Mind, Character, and Personality Vol. 2 - Second Advent Revival

wicked railing is placed in the same list as common swearing. While hatred is cherished
in the soul there is not one iota of the love of God there.--Lt 102, 1901. (HC 235.)
{2MCP 520.3}
Petulant Man is Seldom Content.--No one else can lessen our influence as we
ourselves can lessen it through the indulgence of uncontrollable temper. A naturally
petulant man does not know true happiness and is seldom content. He is ever hoping to
get into a more favorable position or to so change his surroundings that he will have
peace and rest of mind. His life seems to be burdened with heavy crosses and trials,
when, had he controlled his temper and bridled his tongue, many of these annoyances
might have been avoided. It is the "soft answer" which "turneth away wrath." Revenge
has never conquered a foe. A well-regulated temper exerts a good influence on all
around; but "he that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down,
and without walls."--4T 367, 368 (1879). {2MCP 520.4}
Easier to be Uninhibited Before a Crowd.--It is worse, far worse, to give
expression to the feelings in a large
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gathering, firing at anyone and everyone, than to go to the individuals who may have
done wrong and personally reprove them. The offensiveness of this severe,
over-bearing, denunciatory talk in a large gathering is of as much more grave a
character in the sight of God than giving personal, individual reproof, as the numbers
are greater and the censure more general. It is ever easier to give expression to the
feelings before a congregation, because there are many present, than to go to the
erring and, face-to-face with them, openly, frankly, plainly state their wrong course.
{2MCP 520.5}
But bringing into the house of God strong feelings against individuals and making all
the innocent as well as the guilty suffer is a manner of labor which God does not
sanction and which does harm rather than good. It has too often been the case that
criticizing and denunciatory discourses have been given before a congregation. These
do not encourage a spirit of love in the brethren. They do not tend to make them
spiritually minded and lead them to holiness and heaven, but a spirit of bitterness is
aroused in hearts. These very strong sermons that cut a man all to pieces are
sometimes positively necessary to arouse, alarm, and convict. But unless they bear the
especial marks of being dictated by the Spirit of God they do far more injury than they
can do good.--3T 507, 508 (1880). {2MCP 521.1}
Reason Dethroned by Anger.--I hope you will go over the ground carefully and
consider your first temptation to depart from the rules of the college. Study critically the
character of the government of our school. The rules which were enforced were none
too strict. But anger was cherished; for the time being reason was dethroned and the
heart was made a prey to ungovernable passion. Before you were aware, you had
taken a step which a few hours previous you would not have taken under any pressure