exhorts women to adorn themselves with the ornament of a meek and quiet
spirit, which is, in the sight of God, of great price.

LONG-SUFFERING and GENTLENESS are twin-daughters of Meekness. The latter
is the disposition of the heart. The former are the actions which flow
out from that disposition, in our intercourse with others.
Long-suffering is godlike. It is an imitation of the forbearance of God
towards his rebellious creatures. He is long-suffering, and slow to
anger. He does not let his anger burn hot against sinners, till all
means of bringing them to repentance have failed. O, how should this
shame us, who cannot bear the least appearance of insult or injury from
our fellow-sinners, without resentment! But, if we would be the children
of our Father in heaven, we must learn to bear ill treatment with a meek
and quiet and forgiving temper. Gentleness is one of the most lovely of
all the graces of the Spirit. It is a "softness or mildness of
disposition and behavior, and stands opposed to harshness and severity,
pride and arrogance." "It corrects whatever is offensive in our manner,
and, by a constant train of humane attentions, studies to alleviate the
burden of common misery;" the constant exercise of this spirit is of the
greatest importance to the Christian who would glorify God in his life,
and do good to his fellow-creatures.

GOODNESS is another fruit of the Spirit. I suppose the apostle here
means the same that he expresses in another place by "bowels of mercies
and kindness." It is doing good both to the bodies and souls of others,
as we have opportunity. "Be kindly affectioned one to another." "Be ye
kind one to another, tender-hearted." This is a distinguishing trait in
the Christian character. It shone forth in all its loveliness in our
divine Redeemer. He _went about_ doing good. So ought we to imitate his
example. It should be our chief aim and study to make ourselves useful