Calmness. Socrates having received a blow upon the head, observed, that “it would be well if people knew when it was necessary to put on a helmet.” On another occasion, being attacked with opprobrious language, he calmly observed that “that man has not been taught to speak respectfully.” How much might Christians learn from this heathen.
“A soft Answer turneth away Wrath.” A Christian man, who was hated by one of his neighbors for his religion, was once attacked by him with abusive words, at his own door. He bore for a time the violence of the other’s language, who called him all the ill names he could think of. When, at length, he ceased, being exhausted with passion; the other meekly, but kindly and sincerely replied to him, “Will you come into my house and take some refreshment?” This was too much. The enemy was softened—he was overcome with this Christian conduct, and burst into tears. This was indeed a triumph.
Linnæus. The celebrated Linnæus always testified in his conversations, writings, and actions the greatest sense of God’s omniscience. He was, indeed, so strongly impressed with this idea that he wrote over the door of his library—“Live innocently; God is present.”
“Truth hath a quiet Breast.” When Swift was one day coolly and calmly arguing with a gentleman who had become exceedingly warm in dispute; one of the company asked him how he could keep his temper so well—“The the reason,” replied the dean, “is this—I have truth on my side.”
