Chap.9. about f1nger, Wráth, Malicé, &c. Thirdly, immoderate , and immodeft anger : which may be difcerncd by thefe fignes. a. When men utter words difhonourable to God by blafpheming, fwearina, curling , &c. or opprobrious to theirneighbours , as when their anger break- erh out into bitter and reviling fpeeches , as Shemei did agatnfl Da- vid , z Sam. 16. 5. the felves agatnfl Steven, Ails 7. S4. Forbidden , £phef. 4. 3 2. . When we have no regard of order , and comelineffe, either in refpeél of our felves, or thofe with whomwe areangry : In refpe& of our felves when (though private men) we take revenge, which belongs to God , I&om. 1 z. 19. In refpe& of the party with whomwe are angry ; as when a fonne being angry with his father ( though upon juft caufe ) ufeth him uñreverently and fo of fervants towards their Mailers , btc. and all inferiours towards their fuperiours. 1. When it makes us forget any duty of love which we owe to them , as to pray for them , and endeavour their reformation : So in the Difciples, Lulu 9. 54. k. When it flits us up to violent and unfeafonable reproofs , Pfalme 105. 3z, 33 S. When itsnot mixed with forrow proportionableto the difpleafure that we conceived: He that is rightly angry,though he be difpleafed with the offence , yet he pities theoffender. Fourthly , when anger is partial its difordered : and that is, r. When its hot againfl fomefns. and can brook others as bad, either be- caufe they fuite with our difpofition , or that we have little wrong by them. z. whenwe are zealous againft fin in our enemies , but favourable to it in our felves or friends. 3. Whenwe areas angry for final( as for great offences : whereas our anger Ihodld be proportioned to the offence. Fifthly , when it's dire6ted againft the perfon of the offendor, not againft his offence, and aimes at his hurt , and deftruólion , but feeksnot the glory of God, the good of the Church, or Common -wealth ; the private benefit of our felves, orneighbours,or the reformationofthe offcndor.Suchwas Cains to- wards Abel: Saul, towards David, Nebuchadnezz.ars towards the three chil- dren, but Chrisrule is otherwife, cí`Llat.5.44. Sixthly, when being long retained it turns to hatred. Quell. What Motives may diffwade sesfromfinful anger ? Anfw. Firfl, confider the finful caufes ofit, which are r. Unbelief in Gods Word; Davl tells us that hewas fopatient towards his adverfaries becaufehe waitedupon God, Pfal. 3 8.13,&c. 2. Folly, for Ecclef.7.9. it refkth in the bofome offools. 3.Self-lovewhich makes us fo to prize our felves as never to thinkon the in- juries and indignities we do to others and hainoufly to aggravate every fmall wrong done to our felves. 4. Pride, which makes us more (harp-fighted in apprehending a wrong , and more furioufly infolent in takingrevenge , Prov.13.10. fo in the Ephramites, Judg,8.a. and rz. 1, &c. fo Pfal. to. 2. This fet Hamanagainfl Mordecai, and the Jews, Efth. 3.5,6. S. Covetoufneflè : For ifthe hope of acovetous man fail his expe&ation , their unquiet thoughts prepare a lodging in their hearts for anger; they trouble their own houfe,prov.a 5.27. 6. Impotency, and effeminateneffeof mind which makes men unable to bear injuries : Hence women, children, fick,and agedperfons are fo waiward. 7. Luau- I
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=