March 28

MARCH 28.—“Gentleness.”—Galatians 5:22.

PAUL here speaks of gentleness, not as a natural temper, but as “the fruit of the Spirit.” James also considers it as an attribute and character of inspired religion: “The wisdom that is from above is gentle.” This is surely recommendation enough to induce us to make it the object of devout attention. Gentleness is very distinguishable from weakness of mind, and the fawning of flattery. It requires us to give up no truth, to abandon no duty. Principle and consistency are not only compatible with it, but necessary to it. Lead is too soft as well as too worthless to be stamped into coin and currency. You cannot polish a sponge, or a fungus; solid bodies only can admit the process; and the firmer they are, the better will they shine. But gentleness must exclude arrogance, insolence, violence, harshness, rudeness, and every thing offensive and painful that can be avoided with integrity and rectitude. There is an artificial mildness, and a studied softness of manners learned in the school of the world, that often covers baseness and ill-nature, and envy and hatred. But a Christian is to be an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile. He is to be in reality what others are in appearance and pretence: he is from inward disposition naturally to exemplify what others from education or custom put on. And how lovely and engaging is that unaffected civility, that courtesy which springs freely from the state of the mind and heart under the renewing influence of divine grace! He that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men. It recommends his religion by adorning it, and gives him a thousand beneficial influences in dealing with his fellow-creatures. A man may wait even years before he has an opportunity for acts of high beneficence and extensive usefulness; but he can exercise gentleness every day and every hour; and contribute to the advantage and happiness of all that are about him. And does he not thereby equally befriend himself? Does it not preserve calmness and sunshine within? And are not all the mild and kind affections conducive even to the health of the body?

Let us therefore cultivate this gentleness. Let it enter our habits, and spread through our whole behaviour. Let it constantly actuate our temper, and regulate our speech. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away from us with all malice, and let us be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven us. Let us in all our religious concerns remember that the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be patient towards all men; in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves. The way to convince another is not to affront, and insult, and provoke him, and drive him to resistance; but to show him that you love him, and are only concerned to do him good. Some have no sooner expressed their belief that a man can receive nothing unless it be given him from above, than they condemn and reproach him for a destitution, which, according to them, is not his guilt but his misfortune! Is a brother overtaken in a fault? Let us restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering ourselves lest we also be tempted. Have we occa-