“HE never would say a word to his servants while he was out of temper,” said an old servant of a truly noble master— “never, whatever the provocation, but he waited till he was not angry. And how he was loved, for he was always just, as well as kind.”
Let this be taken by masters and by parents as a word of counsel. When a man is out of temper, or in a temper, he is not himself. Scolding is often but the letting off the steam of our ill feelings, and with such anger there is sin. Anger is very frequently but the result of selfishness, and an indulgence to a turbulent state of soul—a sinful relief to an explosive state of mind.
A godly man must be angry without sin, but if he lets his temper get up he will sin by his anger.
The Christian should never be out of temper, or in a temper, whatever the provocation, but since provocation does not always produce peace of soul, the example of admirable behavior of the fine character we have quoted should be imitated. In the instance before us, the gentleman in question acted as he did out of self-respect, he was too noble, too proud to dishonor himself, but the Christian should seek to act honorably and nobly, out of reverence for his Lord and Master. Besides which, Christ gives the power to behave with Christian nobility, He is the Christian’s strength. Let it not be that the noble-minded of this world shall shame the Christian by noble ways!