one another, to comfort one another, to help, instruct, admonish one
another. How much strength each man hath is best proved by occasions
of adversity: for such occasions do not make a man frail, but show of
what temper he is. |