Such people will be quick to deny the infallibility
of the Pope, while they assume their own infallibility, and
denounce all who dispute it.
The Holy Spirit may lead to a holy rivalry in love and humility
and brotherly kindness and self-denial and good works, but He
never leads men into the swelling conceit of such exclusive
knowledge and superior wisdom that they can no longer be taught
by their fellow-men.
3. Again, the man who is filled with the Spirit is tolerant of
those who differ from him in opinion, in doctrine. He is firm in
his own convictions, and ready at all times with meekness and
fear to explain and defend the doctrines which he holds and is
convinced are according to God's word, but he does not condemn
and consign to damnation all those who differ from him. He is
glad to believe that men are often better than their creed, and
may be saved in spite of it; that, like mountains whose bases are
bathed with sunshine and clothed with fruitful fields and
vineyards, while their tops are covered with dark clouds, so
men's hearts are often fruitful in the graces of charity, while
their heads are yet darkened by doctrinal error.
Anyway, as "the servant of the Lord," he will "not strive; but be
gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness
instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure
will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and
that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil"
(2 Timothy ii.
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