Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-02-03
o0s ENEMIES.
RelIslons Herald,

|
| That was a hard blow that Peter
gave Malchus. II took off his ear
and drew his blood. IL was per-
| fectly. natural not. Peter only car
lied out the suggestion of his i'm.
pulslve nature. Malchus crossed
his path and he punished him. He
was an enemy and Peter was ready
to crush him. SEA blow for a blow,
and an eye for eye, and a tooth
for tooth, is the sweetest poetry
to an angry heart. The Lord has
said "Vengeance is mines" but
when we are stung by the wrongs
of Others. we bng 10 take VEN
geance out of the Lords hands and
settle our own scores with the
wrong-doer. f
And no wonder. Injuries are
most exasperating. 1t is an awful
trial to suffer wrong. Resentment
lies just below the surface of our
nature, and the slightest wound
will bring IL out. The Injustice of
Others. puts our blood to boiling,
and our sensitive nerves to quiver-
ing. 1t seems almost impossible TO
remain silent aud unresisting when
we know that an enemy is busy I'm
blackening our name or poisoning
the minds OF our friends.
But patience is the thing. IL js
the supreme duty OF the wFunged,
They must not resist nor retaliate.
Let them hold their tongues, pray
for the wrong-doer, cling meekly
to their duty, and leave their case
In Gods hands. 7li ip f fat
This Is noble. at is Christ-like.
He was reviled, but he. reviled not
again. He, was insulted, but he
kept his temper and said nothing.
He prayed for the pardon Of those
who slew him. Calmness under
injuries shows the highest type of
spiritual character. 1t reveals the
maturest religious qualities. IL be-
speaks a meek nature, thorough
self mastery, and a sustaining faith
in God. yTl af sA.-... ra,.r.r
II is our own safety. When we
grapple with foe, we multiply his
power to injure us. We infiame his
malice to itsmost destructive point.
When we seek to punish him, we
put ourselves on his level, and our
spirit Is as hot and wrathful as his.
The work of revenge is fraught
with peril. IL opens our souls to
the worst passions aud insures our
own pollution. 1t Is only when we
stand still that we are safe. An
enemy may hurt our reputation, or
iDjure our property, or destroy our
rights, but he cannot hurt us. Our
character is beyond. his reach, and
II that suffers, II must be by our own
errors and wrongs.
1t IS best for our enemy. We
must not dare to think for a mo-
ment of injuring him. Our solemn
religious duty Is to win, and, If it is
possible, to save him. He may be
a raging and deadly foe to us-his
soul may be afiame with the fiercest
hate; but we must remember that
he is a man. lie is in sore weak
ness and needs to be reclaimed from
folly and brought to repentance.
So There Is nothing that can so efiec-
tually save him as meekness on our
part. Our forbearance will check
his passions, and If there be one
generous spark in him, IL will be
into penitential flame by
Ln6 nOly Cdlu1ueSS duu uuFuIIl6u
of our nature. A soft an
,wer can never lose its soothing aud
reconcilipg power.
God is thefriend of the meek. IL
men Insist on settling their own
difficulties, God often allows them to
light it out to the ruin of both, But
hey, who intrust their defenses 10
Him are never disappointed. He
will bring to naught the counsels OF
Jlr enemies. He win make the
ongue of the, slanderer TO correct
is own lies. He will enable the
ufferer to walk unscathed through
he flames. ITs .H.r.
1t leaves'the punishment of our
,nemies with God. The wicked
Who trample, or injure us ought TO
'e punished but we little know
low or when the Punishment
hould be inflicted. But God
Inows, and he will repay.
Are you smarting beneath the
mitings of your adversary? Has
le sought to wound and destroy
you? Is he now on your track and
n hot pursuit? Are you agitated
nd ready TO turn and slay him?
Pause, brother; be still and wait;
rust in God, and he will bring you
'ut in triumph and honor.