How to avoid Fretfulness.
By Editor
[An esteemed brother has sent us the following for publication, from the Golden Rule. We shall do well to make an application of it, at home and abroad.] "Christian! walk carefully—danger is near,
Work out the journey with trembling and fear;
Snares from without, and temptations within
Seek to entice thee again into sin." Fretfulness or a spirit of complaining is a sin of all sins the most frequent, and destructive to domestic happiness. Indeed, we have known whole families rendered miserable from this source. Peevishness or a disposition to fret, even at little things is truly and emphatically the mischief maker, the apple of discord. 'Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!' Any rules, or antidote, remedying this prevalent evil will be considered a desideratum, more valuable than the philosopher's stone. First, then, stop! stop short, the very instant you feel any risings of irritability or peevishness; stop, and reflect, how useless, unlovely, unavailable, unprofitable, yes, how hateful and very wicked it is to indulge in this habit. Think, how much it gratifies Satan, destroys your own peace and comfort, grieves the Holy Spirit and dishonors Christ. Even one word, while in a fretful, angry frame, will 'set on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell!' Stop! stop! 'leave off contention before it be meddled with.' 'If a man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man.' Therefore, again: 2. We say stop! The very moment you feel any disposition to fret—stop! keep silence, keep your mouth as with a bridle, set a double guard at your lips, bar them, lock them up, utter not a syllable, a single thought, till there is a cooling off, time for reflection and prayer—raise your heart to God, for conquest. 3. Besides this profound silence and ejaculatory prayer, plead the promises. 'Blessed is the man that endureth temptation,' &c. See James i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Also 1 Cor. x, 13. 4. Endeavor, at all times to cultivate a spirit of calmness and self possession under all circumstances of provocation, and trial. 'Let your moderation be known to all men; the Lord is at hand.' 5. Think of your own misdoings, how much you cause others to be displeased at your behavior. No one that duly considers his own faults and aberrations will be likely to fret at the misconduct of others. 6. Consider the Providences of God. Nothing does or can occur except under the direct or indirect control of infinite wisdom and benevolence. 7. Think, much on the goodness and forbearance of God, his infinite patience and long suffering under the most atrocious and aggravating insults. 8. Let the example of Christ be vividly and constantly before your mind.
'Consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye also be wearied and faint in your minds.'
Especially remember, that while enduring the agonies of the cross, He prayed, 'Father, forgive them,' &c. 9. Accustom yourself to look chiefly on the bright side of things, not on the dark. Dwell mostly on the good qualities of those with whom you associate, not on the bad. Make due allowances also, for the varied temperaments, circumstances, education, &c., of evil doers. 10. Pray for those tempters and evil doers, with whom you come in contact. You can never fret against those, for whom your soul is burdened, for whose salvation you feel a deep, longing, prayerful interest. 11. Finally: seek earnestly for a baptism of the Holy Spirit, a holy, sanctified soul, a deep and lasting sympathy with Christ. This entire consecration to God, praying always, in the Spirit, is the only sure safeguard against fretfulness and all other sins. "Christian! walk prayerfully—oft wilt thou fall,
If thou forget on the Saviour to call,
Safe shalt thou walk through each trial and care,
If thou art clad in the armor of prayer."