Let us all try Samuel Rutherford's piecemeal way of reformation with our
own anger; let us put a bridle on our mouths part of every day. Let us
do this if we can as yet go no further; let us bridle our mouths on
certain subjects, and about certain people, and in certain companies. If
you have some one you dislike, some one who has injured or offended you,
some rival or some enemy, whom to meet, to see, to read or to hear the
name of, always brings hell's dunnest gloom into your heart--well, put
off this piece of your sin concerning him; do not speak about him. I do
not say you can put the poison wholly out of your heart; you cannot: but
you can and you must hold your peace about him. And if that beats
you--if, instead of all that making you more easily master of your
corruption, it helps you somewhat to discover how deep and how deadly it
is--then Samuel Rutherford will not have written this old letter in vain
for you.




XI. ALEXANDER GORDON OF EARLSTON


'A man of great spirit, but much subdued by inward exercise.'
Livingstone's _Characteristics_.

The Gordons of Airds and Earlston could set their family seal to the
truth of the promise that the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to
everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness to children's
children. For the life of grace entered the Gordon house three long
generations before it came to our Alexander of to-night, and it still