174 The finf ulnefe of Sinne. unavoydably to bring a fcandall upon the C'c ffe of Chria. Secondly, which is to my prefent purpofc;,Their going to Law, though in it fette j uif when before coin petent and fit Iudges, had yet an accidentalivitiouíneffr that by their inadvertency did breake out of their evill hearts, and cleave unto it, and that was,their litigations ran from the bufineffes unto the perLons, It ¿rake forth into violence anal wrong againt one another, much pertur- bation of minde, revengeful! and circumventing pro j eas thew themfclves under the colour of legali debate - ments ; NAy,faith the Apoitle,you do wrong acrd defraud, and that yourbrethren, fuch a notable frowardnefie and rage lies in the natures of men, that without much cauti- on and watchfulneffe it will be blowne up into a flame, even by honeft and jilt contentions. Thirdly, In Differences upon private convertation, looke to your hearts, give not the reines too much to an ger or difpleafure, to fufpicions- or mifconi}ruitions of your neighbours perfóns or courtes : give not the water paflage no not a little. Be angry, faith the Apoflle,but finne not, let not the Sun goe down upon your wrath. It is not a Precept ; for fuch anger as is required of us by way of duty the Sunne may fafely goc down upon ; nor is it a pardon for anger when we fall into it, to take of the in- ordinatenes of it ; but is a fpeech by way of concefon,or unavoidable fuppofition. It cannot he but that the Saints them felves upon leverall occafions and provocations will be overtaken with anger, but yet though their infirmity breake forth into the pafTiión, let not pride and felfe-love harden that paflîon into a habit, let them be wary that the flame grow not upon them to fet them on fire, give no place to the Devill. The longer a man continues in anger, the more roome the Devil! bath to get in upoahin ,;and enrage him.Anger is the kernel and leed of malice,if it be let ly long in the heart, that is to fei the a feile, and Satan lò diligent a waterer of his own plints,that it wil quickly grow EpheL4. z6. Cameron de Ec- ciclia, pig.' !.
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