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Some years ago, I had in my garden a tree that never bore any fruit. One day, I took my axe in my hand, determined to fell it. My wife met me in the pathway and pleaded for it: "Why, the spring is now very close, stay and see whether there may not be some change in it: and if not, then you can cut it down." As I never repented following her advice before I yielded to it now: and what was the consequence? Why, in a few weeks the tree was covered with blossoms, and in a few more it was bending under a load of fruit. "Ah," said I, "this should teach me. I will learn a lesson from hence not to cut down too soon: that is, not to consider persons incorrigible or abandoned too soon, so as to give up hope for them, and the use of the means of prayer on their behalf."

(W. Jay.)

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KJV: With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

WEB: with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love;