“Though swine or dogs be driven with violence, yet poor stray lambs must be brought home as the shepherd brought home his lost sheep ‘upon his shoulders rejoicing.’  Luke 15.  Many well-meaning men may err; but not too severe with them, lest prejudice make them obstinate, and so from ‘erring brethren,’ they become heretical.”

Sound advice this.  It is true that certain troublesome heretics need to be rebuked sharply that they may be sound in the faith, but discretion is needed, and a loving spirit to guide the discretion; the sheep must not be driven as if they were swine.  The tendency of stern orthodoxy is to act toward an erring one as cruel fathers do when they whip their boys without mercy, for they drive ten devils in while they think they are whipping one out.  A doubter may be worried into a heretic before we are aware of it.  Certain minds will learn anything from those they love, and nothing from those who are masterful with them.  The gentleness of Christ is a choice qualification for a pastor.  Heresies are better kept out by a full gospel than driven out by fierce controversy.  Sheep may be worried into worse strayings, but they can be held by their teeth most securely if they are led into plentiful pasture.  O for the Holy Spirit’s dealing with weak and unstable minds.

Flowers From a Puritan’s Garden
C. H. Spurgeon