Excerpt
From a Discourse on Meekness
By Matthew
Henry Edited by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades
Be
often repenting of your sinful passion, and renewing your covenants
against it.
Brethren:
If
our rash anger were more bitter to us in the reflection
afterwards, we should not be so apt to relapse into it. Repentance in
general, if it be sound and deep, and grounded in true contrition and
humiliation, disposes the soul to bear injuries with abundance of
patience. Those who live a life of repentance, as we have every one
of us reason to do, cannot but live a quiet life, for nobody can
lightly say worse of the true penitent than he says of himself. Call
him a fool—an affront which many think deserves a challenge—the
humble soul can bear it patiently with this thought: "Yea, a
fool I am," and I have called myself so many a time; "more
brutish than any man; I have not the understanding of a man."
But repentance in a special manner disposes us to meekness, when it
fastens upon any irregular inordinate passion with which we have been
transported. Godly sorrow for our former transgressions in this
matter, will work a carefulness in us not again to transgress. If
others be causelessly or excessively angry with me, am not I justly
requited for the like or more indecent passions? Charge it home
therefore with sorrow and shame upon your consciences, aggravating
the sin, and laying a load upon yourselves for it, and you will find
that "the burned child," especially while the burn is
smarting, "will dread the fire." See Job 42:6.
With
our repentance for our former unquietness, we must engage ourselves
by a firm resolution, in the strength of the grace of Jesus Christ,
to be more mild and gentle for the future. Say you will "take
heed to your ways," that you offend not, as you have done, "with
your tongue;" and like David, be often remembering that you said
so. Resolution would do much towards the conquering of the most
rugged nature, and the quiet bearing of the greatest provocation; it
would be like the bit and bridle to the horse and mule, that have no
understanding. It may be of good use every morning to renew a charge
upon our affections to keep the peace, and having welcomed Christ in
faith and meditation, let no unruly passion stir up or awake our
love.
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