+I. Put away all bitterness.+--All such passions, behaviour, and
language as are disgusting and offensive to others, wound their
tender feelings, and embitter their spirits. No temper is more
inconsistent with the felicity of social life than peevishness.
+II. Put away wrath and anger.+--The former signifies heat of temper,
the latter this heat wrought into a flame. Though anger, as a sense
and feeling of the wrongs done us, is innocent and natural, all the
irregular and excessive operations of it are sinful and dangerous.
+III. Put away all malice.+--This is a degree of passion beyond
simple anger. It is a fixed, settled hatred, accompanied with a
disposition to revenge. It is anger resting in the bosom and studying
to do mischief. Malice is a temper which every one condemns in
others, but few discern in themselves.
+IV. Put away all clamour and evil speaking.+--Clamour is noisy,
complaining, and contentious language in opposition to that which is
soft, gentle, and courteous. Never believe, much less propagate, an
ill report of your neighbour without good evidence of its truth.
Never speak ill of a man when your speaking may probably do much
hurt, but cannot possibly do any good.
+V. Christians are to be kind one to another.+--Such kindness as
renders us useful. Kindness wishes well to all men, prays for their
happiness, and studies to promote their interest. It will reprove
vice and lend its aid to promote knowledge and virtue.
+VI. Christians should be tenderhearted.+--They should not be guided
by a blind, instinctive pity; but by habitual goodness of heart,
cultivated with reason, improved by religion, and operating with
discretion. While they commiserate all who appear to be in
affliction, they should regard among them the difference of
characters and circumstances.
+VII. We are to forgive one another.+--Forgiveness does not oblige us
tamely to submit to every insult and silently bear every injury. To
those who have injured us we should maintain goodwill and exercise
forbearance. God's forgiveness of our sins is urged as a motive to
mutual forgiveness. "Even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven
you." He who forgives not an offending brother will not be forgiven
of his heavenly Father.--_Lathrop._
_Malice incompatible with the Christian Character._
I. +That we may be convinced of the hatefulness of a malignant temper
look to the source whence it proceeds.+--From the bitterness of the
fountain we may judge of the character of the water which it sends
forth. From the corruptness of the tree we may estimate the character
of the fruit. The author of malice is the devil.
II. Let us after the same manner +proceed to appreciate the
loveliness of the opposite quality,+ the quality of mercy and
lovingkindness, by a reference to its Author. Malice is gratified by
murder. In God we live and move and have our being. Malice is
envious. God giveth us richly all things to enjoy. Malice is false
and calumnious. God sent His Son into the world to give light to them
that sit in darkness. Malice is resentful and vindictive, impatient
of offence, and intemperate in requiring satisfaction. God is love.
III. Let us turn for a +further motive to the character and conduct
of the Son of God.+--He has given us an example of the most profound
humility, a temper in which malice has no portion, and which cannot
exist independently of lovingkindness and tenderness of heart.
IV. +To the example of our blessed Redeemer let us add His
commandments; and there arises another forcible motive to put away
all malice and to be kind one to another.+--"A new commandment I give
unto you, that ye love one another."
V. +If we would avoid a malicious and cultivate a charitable temper,
we must renounce the devil and all his works.+--We must triumph over
those passions which he plants and propagates in the heart of
man.--_R. Mant._