PraEtical 'DireEtions againft finful Anger. 343 ------- §. 2. Direct. 2· Bt fore that you kJep a bumbled foul, that overv:J!uetl! not.it fllf; for Humility Di.rcft. 2· Up.1timt and aggravateth not injmit1: Bu_t a proud man ta~et aU thi_ngs as heinoJU or imole~ab!e th. .Jt are jilid or dme agailljl him. He that th1~k_s mea.nly of hunfelf~ th1~~s ~eanly of a~I that IS. fa,_c;,l or done againfl himfelf. But he that magmfieth hunfel(, dot~ magmtie Ius provoca_r,ons. Pnde ~~ a mofi imparient fin; There is no pleating a proud perfon, wnhout a great deal of Wit, and care, and diligence. You mutt cemc about them as you do about Straw or_Gunpowder with a ~andle. Pr~v. 13. 10. Only by pride comcrb comention: P_rov•. 28. 25· He that u ?fa proztd heart fhrreth ,p jlrifo. Prov. 2 z, 24· Proud and haugbty [corner 11 hu name, who dealeth tif proud wrath. Pfal. 31· 18. Let tht IJ•ing lips be put to filtnce, which fptak 'grievous thingt proudly aJJd contemptuoujly againjl the ~ighte- "IU• H~tmility and merl{,nefs and patience live and dye together. §· 3· Direct. 3· 'fak,.e heed of • worldly covetom mind : for that [ettcth [o much by earthly things, Dirtll• 3• that tvt•ry lojJ, or croji, or injury will be able to difquiet him, ~1td enft.t~me his paffio!f. Ntither migb· hour, nor child, nor fervam can pleafe a covetoUf man: Every lmle uefpafs., or crolhng his commodity roucheth him to the quick, and maketh him impatient. ~· 4· DireCt. 4· Stop your Paffion iH the begimzi~tg, ~tfore it go too far. Its. ea£iefi rnederated at Dird1, 4• firtl. Watch againfl: the firfi fiirrings of your wrath, and prefemly command It down: Reafon and JYiU, can do much if you.will but ufe them according to their power. A fpark is foonerquenched than a flune: and this Serpent is ea£iliefi c,rufhed in the fpawn. ~· 5• DireCt. 5· Command your tongue, andha1td, and countenance, ifyote ca;mot prefemly quiet or v· e{i 5' comma1Jd ymtr paf!ion: And fo you will avoid the greateft of the fin, and the paffion it [elfwill quick~ ;r ' • Jy be llifled for want of vent : You cannot fay, that it is not in your power to hold your tongue or bandt if you will. Do not only avoid that fwedring and curfing which are the marks of rhe.prophane, but avoid manywqrds till you·~re fitter to ufe them, and avoid expofiulations, and contending, and bitter, opprobious., cutring fp..'eches, which tend to fiir up the wrath of others. And ufe a mild and gentle fpeech, which favoureth of Love, and tendeth to aff"wage the heat thats kindled, Prov. I 5· r. A foft anfwer turnttb away wrath : but grievouJ words ftir up angerAnd rlut whtch mollificth and ap.. peafeth another, will much conduce to the appeafing of your fcives. 1 ~· 6. Direct. 6. At leaf! command your[elf into q«ietneji tiU Rea[oll b, heard [peak, and while you Direll. 6. Jelibtrale: Be not fo hafiy as not to thini(_ what you fay or do. A little delay will abJte the fury, and give Rcafon time to do its office. Prov. 2 5· 1 5· By long forbearing ir. a Prince pe1{waded. and a fofi unfwer brealt.!th th~ bone. Patience will lenifie anothe~s wrath: and 1f you ufe it but fo long aS a little to fiay your felves, till reafon be awake, it will lenihe your owm And he is a fury and not a man, that cannot flop while he ciJnjidereth. ~· 7· Direct. 7• If you cannot eafilier quiet ur reftrain your {elver, go aWay from tbe place andcom~ Diretf. 7: pany. And then you will not be heated by contending words, nor exafperate others by your con~ rending. When you are alone the fire will affwage, Prov. 14· 7·. Go away from the prefenc'e df a f ool.- ijh man, when tbou perceivejf not in him 'tbe lip1 of ~now/edge : You will not ftand Hill and ftir in a Wafps Nefl when you have enraged them. . 9· 8. Direct. 8. Yea, ordinarily avoid· much talk, or: dlfputu,. or bufitufl with angry mm, aJ far as Dire{l. S. you can without avoiding your duty : andavoid aU otber occafiont and temptation! to the fin: Aman that is in danger of a :Feavor, mull avoid that which ki1ldleth it. Come not among the infected, if llnicuique you fear the Plague. Stand not in the Sun) if you are too hot already. Keep as far as you can pertinlcius_ from that which mofi proVoketh you. j~:~~~~t~b~;e · . · , . . . , . cnufam pt'r-: m!tte, tacendoqj contumact cede: tic uterq; quteu & tmperturbltl permanebnt~. 71Jilll/(r, ftor. paJ,. 84. , 9· 9· Direct. 9· Meditate not on injuries or provol(jng things_when you .art .alo.ne : [uf[er not your Direlf. 9• t'hoUghll to feed uptm them. Elfc you will be Devils to your ~elves, and tempt your felvh when you have none elfe to tempt you; and will make your folimde a~ provoking as if you were in comp:my : And you will he angring your fdvcs by your own i~aginations. _ , §. 10· Direct. 10. Keep upon your minds tbe livtf:y thougbu of tbe t,xemplary mtebufs mtd patience of Direl/. 10 • Jtfut Cbr~ll: who calleth you to learn of him to be meek,.and lowly, Matt~.''· 28, 29· Who b<ing reviled, revilednot again, when he fuffered be threa~md H9t: ltaving HJ an exaJnplt that we jhmJld foUow hit jlcps, I Per. 2.z I, 23. Who bath pronounced a fpecial bleffing on the Meek, tha<they jhaU inberit the earth. Matth. 5• 50. . . . ~· ll· Direct. u. Live at in Gods prefe.nce: and ~hen your paj]ions grow bold repreft tbem with tbe Direl1. P• reVerend Name of God, and bid them remember that God a1zd hH holy 4nJ!.elt fee yore. . §.12. Dir&Cl-. 12· LooJt o~totl~irsintbeir paf!ion, a11d{te howzmlovely tbey make t}JemfelveJ,: \Vith Direll. 12· frowning countenances, and flammg eyes, and threatning devouring 1o'?ks, and hurtful inclinations ; And thinK with your felves, whether thefe ar.efour m6fi dcfirable patferns. . , . §· 13. Direct. i3. Without any delay confefs the ji11 to th•fe that ftand by (if eafier meant wiU Hot Dire{/. tJ• rtprifr it ) : Andprefintly tak.! the fham~ to y_our {elves, a'!J jhame tbe fin imd honour God : This means is in your power if you will ; and it will bC: an excellent clfedual means. Say ro rhoff! that you are angry with, I find a finful anger kindling in me, and I begin to forget Godt pr,rfe~ce and. 1 ,; 1 duty, and am tempted to fpeak,.provokjng rvordt to you, which I l<.•ow G9d bath forbidden me (O do. Sucb a pr<fent opening of your temptation, will break th~ forc7 ~f it : An~ fuoh a fpec5ly confcffion will flop the fire thar it go no further : For Jt will be an engagement upon you in point of honour, even the reputation both of your wit aad ho•ejly, which will both fuffer by it, if you go on in the fin Yy ~~
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