Imatges de pàgina
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sion and practice were coincident, and so it should be with thee. Let thy words ever be the echo of thy sentiments; and aim at that holy state of heart in which thou wilt not be afraid that the world should pry into the secret recesses of thy bosom.

ANGER.

A STONE is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous.

He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly and a man of wicked devices is hated.

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An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

A wrathful man stirreth up strife but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.

ANGER may be regarded as a temporary insanity; for when in excess, it imparts to the face the hue, to the voice the violence, and to the conduct the fury of the madman. There is, however, this difference, that the emotion in the one case is controlable, but not in the other; and hence the angry man is criminal, while the insane, in his paroxysms, is not held morally responsible. Some temperaments are more excitable than others, and require more watchful care to suppress the first ebullitions. The tendency to anger may be nurtured by indulgence, or restrained by Christian discipline. To the latter duty, we should be constrained by two considerations; the first is, that anger can be indulged only in the face of God's express prohibition, and consequently incurs his displeasure; the other arises from a view of the consequences into which it may betray us in this life. There are few more frightful sources of crime. It is murder in conception, and often impels to the actual perpetration. It always inclines to violence; and the angry man is not in a fit

mood to say within what limits such violence shall be restrained. His reason becomes impaired, his moral perceptions blunted, his conscience blinded; and thus for the time being, he disqualifies himself for cool and rational conduct. What a curse to a neighbourhood is such a temper, and how still more intolerable in a household! It poisons every comfort of life, and counteracts the best arranged plans for domestic felicity.

Irritability is so excessive in some persons as to be regarded as an infirmity, which may be attributed more to physical constitution than to moral perversity. For the most part this is an error, as in general the nervous condition, on which it is supposed to depend, is superinduced by habit and criminal neglect of early restraint. If, like a stringed instrument, the passions are accustomed to vibrate to the slightest touch, it may be an infirmity, but certainly not an innocent one. It is extremely difficult to "be angry and sin not;" and hence when the justest occasions for indignation occur, the Christian man should be anxious and watchful lest a sinful emotion should be indulged under a false name. In situations most trying to the temper, even when others by insult and injury aim to exasperate, it is the duty of the rational man to pause and ask himself, "Dost thou well to be angry?" The world is replete with trouble, which need not be increased from this cause. Those against whom our angry resentment might be excited, like ourselves, are mortal, dying creatures, who are soon to stand before the dread tribunal of God. Why then quarrel by the way? Would the recollection of our anger add to our tranquillity, if we or they were engaged in the last

struggle, or standing before the bar of God? Why then impart to the grave an additional gloom, or to the judgment an additional terror, by the indulgence of unhallowed tempers?

My soul, peace is thy most favourable element for spiritual improvement; and as thou hast a great work to perform, and a heavy account to render, avoid the storms which would drive thee from thy course on thy heavenward voyage. Let not thine own temper be ruffled, for this will disturb thy tranquillity; and against thy fellow-worm encourage no vindictive feeling, for if though lovest not thy brother whom thou hast seen, how canst thou love God whom thou hast not seen? If God forbears with thee under great provocations, thou mayest well forbear with thy fellowmen under lighter ones. Vengeance belongeth unto God, he will repay. Although no infirmities of temper are properly ascribable to him, yet his treatment of the wicked will be as terrible as if the result of an almighty wrath. Fear to offend him in thought, word, or deed; and "kiss the Son lest he be angry, and thou perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little."

INGRATITUDE.

WHOSO rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from
his house.

It was Job's affecting complaint, under the pressure of adversity, in allusion to the conduct of former friends, "When they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth, I humbled my soul with fasting, I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother, I bowed down heavily as one that mourneth for his mother. But in my adversity they rejoiced." Well might he be dejected at such flagrant ingratitude. Few afflictions are more difficult to be borne, than a requital of evil for good. The ill treatment of an enemy may be tolerable; but the base desertion of one's familiar friends falls upon the soul with stunning force. Happily, ingratitude is a vice which has a bad odour with the world; and striking instances of it are seldom palliated even by the irreligious. It has indeed features so repulsive, that its connection with a bad state of the heart, is generally acknowledged. Let us suppose a case or two in illustration. A man of benevolent disposition sees a neighbour in distress. He visits and ministers to him in sickness, relieves him from the pressure of poverty, rescues him from the grasp of inexorable creditors, and provides him with the means of obtaining a livelihood. His hearth is no longer desolate; the tears of a dependent and suffering family are chased away with smiles, and the whole aspect of his fortune is changed. Surely love and gratitude are

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