A Sober Mind is Gentle

You must be mild and gentle, and not indulgent of your passions. The word here used signifies moderation, such a soundness of mind as is opposed to frenzy and violence. We have need of sobriety to restrain and repress not only our inordinate appetites towards those things that are pleasing to sense, but our irregular resentment of those things that are displeasing; for such a vexatious knowledge of good and evil has mankind got by eating of the forbidden tree.

Young people are especially apt to be hot and furious, to resent injuries, and to study revenge, like Simeon and Levi, whose anger was cursed, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel; and therefore the passion is ungoverned, because the pride is unmodified. They are fond of liberty, and therefore cannot bear control; and wedded to their own opinion, and therefore cannot bear contradiction, but are all in a flame presently, if any one cross them; and they reckon that an honor, which is really their shame — to lay the reins on the neck of their passions, not caring what indecencies they are transported into by them, nor considering how mischievous the consequences may be.

Learn betimes to bridle your anger — to guard against the sparks of provocation, that they may not fall into the tinder; or, if the fire be kindled, put it out presently, by commanding the peace in your own souls, and setting a watch before the door of your lips. And when at any time you are affronted, or think yourselves so, aim not at the wit of a sharp answer, which will stir up anger, but at the wisdom and grace of a soft answer, which will turn away wrath (Prov. 15:1).

By the good government of your passions, you will make yourselves easy, and easy to those about you; and a great deal of mischief both to others and to yourselves will be prevented.

You are setting out in the world, and would have your passage through it comfortable. Now there is nothing will contribute more to that than a quiet spirit: “The meek shall inherit the earth,” was God’s promise, by David first (Ps. 37:11); and afterwards by the Son of David (Matt 5:5); and that if they possess not an abundance of wealth, yet they shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. By the good government of your passions, you will make yourselves easy, and easy to those about you; and a great deal of mischief both to others and to yourselves will be prevented.

The moral philosophers valued themselves very much upon the power which their instructions had upon young people, to soften and sweeten their temper, and teach them to govern their passions, and keep a strict hand upon them. And shall Christianity which, to all the arguments which reason suggests for meekness, adds the authority of the God that made us, forbidding rash anger as heart-murder — the example of the Lord Jesus Christ that bought us, and bids us learn of Him to be meek and lowly in heart —the consolations of the Spirit, which have a direct tendency to make us pleasant to ourselves and others — and our experiences of God’s mercy and grace in forbearing and forgiving us — shall this divine and heavenly institution come short of their instructions, in plucking up this root of bitterness which bears gall and wormwood, and making us peaceful, gentle, and easy to be entreated, which are the bright and blessed characters of the wisdom from above? (James 3:17).

If you suffer your passions to become uncontrolled now when you are young, they will be in danger of growing more and more headstrong, and of making you perpetually uneasy; but if you get dominion over them now, you will easily keep dominion, and so keep the peace in your hearts and houses, and through the grace of God, it will not be in the power even of sickness or old age to make you peevish, to sour your temper, or embitter your spirits. Put on therefore among the ornaments of your youth, “as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and long-suffering.” Your age is made for love; let holy love therefore be a law to you.

Rev. Matthew Henry (1662–1714) pastored a Presbyterian congregation at Chester, England, for twenty-five years. He is best known and loved for his Bible commentary (1708–10). This series of articles is taken from his The Young Christian.

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