"Through desire a man having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom." --- Proverbs 18:1.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, genleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." --- Galatians 5:22, 23.
Through pride and self-will, a man having separated himself from the written word of God, and the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, seeks to set up and pull down, and to establish everything according to his own wisdom, self interst, or ambition, instead of humbly following the truth as it is in Jesus. Self-will never becomes a Christian, and much less reviling those who differ from us.
The Lord was not in the strong wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire; but in the still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11, 12. He that taketh offence in everything that differs from him, shows great weakness. It is written, "Destroy it not." Isaiah 65. 8. Though the grape be young, there is wine in the cluster. All spiritual exercises are good: brotherly love renders them beautiful and lovely.
The Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ breathes love to him, holy joy in his salvation, and a divine and peaceable temper, with long-suffering and gentleness towards the weakness and infirmities of all around us. The fruit of the Spirit is real goodness in heart and life, a steadfast faith in a precious Jesus, a partaking of his divine meekness, temperance, etc. By these things let us daily try our own spirit, instead of sitting in judgment on the spirit of others.
Lo! what an entertaining sight
Are brethren that agree;
Brethren whose cheerful hearts unite
In bands of piety!
What streams of love, from Christ, the spring,
Descend to every soul,
And heavenly peace, with balmy wing,
Shades and bedews the whole.