S U N D A Y   S N I P P E T S (tm) # 6 7                   19 May '96

                    A Soft Answer - Prov. 15:1
                   by Charles Bridges (d. 1869)


A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grevious words stir up anger. (Pr 15:1)

What a valuable mine of practical wisdom is this Book of God!  Let us 
ponder this valuable rule for self-discipline, family peace, and Church 
unity.  Scripture often illustrates the different effects of the tongue.  
The soft answer is the water to quench -  Grevious words are the oil to 
stir up, the fire.  And this is alas! man's natural propensity, to feed 
rather than to quench, the angry flame.  We yield to irritation; retort 
upon our neighbour; have recourse to self-justification; insist upon the 
last word; say all that we could say; and think we "do well to be angry."
(Jonah 4:9.)  Neither party gives up an atom of the will.  Pride and 
passion on both sides strike together like two flints; and "behold! how 
great a matter a little fire kindleth!" (James 3:5.)  Thus there is the 
self-pleasing sarcasm; as if we had rather lose a friend, than miss a
clever stroke.  All this the world excuses as a sensitive and lively temper.
But the gospel sets before us our Saviour's example (1 Peter 2:23); imbues
with his spirit; and imparts that blessed "charity, that is not easily 
provoked" (1 Cor. 13:5); and therefore is careful not to provoke a chafed
or wounded spirit.  If others begin, let us forbear from continuing the 
strife.  `Patience is the true peace-maker'.  Soft and healing words gain 
a double victory - over ourselves and our brother.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sunday Snippets" is the trademark of G. MacKenzie Strickland.  May be 
freely redistributed  - Please forward to a friend.  Sunday Snippets are
archived on my homepage:   http://www.ccn.cs.dal.ca/~ab531/Profile.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Do yourself and your community a good turn: Go to church on Sunday.





---------------------------------------------------------
file: /pub/resources/text/sunday.snippets: snip96-067.txt
.