One day the God-fearing Pastor M. found a severely abusive note at his door. He read it quietly, and, saying nothing, prayed about it. On the following Sunday, before leaving the pulpit after preaching, he announced:
“A dear friend brought to my house a letter in which he put my failures before me. I have read it, examined myself, and found much truth therein. In my heart there is the root of all this friend discovers; and it is God’s grace alone that prevented the doing of the things of which I am accused. This dear friend knows my faults so precisely that I conclude he must be here among us. I heartily request him to come to me that I may prove my love to him in return.”
When, in the city of M., a bottomless basket was thrown over the head of Tersteegen to make him an object of ridicule, he said quietly:
“This is far from being a crown of thorns.”
How do we answer, dear Christian reader do we manifest the spirit of Christ?