Of themeaner toexpelorbridle anger. 73 to anger : for as there are many flgnes which goe before a florme,and many fymptomes, which difcoucr difeafcs bc. forewee fall into than : fïò we may eafily difcerne in our felues manynotes and 6gncs, of this tempefluous florme and raging feuer of the mindc,Vniufl Anger. To the other I anfwcre, that anger doth not prefently as Toone as it is mired into the heart ouer -rule vs before it be grownc togreater flrength then it bath at the firfl , for as the greatcfl fire bath but a (mall beginning, and when it is but bcgun,is eafily quenched:fo the matt furiousanger attaineth not to his full flrengch at the6rfl entrance,but by little and little increafeth likea flame, by taking hold ofnewmatter. And therefore howfocuer after it bath wholly inflamed a man,it is moff hardlyquenched, yet in the beginning there- of,it is eafily fuppreffed. But lct vs Ice the meanes how we may fubdueanger after seq.. it bath giuen the afault. The 6rfl meanes is bywithdraw- the frftaaeanr ing the food from it , wherewith it is nourifhed: for as the iowirhdraw greatefl fire if newmatter be not fupplied will of it felfe the food, got out: fo the moll furiousanger will footle bemitigated, thereof. if it be not continually nourifhed with a new fupply of matter. The chicle nourifhment whereby anger is nourifhed and increafed , is multiplying ofwords, for though the in- Mwlt pIys iba f fury at the firtl be (mall, yet ifeither it be aggrauatedby himfoodefanger,, that fuffereth it, or defendedby him that offereth it, it in- cenfethmen togreat anger. Well therefore in this refped may words be Paid to be but winde; foras nothing fooner then winde caufeth a (mall (parke to burl} out intoa furi- ous flame :. fo nothing boner dothcure a (mall fparke of anger increafe to a ragingflame of reuenge, then thewinde of words.. We arenot therefore to imagine with fome,that we can difgorge our flomackes of anger by vomittingour fplccne in bitter words; for theydoenotonly in their owne nature whet and fharpen our owne affc uions,but altopro- noke the other withwhomwe are offended to requite vs with;
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