GOVERNMENT OF THE TEMPER.

195

In these important passages, how many weighty reasons are included, for cherishing a meek and gentle temper, and for repressing harshness, sullenness, and passion. If the authority of the infinite God avails, you here have his commands. If a dread of yielding to the wicked one can prevail, he cautions us not to give place to the devil by indulging wrath.

The Most High enforces the necessity of gentleness and meekness, by pronouncing the meek blessed; by declaring gentleness a fruit of the Spirit; and by teaching us, that if we would walk worthy of our holy calling, it must be with lowliness and meekness. Important promises are made to the meek. "The meek will he guide in judgment, the meek will he teach his way."h "The meek shall increase their joy in the Lord." If any thing more were wanting to stamp a value on mild and gentle tempers, it may be found in the declaration, that they form an ornament to the human character, highly valued by God himself. "Whose adorning, let it be THE ORNAMENT OF A MEEK AND QUIET SPIRIT, which is in THE SIGHT OF GOD of GREAT PRICE."k

After these testimonies to the importance of mildness and gentleness, think not that the government of your temper is of little importance. A furious, or sullen and sour, professor of the gospel, instead of recommending religion, more effectually teaches men to hate it, than does a drunkard or a blasphemer. And the same authority that condemns drunkenness and the drunkard, declares harsh tempers the fruits of the flesh, and forbids them to the followers of the Lamb.

§ 2. The honour of religion, your own happiness, and that of those around you, depend so much on the daily exercise of mild and gentle tempers, that it may be important to pursue the subject by viewing the example of the holy Jesus. During his life of trials, he manifested unruffled gentleness and meekness. No passion, no resentment, no sullen anger, ever appeared in him. His life was a life of meekness; and when injuriously led to death, he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and not one angry word escaped his lips. Wrath and passion are most apt to be displayed to enemies. His enemies were many; but he displayed no resentment. When the Jews were about to stone him, he mildly said, "Many good works have I shown you from my Father, for which of those works

(h) Ps. xxix. 9.

(i) Isa. xxix. 19.

(k) 1 Pet. iii, 3.

196

GOVERNMENT OF THE THOUGHTS.

do ye stone me ?" When cruelly insulted before the tribunal of Caiaphas, he said, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me.' His friends often displayed much dulness and unbelief; yet he manifested no resentful emotions; but kindly instructed them, or mildly expostulated with them. And for them, when sleeping even during his agony, he pleaded in excuse, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.""

Would you honour religion, and have your dwelling the abode of peace, copy the gentleness of Jesus; and watch and pray for meekness like your Lord's. By soft words turn away anger; and never, never relax in your prayers and exertions, till your temper is brought into obedience to Christ. Great occasions for displaying some of the splendid virtues of Christianity seldom occur; it is by a daily attention to its more retired graces, that you must manifest its power. A martyr's firmness you will probably never be called to display; but the Saviour's gentleness and mildness, you are called upon to manifest every day. Not once in your life you may be summoned to prove, by renouncing liberty, friends, and property, that you prefer your Lord to all earthly good; but a hundred petty, yet vexing, occurrences may arise even in a day, to give you an opportunity of proving, that you imitate Jesus's example, and show that you treasure in your heart, and display in your life, his admonitions respecting the loveliness and worth of a meek and quiet spirit.

§3. Another often much neglected duty is the government of the thoughts. Thought is the spring of action. Holy affections are strengthened by virtuous thoughts and meditations; and countless sins are committed by the indulgence of impure, or sensual, or resentful thoughts. Think it not therefore a matter of small importance, what are the thoughts which fill your mind during your busy or your lonely hours. Consider that God observes your every thought. "The Lord looketh at the heart;" "and understandeth your thoughts afar off."P The blessed Saviour 4 also asserts, that the greatest crimes may be perpetrated in the secret chambers of the inagination; for "whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.""

(1) John x. 32. (m) John xviii. 23. (n) Matt. xxvi. 41. (p) Ps. cxxxix. 2. (g) Matt. xv. 19; xii. 35.

(0) 1 Sam. xvi. 7. (r) Matt. v.28

GOVERNMENT OF THE THOUGHTS.

197

The indulgence of evil thoughts is represented as descriptive of those who are hastening to perdition. "The wicked will

66

not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." Hence their thoughts are declared to be hateful to the heart-searching God. "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord."t "A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, God hateth." Such thoughts need repentance and forgiveness. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness," said the apostle Peter, "and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." Those who wish for holiness and happiness, are exhorted to forsake evil thoughts. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.""

On the other hand, to indulge pious thoughts is represented as descriptive of piety. "I will sing praise unto my God, my meditation of him shall be sweet."x "Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night." To have the thoughts frequently occupied with divine subjects, was required from the people of God under the old dispensation; and reason and Scripture may convince us, that it is not less important under the new." The apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, directed Timothy to meditate on these things, and to give himself to meditation and prayer. Peter, the favoured disciple of the Lord of glory, not long before he quitted this world, wrote his second epistle, that his beloved friends might be stirred up to have those things which belonged to their eternal peace "ALWAYS IN REMEMBRANCE."a If after all these testimonies to the importance of repressing evil thoughts, and of cherishing those of a holy and pious nature, more were necessary, you have it in the declaration of the blessed God, that " book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that THOUGHT UPON HIS NAME. They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my jewels."b

a

To assist in governing the thoughts, it is a highly useful practice in the morning to fix upon some part of the divine word, though it should be but a single verse, which may furnish matter for meditation at leisure intervals during the day. (u) Prov. vi. 16. (v) Acts viii. 22. (y) Ps. i. 1, 2. (z) Josh. i. 8. Deut. vi. 6. (6) Mal. iii. 16, 17.

(s) Ps. x. 4. (2) Isa. lv. 7.

() Prov. xv. 26.
(x) Ps, ciii. 33.
(a) 2 Pet. i. 15.

198

GOVERNMENT OF THE LIPS.

Such a practice will store the mind with Scripture knowledge, will greatly promote pious feeling, and will lead to enlarged views of the wisdom and loving-kindness of the Lord; if one day in a believer's life can be spent with God, every day may; and who at the close of life will regret such exertions, to promote in his own soul a spirit of piety, and of meetness for eternal glory?

§ 4. If you are a Christian, the government of your words will be an object of your earnest care. You will not think it sufficient, to avoid falsehood, profaneness, and slander; but all conversation that can pollute the mind, or that tends to excite improper passions or unchristian feelings in others or yourself. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, neither foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient; but that which is good, to the use of edifying."c Plainly sinful is language calculated to irritate those whose natural disposition may be less calm than your own. In such cases, they who provoke, however tranquil themselves, are guilty of more sin than they who are provoked into rage. As he who coolly tempts another to sin, is evidently much more wicked than he who falls by that temptation. Religion also enjoins its professors to guard against unprofitable, as well as mischievous, conversation; and to endeavour to render their discourse beneficial and improving. Jesus said, "I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."e And let it not be forgotten, that the Christian should cherish a habit of frequently discoursing on subjects not only harmless and useful, but decidedly religious. They that feared the Lord spake often to one another, and the Lord hearkened and heard."f "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."s

The government of our discourse is not easy; but is one of the highest Christian attainments; so high, that the Scriptures declare, that " if any man offend not in word, the same is a

(c) Eph. iv. 29.

(d) Matt. xii. 36. (e) Col. iv. 6.
(g) Col. iii. 16, 17.

(ƒ) Mal. iii. 16.

SELF-EXAMINATION.

199

perfect man.' ." Nor is it unimportant; for in that solemn survey of our conduct and character, which must fix our eternal state, words, as well as actions and dispositions, will be brought into account, and "by thy words thou shalt be justified, or by thy words thou shalt be condemned."i

The power of speech is an important talent: by it you may reclaim the vicious, cheer the sad, guide the bewildered, instruct the ignorant, and comfort those who mourn. Improved aright, it will be the source of innumerable benefits to yourself, and those with whom you are connected; but if misimproved, it will heap upon your soul numberless sins, and prepare it for final condemnation.

§ 5. When interests of great magnitude are at stake, how solicitous are men to guard against deception! What care the purchaser of an estate employs, to prevent being deluded by an insufficient title! How watchfully the general of an army scrutinizes every movement of the enemy, lest by artifice and delusion he should be robbed of victory! But you are engaged in a more important warfare than any on which crowns and kingdoms, life and liberty, depend. You seek a title to richer possessions than misers ever coveted, or kings possessed. A far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Delusion however may rob you of the splendid prize. Self-deception, that common foe, would shut you out of heaven, and sink you to perdition.

There is not so much self-deception on any subject, as on those connected with the interests of eternity. The poor are sensible of their poverty, the sick feel their want of health, the captive his imprisonment; but myriads, who are poor for eternity, suppose themselves rich in heavenly treasures; and while sinking into the arms of eternal death, imagine themselves the heirs of immortal life. The Searcher of hearts assigns the cause of such horrible delusion: "The heart is deceitful above all things. Who can know it?" Hence arises the importance of frequent and rigid self-examination. The sacred Scriptures inculcate this important duty. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves: know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" In that holy book we are also taught to look up to the Searcher of hearts, for grace to purify (h) James iii. 2. () Matt. xii. 37. (k) Jer. xvii. 10.

() 2 Cor. xiii, 5.