Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-07-01
VOL. XII. NO. 4 L.


that is in my flesh. dwclleih 10 good thing;
for to viii is present with me; but how
to perform that which is good fiud not j.:
For the good that | would do not; but
the evil that / would not, that do
How powerful, then, is the inducement
TO pray without ceasing, that He who has
ali power over the spirit of man, would
exert over our feelings salu!ary control,
and in the moment OF exposure 10 unholy
irritation and excitement, would preserve
It's 10 perfect peace. This entire control,
it would be to much to expect from the
unaided efforts of too much to expect from
the unaided efforts Of our OVID minds; but
it is not too much 20 expect from The prom
iSrd succor of the Holy Spirit, since it is
expressly said, that the lrui. OF the Spirit
is love, ioy, peace, long-suffering, gentle
ness, and meekness" What are these at
iraciiye excelencies of character, bat the
very elements Of the christian temper2 LIE
these, then are the communications Of the
Holy Spirit, surely the most direct and
the most effectual method of attaining the
government of the temper is TO seek, by
earnest prayer the in-dwelling OF the Splr-
it OF God. Distinguished in high de-
gree has been the success of some Chris
ttians, who have combined persevering
effort, TO acquire an habitual command OF
f temper. 4 very remarkable and edifying
, instance OF this success is presented 10 our
f view, in the character of the eminenily
holy and useful MIR. Fletcher of Madeley.
, He was meek" says his biOgrapher,
a like his Master, as we'll as lowly in heart.
1 Not that he was so BY nature, but man
4 of strong possions and prone TO anger In
q particular; insomuch that he has frequent
+ " spent the greater part of the mig INT,
balhed in tears, imploring victory over his
own spirit. And he did not strive in vain.
), He did obtain the victory, in very en-
n inent degree. Yea, so thoroughly had
n grace subdued nature,-so fully was he
:. renewed in the spirit of his mind,-!hat Tor
, many years before his death, believe he
.. was never observed by any one, friend or
foe, 10 be out Of temper, on any Provoca-
20 ton whatever. The testimony that Bish-
. OBJ Barnet bears of Archbishop Leighton
at might be borne of him with equal propri-
. ETY. - After an intimate acquaintance
4. with The Archbishop for many years, and
n after being with him by night and by day.
n. at home and abroad, in public and in pri-
.. vate; | must say, L never heard an idle
n. word drop from his lips II never saw
a. him in any temper in which / myself
he would not have wished 10 be found at
be death.
ct. SccOnly, Let US guard against the very
70 first tendencies to the workings of an evil
ne temper.
,es There are Two descriptions of evil tenn
per which are equally 10 be deprecated
If and repressed. The one is the sulleu
md temper, and the other is the irascible.-
no The former, if less violent, is more last.
. ing; assuming too often the character o
nm gloomy, morose, and discontended habi
e(. OF mind, effectually disquahfying the in
i,s dividual for all enjoyment, uniting hin
bv for all society and rendering BIN perfect
lv intractable. The latter, if less perma
be- nent, has an aspect still more alarming
of How il distorts the expression Of the coun
ba Itenance: how il disturbs the exercise c
ind reason: how it degrades the character {
nav Christian; how it qUenches and grieye
,ire the Spirit of love; how II amasses mate
ter. rals for sefreproach; how il exposes I
will consequences the most tremendous L
Pm its fearful progress, 1t resembles the move
. or ment of ponderous mass from the sum
the NIT Of hill: at first, the motion IS grad
Oul- uai and subject 10 some coh'Iol ou' ;.
the velocity is every. instant accelerated Il
the force il acquires in lis descent 5eal
iba, down every mlcrposing barrier, and bic
her defiance to all resistance. Seize then u
we're golden opportunity while reason retaI
NO lis mower. Let an instantaneous elacuii
cnr. ton of the heart ascend 10 Him who hea
wen eth prayer, for the succor which he ca
nal. promptly impaIt. Let there be, at lea'
root the delay OF a moment, before indulgen'
,pcb be conceded to the spirit of rising anger
m - and if even this brief interval be gaint
,nct there is some reason to hope, that d
.roa- threatened and approaching paroxism mi
dent be averted, A spark is more easily e
dis. lngushed than a fame. The disc
10 = ton of man deferreth his anger."-'I
v;rT that is slow 10 anger is better than 1
rres, mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit III
they he that laketh city,"
and Thirdly Let the expressions OF an e
: due temper be resolutelv controlled.
tai. "A soft answer turneth away wrai
re- but gFieyous words sir up anger. Mh
rii,es cutting words exasperate the lndivldI
,dmi. against whom they are directed, lhey IA
- - the effect of stimulating TO more tumui
\ ~, ous cmo.jons the passion from which IN
go. snr;no. How often do we feel conscio
.orah that our words are not only The uterdn
- IF but the instruments and the excIieme
~ " of thought: and if thus they operate WI
'.-a we use them mentally, how much IN
~ powerful must be their operation when
!, M, use them audibly! Our very tones