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Brotherly Love Among The Christian Family
Thomas Gisborne (1758-1846)
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| The Revd Thomas Gisborne, with Wlliam Wilberforce a major contributor to the ending of the slave trade |
TO Christians, and concerning Christians, their language always is, Brethren. To prove, by producing examples, that such is their language is needless. Open any epistle at any page, and examples will present themselves.
Why is this constant difference between the terms applied to believers and to unbelievers, but to teach us the difference between the duties owing to the two classes? It is to remind us of the superior affection which a Christian is to feel towards a Christian for this very reason, because they are brethren.
This superior affection is accordingly commanded in plain terms, which strongly mark the distinction. Honour all men: Love the Brotherhood. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men: but especially unto them who are of the household of faith (1 Pet 2:17; Gal 6:10), them that are our brethren in Christ.
When we examine the particular precepts of the New Testament, we meet with numbers, in which the duty of regarding each other practically as brethren is brought forward. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love. Let brotherly love continue. Add to godliness brotherly kindness. Love as brethren. When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren; see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. This commandment we have from Him, that he who loveth God, loveth his brother also. (Rom 12:10; Heb 13:1; 2 Pet 1:5-7; 1 Pet 3:8; Lk 22:32; 1 Pet 1:22; 1 John 4:21)
Other passages indicate still more distinctly the measure of love, which we are to exercise towards our Christian brethren, and clearly shew that there is no forbearance which can be too persevering towards them, no personal sacrifice too great for their sake.
Lord, said St. Peter unto Christ; How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but until seventy times seven (Mt 18:21-22). On another occasion our Saviour delivered this command to his disciples: Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day, turn again to thee saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him (Lk 17:3-4).
If meat, saith St. Paul, make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend (1 Cor 8:13). At another time the same apostle declares, after the most solemn appeal to God; I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ, subjected to judgments in this world, such as those which were about to be inflicted on the Jews, for my brethren (Rom 9:1-3).
For what brethren? The apostle adds, For my kinsmen according to the flesh - for his unconverted and unrepenting and persecuting countrymen the Israelities. What then would he not have thought it his duty to suffer in the present life for the good of his Christian brethren? St. John's language is equally clear and impressive: Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 Jn 3:16).
Even when a professed Christian refused obedience to the commands of the inspired apostles of Christ, and was, on that account, to be openly disowned by the church, and treated according to our Lord's direction, as a heathen man and a publican, the love of brotherhood was not to be forgotten.
We command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition received of us. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle; note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy: but admonish him as a brother (2 Thess 3:6, 14-15).
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