two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I iu the midst of them.
These words of tlie Lord Jesus contain an expression which has been often misapplied. The command to '' hear the church," has been so interpreted as to contra- dict other passages of God's word. It has been falsely applied to the authority of the whole visible church in matters of doctrinCj and so been made an excuse for the exercise of much ecclesiastical tyranny. But the abuse of Scripture truths must not tempt us to neglect the use of them. We must not turn away altogether from any textj because some have perverted it, and made it poison.
Let us notice in the first place, lioiv admirable are the rules laid doivn by our Lord, for the healing of differ- ences among brethren.
If we have unhappily received any injury from a fellow-member of Christ's Church, the first step to be taken is to visit him " alone," and tell him his fault. He may have injured us unintentionally, as Abimelech did Abraham. (Gen. xxi. 26.) His conduct may admit of explanation, like that of the tribes of Keuben, Gad, and Manasseh, when they built an altar, as they returned to their own land. (Joshua xxii. 24.) At any rate, this friendly, faithful, straight-forward way of dealing is the most likely course to win a brother, if he is to be won. '' A soft tongue breaketh the bone." (Prov. xxv. 15.) Who can tell but he may say at once, " I was wrong" — and make ample reparation ?
If however this course of proceeding fails to produce any good effect, a second step is to be taken. We are to