DireEtions againjl finful Wrath. Tit, 7· 'DireEtions againft finfnl Wrath or .Jinger. §. , AS Anger is a~ainfl the Love of our tleighbour, I !hall fpeak of it afterwar~s : As it is againfi the foul it felf, I fhall (peak of it in this place. Anger is th~ r1!ing up of the heart in paffionare difplicency againlt an appn:hended evil, which would crofs or hmder us of(ome defired good. It is given us by God for Good, to fiir us up to a _vigorous refiftance of tho~e thmgs which within us or without us do oppofe, his Glory or our falvauon, or our own or our ne1ghbours real good. . ~- 2· Ang~r is Good when it is thus ufed to its appointed end,. i~ a right r~unner and mea~urc: But it is finful, r. Whc:n it riferh up againfi God or any Good, as tf lt were evtl to us ! As w1cked men are angry at rhofe that would conv_ert _and favc them, and that. tell them of ~heir. fins, and ?in- . d~ them from the_ir defires. ~· When 1t dJfiurbeth ~eafon, a.nd hmde~cth our Judgmg of thmgs ~~?ra~~xf~:t anght. 3· When 1t cafieth us mto any unfeemly carnage, or caufeth, or dtfpofeth to any finful words confilio: lra or actions: when it enclincth us eo wrong another by word or deed, and to do as we would not be & f~flin:uio. done by. 4· When it is mifiaken, and without jufi caufe: S· When it is greater in meafure than Biaf in Laert. the cmfe alloweth. 6. When it unfirceth us for our du_ry to _God or man. 7· ~-~en it tendeth ro Rtld smca the abatement of Love and brotherly kindnefs, and the hmdermg of any good whiCh we (hould do Je lt#. and be for others : Much more when it breedech malice, and revenge, and contentions, and unpeaccablenefs alh~m!:d to in focieties, opprdfion of inferiours, or dithonouring of £Uperiours. 8. When it fiayeth too long, comt~ort of and ceafeth not when its lawful work is done. 9· When it is folfifo and carnal, fiirred up upon a ~c:at en. the account of fame carnal interefi, and ufed bur as a means to a felfifo carnal finful end : As to be angry with men only for crolling your Pride, or profit, or fports, or any other f\e(hly will: In all thefe it is finful, Dirc&iont Meditative •gainfl. (lnful Anger. 9· 3• Dire6t. ro Remember that immoderate anger ir an injury to ·hum:mity, and a. rebel againft the Diretl. f • Government ofReafon. It is without reafonand againft reafrm. Whereas in man all Paf!iom fhould be obedient to Rea[on : It is the mifcry ot madmji, and.he crime ofdruuk,.ennrfJ tO be the luppreffi'ng and dethroning of our F. ea[on : And finful Anger is a filOrt m:~dnefs or drunkcnnefs. Remember that thou art a man, and !Corn to fubje6t thy f<lf to a befiial fmy. ~· 4• Direcr. 2. It;, alfo againfl the Government ofGod: for God governeth the /{ationJl powm firj!, Direa. 2 , and the infcriottt by them. If you defiroy the Kings Officers and Judges, you oppo[e the Government of the Kmg. Is a man in paffion fit to obey the commands of God, that harh filenced his Reafon ~ 9· 5· Direct. 3· Sin(Hl Pa!Jion is u pain and m:~l.~dy oftbe mind. And will you love or cherifh )lOUr Dirc[i• .... dilea{e or pain~ Do you not feel your felves in p4itt and dife::..fed while it is upon you? 1 ~o not "' ' think you would rake all the world to live continuJ.IIy in dut cafe your [elves. If you Chould be {\.ill fo, what were you good for, or what could you er joy, or what comfort would your lives be to you~ Why, if a long pain be fo bad, ajhort one is not lovely? Keep nor w:lfully fo troublcfome a malady in your mind. 9· 6. Direcr. 4• Obferve alfo what an enemy it if ta the budy it {elf: It inflameth the blood, and Direa. 4; flirreth U~ difeafes, and brtedcrh fuch a bitter difpleafednefs in chc mind, as tends ro confume the ! !hengrh ot nature, and hath cafi many into Acute, and many into Chronkal fickndfes, which have pro~ed their death. And how uncomfortable a kind of death is this~ §. 7· DireCt. 5· Objtrve how unlovely and Hnpleafiug it renderethy:nt to beholders : defot miog the Dircti. 5 . countenance, and takmg away the amiable fweetnefs ef it, which appeared1 in a calm and Ji>ving ... temper. If you thould be alwayr1 fo, would any body love you~ or would they not go our of your r way, (if not lay hands on you) as rhey do by any thing that is wild or mad~ You would fca.rcc dt!- fire to have yom picture drawn in your fury, till the frowning wrinkles, and inflamed bhJod are· returned to their places, and have left your vifage to its uatural comelint..f!'. "Love nor that which makcth you fo unlovcly ro all others. §. 8.. DirtCt. 6. ToN foould love it the worfe bcc:m[e it i1 a hurtiJtg poffio~t, and an enemy to Love aml Direl'!. 6. t11 anfJtbers good. _You are never angry bur it inclineth you fO hurt thole that angred you, if not all '!-" others that Hand m y_our way: Ir putteth hurting thoughtr inro your 'mind, and hurting word1 into · your mouths, and cuchneth you to jtriJ!.! or do fame mifchief: And no· men love a lmnful creature. Avoid therefore fo mifchievous a paffion. , 9· 9· Dirccr. 7· Nay, mark the wrdency of it, and you rviUfind that if it lhauld not be jlopt it would Direa. 7· tend to :be vtry ruine of yrmr brotber, a11d endi;t hi1 b1Md 1 and )'Our own damnatiiJn. How many thou- '7fand harh anger murdered or undone: It hath cau{i:d Wars, and f"illed the world with blood and cruelry! And !hould your hearts give fuch a fury entertainment ~ ·.~· 10. Dirld. 8. Confider how m1!ch other fin immoderate afzge;doth i1t~line men to. It is the great Direa. s. cnme ofd, 1mknmefi that a man hlvmg not the government of h1rnfclf, JS made lyable by it to any ... wick<.dntfs : And fo is it with immoderate anger. How many Oaths and Curfe!s doth it caufe every ~:~~~I~~d'm1~ ftnrir~, fc · cne p:rculfum--· QJ.ti non iraCcitur, inconcu1fus injuria perGf!it : qui irafdt~o~r motus eft. verx, non S'mc.d!Ir.:~. l.J·'·f· day?
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