Precept & Practice – MARCH 13 – Fault-finding

In reproving and fault-finding, we have beautiful examples in Holy Writ.   When St. Paul has a reproof to administer to delinquent Christians, how does he temper it with gentleness and praise!  how does he first make honourable note of all the good there is to be spoken of!   how does he give assurance of his prayers and love! – and when at last the arrow flies, it goes all the straighter to the mark for this carefulness. 

H. Beecher Stowe (Little Foxes)

But apart from the fault-finding which has a definite aim, how much is there that does not profess or intend or try to do anything more than give vent to an irritated state of feeling.  The nettle stings us, and we toss it with both hands at our neighbour;  the fire burns us, and we throw coals and hot ashes at all or sundry of those about us.

There is fretfulness, a mizzling, drizzling rain of discomforting remark;  there is grumbling, a northeast storm that never clears;  there is scolding, the thunderstorm with lightning and hail.   All these are worse than useless;  they are positive sins, by whomsoever indulged – sins as great and real as many that are shuddered at in polite society.

All these are for the most part but the venting on our fellow-beings of morbid feelings resulting from dyspepsia, overtaxed nerves, or general ill-health.

H. Beecher Stowe (Little Foxes)

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From the Introduction to Precept and Practice

The kindly welcome given to my other little books, ‘Being and Doing’ and ‘Character and Conduct,’ must be my excuse for adding another collection of extracts to the number now in circulation.

The quotations are gathered from the books of many earnest thinkers, and deal with Life in all its length and breadth, with ourselves, our characters, our plain unvarnished faults and weaknesses, our often untoward circumstances, and with all that drags us down;-  with our purposes, our religion, our love and friendships, and with all that uplifts us;-  with our relation to others, our influence and responsibilities, and finally with those stages of our journey which bring us to the Road’s Last Turn and to the Silent Land.

CONSTANCE  M. WHISHAW