If any one takes heed in this, he will be mild, gentle, modest. For in guarding his mouth, and restraining his tongue, and in not speaking before examining, pondering, and weighing his words -- as to whether this should be said, that should be answered, or whether it be a suitable time for this remark -- he certainly is practicing modesty, gentleness, patience.
Ambrose, 340-397, Duties of the Clergy, Book I, Chapter IV, Paragraph 14 (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Volume X, Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, T & T Clark and Eerdmans, 1997, translated by Rev. H. De Romestin, p. 3)
How important is it to watch what we say? How can we go about this?
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Was Ambrose humble in saying this?
ReplyDeleteI think that he was because humility is not so much saying little but in speaking from our innermost being (i.e. John 7:38) rather than our flesh.
I would agree with that. But I do find that frequently if I say the first thing that comes to mind rather then consider it carefully first, the flesh is where it tends to be coming from.
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