True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-04-02

one another, and forgving one another,
if any man have quarrel against any,"
TO be slow to wrath is 10 bear with the
evil and unlhankful and even abusive op-
pressors. When reviled revile not again;
when we suffer be patient, and wait till
the dark cloud pass over our minds,
II. proceed TO show how 10 acquire
this temper and couduct. Prejudice is a
terrible perver'er of our hearing faculties.
The manner in which truth is conveyed,
either by writing or exiemporaneous effu.
sions, is an instrument by which the
hearing is destroyed, or the whole force
of truth is lost, and the most stupid nom
sense becomes rich feast:
ais not this the carpenters son = was
enough TO destroy the elfest of the most
gracious words that were ever uttered,
while the blasphemous blabbing of Herod
would raise that sepseless uproar, "It is
the voice of a god and not man." PREF
udice, that wonder-working or rather
monster-producing agent, must be banish-
ed, must be annihilated. We mus, listen To-
the truth in love, even to naked truth, il
it comes from our enemies, and to cutting
truth, if it comes from our friends.
Pride and selfsulficiency mufile the
drum of our ear The lowest and most
r ignorant of mankind may communicate
instruction to the wisest man, if he is
swift to hear, and has quickened his pow
er by dligent observation. Meekness
and humility will make US swift to hear
and guide our judgment in the most diff.
. cult case. The heart Of every person
has deaf ear attached to it, which can
not be perfectly unslopped by any means
9 except by the oil of devne grace; and hi:
= renders the ear susceptible Of the soles
. whispers of conscience and the spirit Of
God. This swiftness of hearing may be
obtained by (ervent humble prayer that
:, prejudice, pride, and stupidity might be
taken away, and have our ear nailed lo
!, The gate of wisdom, and we resolve, by
the grace of God, that we will serve the
best of masters forever.
% 10 obtain slowness of speech, RECON-
mended in the text, We must mediate
= long before we utter any thing that may
" be doubtful in its effect. To think twice
before we speak once may be trile words
= but lhe practice will never become stale
! with the wise aud good. Accurate think
ing apd rapid speaking do not often NEE
70 in the same person; 10 speak such, witt
propriety and to the point, is no very
!" common talent. We must keep a tigh
20 rein on this unruly member, like David
u and remember The declaration of James
= "If any man seem to be religious ant
~ blidleh not his tongue, that mans re
:" ligion is vain." Consideration, must b
d in exercise. If we initiate Solomon
10 discreet female we shall never speak To-
g. much nor 100 fast. .She openeh he
" mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue
% the law of kindness" Let the law G
y" kindness be written under our tongue
~ and i, will quench the fire Of which Jane
" speaks before it produces an explosion.
=, "And the tongue is fire. world of il
" ". iquity so is the. tongue among the men
y. :. beys, that it defilelh the whole body, an
set,eth on fire the course of nature, and
" is set on fire of hell" The salt of divir
'"' grace will not only extinguish this fir
'" but, when cast into this fle of iniquit,
Il" will cause it to send forth sweet and r
v" rreshing waters. Wisdom and knowleds
y" will effect the cure. "Who is VII
" man endued with knowledge : let hi
~ ' show out of good conversation h
10. works, with meekness Of wisdom"
IT. TO curb the wrath Of man and reta
ne its proper velocity is tremendous tas
ep Shall we then shrink from the attempt
'k- direct how to get the command Of o
IN temper! Pagans and hea,hens have do
are so much to check the speed Of this mo
ex' ster in the moral world that blushing oug
'aK to cover the face of every one who ow
MI a Billie and yet does not govern his Tel
'a' per.
'ch The Spartans were as incapable Of Z
lit; during The tyranny of their passions as
the tyranny Of men; therefore anger W
yer punished as disobedience to their Law
our "There is no surer evidence Of orr
mt. mind" said Seneta, ethan not to be traI
BE ported 10 anger by any accident" |
wn sixth chapter on anger is enough TO tes
The any one to curb this bane Of health I
ing happiness, "lf harsh expression ~