RESENTMENT by JOS. CLARKE.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 1, 1869

RESENTMENT.

By JOS. CLARKE.

It is considered honorable, by the world, to encourage a spirit of “manly honor” as they call it. Especially has this principle been encouraged at the South, and the result, in part, has been seen in the late rebellion. This spirit of resentment manifests itself in different ways, according to circumstances. At the South, pistols and bowie-knives were the instruments in the settlements of old grudges or fresh insults. At the North, among gentlemen, more refined means have been taken to square off with such as give offense or injury. With some, the tongue is used as a means of offense and defense, and it is a rule with many to come off even with an enemy if it takes a lifetime to do it.

This principle being natural to the human heart, it needs but little cultivation to become very strong indeed, and many a countenance carries the unmistakable evidence of this passion. Coupled as this vice is, in most cases, with a heart impure and profane, it becomes hideous and ugly in the extreme.

Often it happens, that a word dropped innocently, and with the purest motives, but with inconsideration and want of forethought, falls upon the ear of the resentful man, who sees in it nothing but evil and bitterness; and he works himself into a furor of passion, before the speaker really understands what has been going on.

In consequence of a trifling mistake a misunderstanding may arise, which from some delicate considerations, an explanation becoming impossible, may give rise to enmity, lasting a lifetime, and eventuating in the most disastrous consequences, especially if the offended man is wily and unscrupulous. Revenge, deep and thorough, prompted by passion, rankles in the heart for long periods of time, and often ends only in large reprisals.

To satisfy this brutal passion, many a heart has been wounded, many a fortune has been ruined, many a life been destroyed, many a reputation blasted, many a plan of action made to miscarry, many a battle fought, and many a cause betrayed.

I must say that nothing has surprised me more in my little personal knowledge of my fellow-men, than the extent and depth of this evil.

But wide-spread as this evil is, it can not be expected that those who accept the present truth are all free from this vice. With many there is more or less of this sin to overcome; and it must be overcome, or eternal life will be forfeited and lost forever.

My dear brother, are you sometimes inwardly agitated by a supposed affront, or by a real injury? Does it move you deeply when you are hit by the words of the wise? Are you provoked to anger thereby? Do you, as you retire to meditate in solitude, allow such thoughts to rankle in your bosom, stirring up the turbid waters of the carnal heart? Does the gall of bitterness spread its poison over your heated brain?

Stop and think of Him who was truly noble; no resentment ever moved his heavenly temper, no breath of resentment ever for a moment clouded his clear and infinite mind; he was made the butt of ridicule and abuse in Herod's and Pilate's presence; yet he gave no signs of anger or revenge, nor did he feel in any wise disposed to retaliate, but the more he was contented the more did he pray for his persecutors.

JOS. CLARKE.