THE USE OF ENEMIES

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Sep 21, 1876

THE USE OF ENEMIES.

When a man complains of his enemies, it not only shows that his heart is filled with bitterness, and that he would not hesitate to retaliate if opportunity should offer, but also that he lacks wisdom as well as charity, in not considering how useful an enemy could be to him. A wise and faithful friend once spoke to his acquaintance upon this subject as follows:—

“You are ever complaining of the wrong and annoyance you suffer from your enemy, but you forget that more than half your trouble and fear comes from your own heart. Guard more against yourself, and you will have less reason to fear other enemies; for open enemies are far less dangerous than secret ones. The man is an enemy to himself who indulges in hatred toward his fellow-man, and meditates revenge against those of whose hostility he complains; for by cherishing such a temper of mind he makes himself an enemy of the God who condemns all implacability and malevolence of disposition. Now consider the matter calmly, and you will soon see how much good you may derive from an enemy, and thank God that so much good can come of evil.”—Baptist Weekly.