Let me see
if I can reckon up its evils! It makes those miserable whom one would
wish to make happy; it often, like an adverse gale, forces them to
back, instead of steering straight for the port. It dishonours one's
profession, lowers one's flag, makes the world mock at the religion
which can leave a man as rough and rugged as a heathen savage. It's
directly contrary to the Word of God,--it's wide as east from west of
the example set before us! Yes, a furious temper is a very evil thing;
I'd give my other leg to be rid of mine!" and in the warmth of his
self-reproach the sailor struck his wooden one against the hearth with
such violence as to make Alie start in terror that some fierce explosion
was about to follow.
"Well, I've made up my mind as to its being an evil--a great evil,"
continued Jonas, in his quiet meditation; "the next question is, how
is the evil to be got rid of? There's the pinch! It clings to one like
one's skin. It's one's nature,--how can one fight against nature? And
yet, I take it, it's the very business of faith to conquer our evil
nature. As I read somewhere, any dead dog can float with the stream;
it's the living dog that swims against it. I mind the trouble I had
about the wicked habit of swearing, when first I took to trying to serve
God and leave off my evil courses.
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