|
|
The Pathway of Safety; or, Counsel to the Awakened By the Right Rev. Ashton Oxenden, D.D. CHAPTER IX – DANGERS FROM WITHIN AN EVIL HEART—PRIDE—TEMPER—UNCHARITABLENESS—SELFISHNESS—IDLENESS—INFLUENCE OF BAD HABITS 2. EVIL TEMPER is another form in which the corruption of our hearts will break out. Disliking to be contradicted, hastiness and impatience with those about us, moroseness and sullenness—all these are so many symptoms of that disease which luks in our fallen nature. But it is quite impossible for us to enjoy happiness, as long as they remain uncurbed. There are few things which make a man more thoroughly wretched than an unruly temper. He becomes a perfect misery, both to himself and to those who are living with him. And, of course, while this is the case God’s work of grace cannot be prospering in his soul. He may love to hear the truth, and he may wish to follow it; but no sooner does he take a step in advance than some fit of unconquered temper throws him back; and he immediately feels that he has sinned against God, and separated himself from Him. We often hear a person say, ‘My temper is naturally bad;’ as if this was a sufficient excuse for giving way to sin. We are apt to lay as much blame upon nature as we can. It is true that some are born more amiable and gentle than others. But, certainly, no one has a temper so naturally good that it needs no subduing, or a temper so naturally bad that it cannot, by God’s grace, be restrained. You are sometimes discouraged, it may be, in your attempt to correct a quick, irritable, and bad temper. But no: make it a matter of conscience; look upon it as a part of the great daily work you have to do; and never rest till it is accomplished. Entreat God to help you: and you will in the end gain the victory. No doubt you will have many a hard fight, but success will be sure to follow the endeavor. You have this precious promise to encourage you: ‘Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.’ (Rom. 6.14) Begin, then, in earnest, if you have not begun already. And never give up the struggle till you have mastered this enemy. Think not, however, to overcome in your own unassisted strength, but by God’s help, and by the power of His Holy Spirit. Determine to conquer this evil; for it is hateful in any case, but peculiarly hateful in the case of a child of God. He, of all men, should be loving, and gentle, and forbearing. He should ‘suffer long and be kind;’ and it should be seen that grace has softened his temper, as well as his heart. Now, is there any one point in which your temper is wont to show itself? Is there any one thing which tries you more than another? Does your Parent require something of you which you may think a little unnecessary, and does a feeling of sullenness or of impatience spring up within you? Or does the waywardness of your Child irritate you? Or, does the conduct of your Neighbor vex you? Or the unreasonableness of your Master or Mistress? Or the disobedience of your Servant? Take that one particular temptation, whatever it may be, and in God’s strength try to get the mastery over it. If you succeed, how happy will you be! You will have an immediate reward. For is there not an inward pleasure in having done that which a Christian ought to do? Is there not happiness in the thought, that you have checked some wrong feeling, that was just ready to spring up within you—that you have hushed some storm that was on the very point of bursting forth? Is there not a peculiar happiness in feeling that those little things, which used to irritate you, now glide by, and leave you unharmed? Truly this is gaining what the Word of God declares to be the greatest of victories—‘He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.’ (Prov. 16.32) It is said of the famous astronomer, Sir Isaac Newton, that he had a favorite little dog, named Diamond. Being one evening called out of his study into the next room, Diamond was left behind. When Sir Isaac returned, having been absent but a few minutes, he had the mortification to find that Diamond had overturned a lighted candle among some papers which had cost him many years labor. The papers were in flames, and almost reduced to ashes. The loss, especially at Newton’s great age, was irreparable. But, without at all punishing the dog, he merely exclaimed, ‘O Diamond, Diamond, you little know the mischief you have done.’ Reader, what would you have done in these circumstances? The great Newton was above losing his temper. Are you above this frailty? Let nothing rob you of your self-control. Let the peace of God be ever ruling within you, ‘keeping your heart and mind,’ and preserving you calm and unruffled even under the most trying circumstances. **************************************************** The Pathway of Safety; or, Counsel to the Awakened, Ashton Oxenden **************************************************** PREVIOUS CHAPTER -- NEXT CHAPTER ©God’sGWG |