Id Chap. i8, efla E'xpofition upen the 'Book. of. J o s. Verf.4 continue ; never Paid, be ftedfaft in anger, or let contendings a- mong brethrencontinue. Anger againft fin, and enmity againft the feed of the Serpent muff continue, but the continuanceof anger againft any other, whether things or perlons, is finfull. Fifthly, If you will avoyd this anger, avoyd the occafions of it. They that are fubjed to pafiion, fhould keepe out of the way ofpailion. That King did wifely, who when curious glaf- fes were prefented to him, broke them himfelfe; and gave this reafon, left another breaking them it fhould provoke him to anger. 'Tis alto very memorable, That when ("afar had gotten the Cabinetof cposnpey his implacable enemy intohis poffeffion, he would not look over his Papers, becaufe he would not dill cover that which might !tire his pallion chafing rather to burne them; then to be burnt by them. 'Tis wifedome not to fearch into that which being found may over-ballance our wifedome. Sixthly, Give a candide Interpretation, both of words and a&ions; The giaífe through which we Tooke, gives its colour to the object. Anger is tìfually blowneup by mif-conftru&ions. What we judge ill meant, is aiwayes ill taken ; Love thinks no ill, and therefore believes and hopes that all is well. Give that which troubles thee another name ; if there be a miftake in it,yet fay, it is thy friends infirmity, or that he did it out ofignorance; if what he fpake pincheth, fay it proceeded from familiarity, or freeneffe.of fpirit. Seventhly, Give not an eafie Bare. to reports; doe not al- wayes heare what others fay of thee, or what 'tis laid they doe. Many teare themfelves with anger, when they heare themfelves torne with flander; and whilethey have a curiofity to hear what others fay of them, they want patience tobear what they heare. 'Tisbetter we fhould be in the dark concerning our own wrongs, then that we fhould wrong our felves by that pailion which the light we get about them ftirres up inus. He teareth hirf lfe in his anger. But was thisjuftly charged on rob ? I conceive that his friend, (as in other paffages, fo here )' finned againft the Law of Love, while he charged fob with fo much anger. It is hard to diftinguifh trouble of fpirit, from . paftion and diftemper.of fpirit. Yet the teftimony of Godhim- felfe
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