Queffidns, and Cafes ofConfcienee Chap.9 thy many foule offences : and wilt thou not let one drop fall upon thy brother to forbear, and forgive in trifling wrongs? Quell. How maywe care anger in others ? Anfw. Fitt}, if thou live(}with thole that be. furious, the belt way to winne them to kindnef e, is for thy felf trulyto repent of thy fins. For Troy. r6. 7. If a manswayes pleafe the Lord, hewill make his enemies to be at peace with Ifa. 11.6. &c. He makes the Wolfe to feed with the Lamb, &c. the hearts ofmen are in his hands, andhe turnes them as he pleafeth : as he did Efaus to Jacob, Gen.3z.9.&c. and 33.4,5. Remember his Promife, . that if we humbleour felves, he will grant us compaffion in the fight of them that ha- ted u:, 2 Chron. 3o. 9. I Kings 8. 47, f1 c, 2 Chron. 7. 11. &c. Solomon prayer for it. Secondly, keep filence : for as fire cannot continue long if the fewel be taken from it, fo anger cannot long endure if erode anfwers be not multiplied. Hence frog. 26. 21. and 3o. 33. jam. 3. 5, 6. As Cannon-(hot lo- feth its force ifit light on earth, or loft wool!, but dafheth the ftone-wall in pieces : fo the violence of anger is abated, when not retitled : but furioufly ra- jmeth when it meets with oppofition. 1 Thirdly , give a foft and milde anfwer, either excufing thy fault by fhewing thy innocency, or in all humbleneflè confeffingit, and craving pardon, Prov. Sc. 1. and 25. 15. ÇÇen. 5o. 17. Jude 8. 1. &c. as milkquencheth wilde fire, and oile lime, fo doth a mildeanfwer anger. Fourthly, adminifter grave and wholefome admonition,with feafonable coun- lel and advice, as we fee inAbigail to David, a Sam. 25.24. But this mutt be done whenthe heat of anger is fomewhat afïiivaged, and with mildneffe and moderaticn, elfe it may provoke more. Fifthly, humble fubmiffion allayes choler : the Lion tearrs not the beafis that proftrate themfelves : As we fee in Jacobs cafe with Efau, Gen, 33 31 4 Sixthly, benefits and kindnefs aflwage anger ; fo it did Sault anger againft David, I Sam. 24. 17. and 26. 21. Hence Prov. 25. 21. If thine ene- my hunger, give him bread, &c. A great fire melts the hardeft iron : fo fad `Jacob, Gen. 32.20. So Troy. 21. 14. Seventhly, mark diligently thedifpofition ofangryperfons, and by all lawful meanes conform thy felf to them : fhunning all occafions of offence by thy milde and courteous carriage. So Eccl. r. 3. and to. 4. See Mr. Ballt Power of Godlineffe; Dr. Tailor on Tit. Mr.Bolton, ciWr. iíein:r, and Dr. Barris. weft. Ilow are vicious and vertuous anger differenced ? Anfw. Chiefly in the objedt : the vertuous regards the intereft of God, the vicious the intereft of a mans felt; but both proceed from glory, and have their motionsfor the vindicationof glory : For a religious angerbath for its mo- tive the glory of God : but the motive of vicious anger is a mans particular glory, and the refenting of private contempt either true, or imagined. Hence the proudeft men are molt cholerick, for beinggreat lovers ofthemfelves, and valuing themfelves at avery high rate, they deem the fmallefl offences againft them to be unpardonable crimes. But he that knows himfelf, and apprehends how fmall a thing he is, will not think theoffences againft him tobe very great, and therefore will not be much moved at them. Queft. What othercaufes be thereof finfal singer? e/Infw. Firft, weaknetfe contributes much to it : For though a fit of anger look like a fatly of vigour and courage, yet its the effect of a foft fpirit. Great and ftrong fpirirs are patient, but a weak nature can fuller nothing. The winde flirres ,leaves and fmall twigges, feldome the bodies of great trees. Se-
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