t-- 496 DOCTerNE OP THE P.IS5IONs. frowns on hiscountenance, the flame and fierceness of his eyes! his threatening and revengeful, looks, the disorder and tumult that appears in his whole nature : What anunpleasing and shame- ful figure he makes ? How much like a person half distracted% and whose reason is under a cloud? How he stamps and stares ? What rash vows and desperate wishes ? Anger is a short mad- ness ; it throws a person off his guard; neither truth nor reason appear to him as reason or truth : The violence of the passion throws off all restraints, the phrenzy disdains all law and justice, and drives theman to wildextravagance. Is this the lovely, the desirable pattern that you chuse to imitate ? Do you like this figure so well as to put it on yourself? 7. Live always under the eye of God, and suppress rising anger with the reverence of hit nameand presence. Remember that a holy God and holy angels behold you ; and are you not ashamed to appear in their sight, under all the extravagant dis- orders of this passion ? Remember the dignity of your ,nature à's man, and your character as a christi an, and a child of God. 8. Keep the sacred example of Jesus ever before your eyes : Howmeek under the vilest affronts? How patient under the rudest injuries and most barbarous treatment! How forgiving even to his bloody murderers ! How did he return the highest good for the greatest evil ! And paid down his blood and life to redeem his enemies from hell, and to purchase eternal joy and glory for them ! Let such a mind be in you as was in Christ the on of God, Phil. ii. 5. who being reviled, reviled not again, and when hesuffered, hethreatened not, leavingus an example, that we shouldfòllow his steps; 1 Pet. ii. 21, 23. S. When you find the warm passion arising suppress the first motion of it. It is much easierto be subdued at first, than if you indulge it a little. A spark is sooner quenched than a flame: Ì0, Command your tongue to silence, and your hands to peace, if you cannot presently command your spirit. Suffer not the vehement efforts of wrath tobreak out in reproachful names, and spitefúl words, much less into blows of revenge. These outward violences, if once let loose, go generally beyond all the just bounds of ,resentment, they further enrage the inward flame and fury, and thus become greatly criminal. Give the fire of your passion, when it is just 'kindled, no public vent, andper- haps it will quicklybe stifled anddie. I1. At least suppress all violent discoveries of it so long till you have taken some time to consider whether you have re-, ceived any real injury or no, whether the injury was accidental or designed Whether the offence be of such a heinous nature and degree as your present passion represents it. Many offences ate, great and heinous only in the light of a ruffled fancy, and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=