UNDISCIPLINED TEMPERS by Bishop Temple

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 14, 1880

UNDISCIPLINED TEMPERS.

By Bishop Temple

Of all things that are to be met with here on earth, there is nothing which can give such continual, such cutting, such useless pain, as an undisciplined temper. The touching and sensitive temper, which takes offense at a word; the irritable temper, which finds offense in everything, whether intended or not; the violent temper, which breaks through all bounds of reason when once roused; the jealous or sullen temper, which wears a cloud on the face all the day, and never utters a word of complaint; the discontented temper, brooding over its own wrongs; the severe temper, which always looks at the worst side of whatever is done; the willful temper, which overrides every scruple to gratify a whim—what amount of pain have these caused in the hearts of men, if we could but sum up their results! How many a soul have they stirred to evil impulses; how many a prayer have they stifled; how many an emotion of true affection have they turned to bitterness! How hard they sometimes make all duties! How painful they make all daily life! How they kill the sweetest and warmest of domestic charities! Ill temper is a sin requiring long and careful discipline.—Bishop Temple.