Quelling the Fires of Anger

We took a break from Screwtape last night and focused our attention on Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." We used Charles Bridges' splendid commentary as a springboard for our discussion. I thought this quote would deserve wider viewing:

This is, alas! man's natural propensity, to feed rather than to quench, the angry flame: We yield to irritation; retort upon our neighbour; have recourse to self-justification; insist upon the last word; say all that we could say; and think we "do well to be angry." Neither party gives up an atom of the will. Pride and passion on both sides strike together like two flints; and “behold! how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” (Jam. iii. 5.) Thus there is the self-pleasing sarcasm; as if we had rather lose a friend, than miss a clever stroke.

At the end I pulled out a match and a piece of paper and asked the young people, "Which will win?" They all voted for the match. After lighting the match, I gently waved the paper. The fire was extinguished.

In God's world, angry passions are extinguished by a sweet and gentle spirit.