A much lower stage of self-control, and one in which you may immediately begin to exercise yourself, is the prevention of your thoughts from dwelling for one moment on any offence against you, looking upon such offence in this point of view alone, that it is one of those divinely-sent opportunities of Christian warfare without which you could make no advance in the spiritual life.  The consideration of the subject of temper, as connected with habits of thought, on which I have dwelt so long and in so much detail, is of the greatest importance.  It is absolutely impossible that you can exercise control over your temper, or charitable and forgiving feelings toward those around you, if you suffer your mind to dwell on what you consider their faults and your own injuries.  Are you, however, really aware that you are in the habit of indulging such thoughts?  I doubt it.  Few people observe the direction in which their thoughts are habitually exercised until they have practised for some little time strict watchfulness over those shadowy and fleeting things upon which most of the realities of life depend.  Watch yourself, therefore, I entreat you, even during this one day.  I ask only for one day, because I know that, in a character like yours, such an examination, once begun in all earnestness, will only cease with life.  It is of sins of ignorance and carelessness alone that I accuse you; not of wilfully harbouring malicious and revengeful thoughts.  You have never, probably, observed their existence:  how, then, could you be aware of their tendency?  Perhaps the following illustration may serve to suggest to you proofs of the danger of the practice I have been warning you against.  If one of your acquaintance had offended another, you would feel no doubt as to the sinfulness and the cruelty to both of dwelling on all the aggravating circumstances of the offence, until the temper of the offended one was thoroughly roused and exasperated, though, before the interference of a third person, the subject may have been passed over unnoticed.  Is not this the very process you are continually carrying on in your own mind, to your own injury, indeed, far more than to any one else’s?  These habits of thought must be altered, or no other measures of self-control can prosper with you, though, in connection with this primary one, many others must be adopted.

One practice that has been found beneficial is that of offering up a short prayer, even as your hand is upon the door which is to admit you into family intercourse, an intercourse which, more than any other, involves duties and responsibilities as well as privileges and pleasures.  This practice could insure your never entering upon a scene of trial, without having the subject of difficulty brought vividly before your mind.  David’s prayer—­“Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips"[33]—­would be very well suited to such occasions as these.  This prayer would, at the same time, bring you down help from Heaven, and, by putting you on your guard, rouse your own energies to brave any temptation that may await you.