A sanctified man was walking down the street the other day with
his wife, when a filthy fellow on a passing wagon insulted her
with foul words. Instantly the temptation came to the man to want
to get hold of him and punish him, but as instantly the
indwelling Comforter whispered, "If ye will forgive men their
trespasses;" and instantly the clean heart of the man responded,
"I will, I do forgive him, Lord;" and instead of anger a great
love filled his soul, and instead of hurling a brick or hot words
at the poor Devil-deceived sinner, he sent a prayer to God in
Heaven for him. There was no friction in his soul. He was
perfectly adjusted to his Lord; his heart was perfectly
responsive to his Master's word, and he could rightly say, "My
temper is gone."
A man must have his spiritual eyes wide open to discern the
difference between sinful temper and righteous indignation.
Many a man wrongs and robs himself by calling his fits of temper
"righteous indignation;" while, on the other hand, there is here
and there a timid soul who is so afraid of sinning through temper
as to suppress the wholesome antagonism that righteousness, to be
healthy and perfect, must express towards all unrighteousness and
sin.
It takes the keen-edged word of God, applied by the Holy Spirit,
to cut away unholy temper without destroying righteous antagonism;
to enable a man to hate and fight sin with spiritual weapons
(2 Cor.
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