and the order of the church. In the meantime, I shall write occasionally in defense of our church and the principles it has held sacred since our connection with it. And if God will be our helper, we shall continue to work with these brethren and for the principles, and in harmony with the councils of our Brotherhood."

Soon after this Brother Robert resigned the presidency of Ashland College and made arrangements to move to North Manchester, Ind. In the meantime he accepted a position on the editorial staff of the Brethren at Work for 1882. His coeditors were M. M. Eshelman and Joseph Amick, with J. H. Moore, office editor. For a part of this year his pen was quite active but he did not care to renew the contract for 1883. Jan. 2, the following tribute to his work appeared:

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Brother R. H. Miller's time, for which he was employed as an editor, expired with the last issue. We part with regrets. We have always admired his ability as a writer and speaker, believing him to be among the ablest defenders of the Scriptures in the Brotherhood. He has our best wishes for the future and we hope to hear from him frequently, knowing that his writings on doctrinal questions and scriptural expositions are greatly appreciated in the Brotherhood."

After this he almost ceased to contribute for any of the papers, so much so that frequent queries were made as to why so able a man was silent. It was not that he was idle, for correspondent notes show that these were busy days for him among the churches. In July, 1885, he, together with S. S. Mohler and Daniel Hays, appeared on the advisory committee for the

Gospel Messenger, a position he continued to hold until his death.

Brother Robert always preferred talking to writing. Had it not been for this we would likely have much more important literature from his pen. His editorials did not cover a wide range of subjects. They were largely confined to questions that were prominent before the Brotherhood at that time. They were always on the side of the decisions of the church and no doubt wielded a great influence in those days of upheaval and change. Many of them possess as much value today as they did then. Some representative ones are included in this volume, with the hope that the reader will be edified with some of the best things said by him who once was eagerly listened to by thousands.

CHAPTER IV.

SELECTIONS FROM EDITORIALS.

DEFEND THE TRUTH WITH KINDNESS.

A sour, crusty look, a harsh, unkind word may destroy the greatest power for good we possess and leave the truth to suffer. To defend the truth with kind, pleasant words, with a meek, affable spirit, is of as much importance as to use argument. The truth always needs argument to sustain it, but no less does it need your kindness and affection manifested in all your words and actions.

SEEK FOR THE TRUTH.

The object for which men seek is of great importance, because they generally find or think they find the object for which they seek. If they seek for the simple, plain truth of the Gospel, for its commands and duties, they can easily find them. If they seek for some excuse or reason for not obeying it, they are likely to find the excuse. If they seek for some plan of salvation without obedience, they will likely find that plan. If they seek for non-essentials, they will soon find them. The infidel seeks for objections to the Bible, and he finds them. It is apparently strange how men find, or think they find, in the Bible almost any

notion they seek for. They try to prove from it a hundred conflicting views, and seem to find the evidence they seek for. The only safe way to study the Book of God is in search for its truth, not to search it for evidence to prove a certain opinion, but with a determination that every opinion must bend to its truth.

SYMPATHY.

Jesus is the example of sympathy as well as every other grace. His divine compassion filled his tender, feeling heart with sympathy for a suffering, dying world. This sacred compassion should tune our hearts with sympathy for those who slowly tread the path of sorrow or linger on its borders of suffering, or fall beneath its imperfections. Sympathy is a God-given and blessed power to help. When no earthly balm or gift can afford relief, sympathies can come with angel wings, and go beyond the reach of temporal help to comfort and sustain when all other power knows no relief.

How cold and icy and foreign from God is the heart devoid of sympathy. What a chilling breath it blows, sinking deeper those already in trouble. How poorly fitted is such a heart to reform the erring, with no sympathy for them in their imperfections and temptations. Sympathy costs but little, yet its worth cannot be measured in helping to lift the load of suffering, to lighten the burden and care that presses many a heart. Then let sympathy be cultivated and encouraged in its great mission of good, because its work is directed most where it is needed most.

FORGIVENESS.

The duty to forgive, when it is asked and when it is due, is one of the most important duties in our experience. Jesus tells us if we will not forgive one another our Father in heaven will not forgive us. The heart that will not forgive others has no promise of forgiveness. One who fully realizes the joy in God's pardon of sin, and feels that all his own sins are atoned for by the blood of the Lamb, and pardoned in his mercy, feels that it is a blessing to forgive as well as to be forgiven. The noble, Christlike disposition to forgive with gladness of heart is the charity that suffereth long and is kind. Kindness that forgives after long suffering is richer because of the suffering, better because it has been tried and brings us nearer to Christ; because it is but another step in his example. The little partial forgiveness that we sometimes hear, "I'll forgive but I'll never forget," is not Christlike; it is a token of something smothered, to burst forth again and burn out all the forgiveness. It has none of the traits of pure forgiveness; neither the effects of forgiveness known and realized. Sin and forgiveness bring the sinner and the forgiver near together; and when it is pure, binds them closer together.

SELF IMPROVEMENT.

Here is a large field and a subject of importance. That we all need improvement is as certain as that we are all imperfect. The first thing in the work of improving ourselves is to see our imperfections. To see our own faults is a blessing, because it is the first step