420 MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS. grasp all the atoms of created matter, and all the world of minds with all their ideas, he should view at once all their infinite re- lations to each other., with all the scenes and appearances in the upper and lower regions of creation, from the beginning of time far into eternity, who would dare to contest the wisdom of pro- vidence, or of any of the works or the appointments of his Maker ? "Idow manifold are thy works, O Lord ? In wisdom hast thou made them all. How unsearchable are thy ways, and thy judg- ment untraceable by all the sons of men ! Who has known the mind of the Lord, and who has been his counsellor ? Of him, and by him, and for him, are all things; to whom be glory for ever and ever." Amen. LX. Sinful Anger for God's Sake. IT is a very possible thing for us to be sinfully angry with our neighbour, even upon the account of sin : we have hearts of unsearchable subtlety and unfathomable deceit. The best of us are too often tempted to follow the violence of our own carnal affections, under an appearance of zeal and duty, and screen our own wrath to man, under the covert of love to God. And when the angry powers of our nature are set at work under the colour of so divine a principle, they are impatient of all restraint, and know no bounds; fbr we cannot do too much for God and his honour. Deirus is ready to think, that if he let fly all his wrath against a man for a sinful action, that wrath cannot rise to ex- cess ; he persuades himself that it is rather a work of righte- ousness than a fault, and puts it amongst his virtues and his honours. I wish Deirus would take heed, lest he mingle the heat of corrupt flesh and blood with holy zeal, and offer iniquity for a sacrifice. In order to manage well in this matter, I would admonish him to take notice of these things : First, When an action offends both God and ourselves at the same time, we must watch with the utmost diligence, lest self-love disguise itself in the form of zeal, and command our passions entirely into our own service, while we think they are at work for God. Suppose I have ofteninstructed young Pravo, as to his morals; suppose I have earnestly persuaded him to any duty, or cautioned him often against some evil practice, and I see him nevertheless obstinately proceed in his own way; perhaps I shall be ready to indulge my anger against him, be- cause he'disobeys me, more than because he displeases God. Or, suppose my neighbour Calumnio rails at me as a puritan and a madman, because I am seen often at public prayers, and upbraid and reproach me with odious charges for the sake of my religion ; I am tempted to kindle perhaps into sudden indig- nation, chiefly because self is reviled, and not because God is dishonoured.
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