Chap.9. about finger, Wrath, Malice, &c. 79 Secondly, all things that make a man tender and wanton, make'him alto impatient and cholenck, as Covetoufnefle, Ambition, paflionate Love, Eafe , and Flattery. Thirdly, anger is produced by givingway to the wandring of thoughts, cUri- ofity, credulity, idlenefle, and love of (ports. Fourthly, its fometimes ffirredup by contrary caufes, as byprofperity and ad- verfity, the reply ofanadverfary, or his filence : toomuch or too little bufi- neflè ; the glory to have done well, and the flume to havedoneevil : there is nothing but will give occafion of anger to a peevifh and, impotent fpirit.' - Queft. what are the evil effeffs of it, the more to make us Pun and hate it ? e/inf v. Firft, itsdreadful, when afliftedby power, like an impetuous forme, that overthrows all that lies in itsway : How often hath it razed Cities, ruined Empires, and extirpatedwhole Nations ? One fit of anger in Theodofitu, (the befi of Emperours) flewmany thoufands of innocents amongst the nocents in Theffalonica. How many have been maflacred by wicked Princes ? and what f aughters would there be in the world, if mean fellows had as much power as wrath ? Secondly, itsdangerous to the angry manhimfeif ; for by the overflowingof the gall, wrathoverflows all the facultiesof the minde, which difcovers it felfe by the inflammation of the face, the fparklingof the eyes, the quickand difor- deredmotion of the limbs, the injurious words, the violent ae&ions, &c. wrath turnesa man into a Curiousbeau+ : yea, in the heat of fuch fits many get their death, or do fuch things as they repent at leifure. Thirdly, there is nocaufe fp good, but its marred by impetuous anger : The great pleaof anger is the injuflice of others : But we muff not repel one in- lufliceby another ; For though an angryman could keep himfeiffrom offending his neighbour, yet he cannot excufe hisoffence againfi Godand himfelf, by trou- bling the ferenity of his foul, and therefore expelling Gods Image, and bring ing ina forme and confufion, which is the devils Image. As when a Hogfhead of Wine is fhaken the dregs rife to the top ; So a fit of raging choler doth thruft up all the hidden ordure, whichbefore was fetled by the feare of God or men. Fourthly, the wrong done to Pietyor Juflice, is no juff reafon for our im- moderateanger : for theyhave no needoffo evil a Champion, which is rather an hinderancethen a defenceof their caufe, andin {lead ofmaintaining them tranforeffeth againfi them. Todefend fuch reafonablethings as Pietyand Juflice are, there is need of free reafon : and whether we be inceufedwith the injury which is done to them, orthe wrong done tous, we muff be fo juft to our felves, as not to lay the punifhment upon us for the faults of another, or make our felves miferable, becaufe our neighbours are wicked. Towhich end we muff remember, that in the violation of Juflice, God is more intereffed thenwearc, andknows how to punifh it whenhe fees it expe- dient : and ifGodwill not punifhas yet, our wills muff notbe more flatly then his, and it becomesnot us to be impatient for ourown intereff', when himfelf ispatient in the wrong done to his own : Let the caufe of our anger be never foholy and jult ; yet that of fames is a perpetual truth, chap. i. 20. The wrath of man works not the righteoafneffe of God. If it be thecaufe of God that we defend, we mull not ufe that goodcaufe to bringforth evil effeas, and the evil of that which incenfeth us can hardly be fo grievous as the lofleof hu- manity and right reafon, of whicha man isdeprivedby exceffive wrath. For Provi 2,7. 4. VVrath is cruel, and anger is out ragions. It reiheth in thedofome offeeler,. Eccl. 7, 9. ifthly, II: I. II. IV.
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