The Beard of Reputation

“But I question, gravely question whether a man who has grossly sinned should be very readily restored to the pulpit . . . Let those who have been shorn by the sons of Ammon tarry at Jericho till their beards be grown; this has often been used as a taunt to beardless boys to whom it is evidently inapplicable, it is an accurate enough metaphor for dishonoured and characterless men, let their age be what it may. Alas! the beard of reputation once shorn is hard to grow again” (Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students, pp. 13-14).