526 CHARACTER OF A SOUND, worldliness, or sensuality, or some reigning sin; Psal. x. 4. Matt.. xv. 19. 1 Cor. iii. 20. Isa. lv. 7. Jer iv. 14. vi. 19. XXXVI. 1. A Christian indeed is much employed in the gov- ernment 6f his passions ; and bath so far mastered them, as that they prevail not to pervert his judgment, nor to discompose his heart so far as to interrupt much his communion with God, nor to ensnare his heart to any creature, nor to breed any fixed unchari- tableness or malice in him, nor toCause his tongue to speak things injurious to God or man to curse, or swear, or rail, or lie; nor yet to cause him to hurt and injure any in his heart. But when pas- sion would be inordinate, either in delights or desires, or anger, or grief, or fear, or hope, he flieth to his helps to suppress and govern them. (Though fear is more out of man's power than the rest, and therefpre ordinarily bath less of sin.) He knoweth that Christ bath blessed the meek, Matt. v. 5.1 and bids us learn of him "to be meek and lowly ;" Matt. xi. 28, 29. And that 'a "meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price ;'? 1 Pet. iii. 4. It is, therefore, his care and course to give place to wrath when others are angry ; Rom. xii. 18, 19: And "if it be possible, as much as in him lieth, to live'peaceably with all men;" (Heb. xii. 14.) yea, to follow peace when it flieth from him, and not when he is revil- ed to revile again, nor to threatenor revenge himself on them that injure him ; 1 Pet. ii. 21 -24. Reason and charity hold the reins, and passion is kept under ; yea, it is used holily for God ; Ephes. 26. Slow to anger he is in his own cause, and watchful over his anger even in God's cause; Prof. xv. 18. xvi. 32. Ephes. iv. 31. Col. iii. 8. 2. But the weak Christian Both greatly show his weakness in his unruly passions; (if he have a temper of body disposed to pas- sion ;) they are oft rising and not easily kept under ; yea, and too often prevail for such unseemly words as maketh him become a dishonor to his profession. Oft he resolveth, and promiseth, and prayeth for help, and yet the next provocation showeth how little grace he hath to hold the reins. And his passionate desires, and delights, and love, and sorrows, acre oft as unruly as his anger, to the further weakening of his soul. They are like ague fits, that leave the health impaired. 3. And the seeming Christian bath much less power over those passions which must subserve his carnal mind. For anger it de- pendeth much upon the temperature of thebody ; and if that incline him not strongly to it, his credit or common discretion may sup- press it; unless you touch his chiefest camal interest, and then be will not only be angry, but cruel, malicious, and revengeful. But his carnal love, and desire,aid delight, which are placed upon that
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