Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:… Samuel Harris, of Virginia, shortly after he had begun to preach, was informed by one of his debtors that he did not intend paying him the debt owed "unless he sued him." Harris left the man's presence meditating. "What shall I do?" said he, for he badly wanted the money. "Must I leave preaching and attend to a vexatious lawsuit. Perhaps a thousand souls may perish in the meantime." He turned aside into a wood and sought guidance in prayer. Rising from his knees, he resolved to hold the man no longer a debtor, and at once wrote out a receipt in full, which he sent by a servant. Shortly after the man met him, and demanded what he meant. "I mean," said Harris, "just what I wrote." "But you know I never paid you," replied the debtor. "True," Harris answered; "and I know you said that you never would unless I sued. But, sir, I sued you at the court of heaven, and Christ has entered bail for you; I have therefore given you a discharge." "But I insist matters shall not be left so," said the man. "I am well satisfied," replied the other; "Jesus will not fail me. I leave you to settle the account with Him at another day. Farewell!" This operated so effectually on the man's conscience that in a few days he came and paid the debt. (H. T. Williams.)John Wesley had a misunderstanding with his travelling companion, Joseph Bradford, which resulted in his saying overnight that they must part. In the morning Wesley inquired of him, "Will you ask my pardon?" "No," said Bradbury. "Then I will ask yours," said the great preacher. This broke Bradbury down, who melted under the speech and wept like a child. (Life of Wesley.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:WEB: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. |
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