ness, gentleness, which when united with strength, is one of the loveliest attributes of our nature. The blessed Saviour says of himself, “I am meek (πρᾶος) and lowly in heart,” Matt. 11, 29; and the apostle speaks of “the gentleness of Christ,” 2 Cor. 10, 1. Meekness is that unresisting, uncomplaining disposition of mind, which enables us to bear without irritation or resentment the faults and injuries of others. It is the disposition of which the lamb, dumb before the shearers, is the symbol, and which was one of the most wonderful of all the virtues of the Son of God. The most exalted of all beings was the gentlest.
The third associated virtue which becomes the voca- tion wherewith we are called, is long-suffering ; μακρο- θυμία, a disposition which leads to the suppression of anger, 2 Cor. 6,6. Gal. 8, 22. Col. 3,12; to defer- ring the infliction of punishment, and is therefore often attributed to God, Rom. 2,4; 9, 22. 1 Pet. 3,10; and to patient forbearance towards our fellow men, 2 Tim. 4,2. 1Tim.1,16. It is explained by what follows, Sorbearing one another in love. Or, rather, the three virtues, humility, meekness, and long-suffering, are all illustrated and manifested in this mutual forbearance. ᾿Ανέχω, is to restrain, ἀνέχομαι, to restrain oneself, ἀνεχόμενοι ἀλλήλων ἐν ἀγάπῃ, therefore, means restrain- ing yourselves in reference to each other in love. Let love induce you to be forbearing towards each other.
The construction of the passage adopted by our translators is preferable to either connecting μετὰ μακροθ. with avey. “with long-suffering forbearing,” or