Jeff Ling

If God spares us as a father does his son, let us imitate God. It is natural for children to imitate their parents; what the father does, the child is apt to learn the same. Let us imitate God in this one thing: As God spares us, and passes by many failures, so let us be sparing in our censures of others; let us look upon the weaknesses and indiscretions of our brethren with a more tender, compassionate eye.
Indeed, in cases of scandal we ought not to bear with others, but sharply reprove them. But if through inadvertentcy or passion they act wrongly, let us pity and pray for them. How much God bears with us! He spares us and shall not we be sparing to others? Perhaps they may be wronged, and false things may be said to their charge. Athanasius was falsely accused by the Arians of adultery, Basil of heresy. It is usual for the world to misrepresent the people of God; therefore let us be sparing in our censures. God spares us, and shall we not be sparing towards others?
—Thomas Watson “The Great Gain of Godliness”

“There are many disorderly and irregular things in the world, and we wonder if God’s providence is in them. God makes use of even irregular things for His own glory. The silversmith makes use of every tool in his shop to master his craft, no matter how strange those tools might appear to a visitor. Thus it is with the providences of God: they seem to us to be very crooked and strange, yet they all carry on God’s work. “ – Thomas Watson