The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

The first note or difference between these two kinds of anger is this: If we can patiently¹ swallow up and overcome injuries and faults committed against our selves, yet in the cause of the Lord, we can be very hot, earnest, and jealous; this is a good sign, that our anger proceedeth from the Spirit of God within us. But contrariwise men in their own causes, and quarrels, and when the injury is done to them, will be very hot, and angry, and marvellously much moved: but in the Lords cause they are as cold as ice, and there is no heat within them, which is a testimony unto them, that their anger is fleshly, and that it doth greatly displease the Lord. Therefore if when we see a man commit any sin, and we also know, that it tendeth to the dishonour of God, and the hurt of his own soul, and if then we can be grieved, and if then we cannot choose but be angry; hereby we may know that our anger is good, because the glory of God, and the profit of our brother did thereunto move us, and not our private injuries. Now if we would be glad thus to make the glory of God the chief cause of our anger; let us first learn to pass over injuries done against us, and quietly to bear them, and by that means we shall better learn more safely to be angry, when the thing concerneth the glory of God, for if a man hath not learned to put up his own injuries patiently and without revenge, he shall mingle it with the other, and so shall pass measure, and most commonly he shall make both unprofitable.

The first note or difference betweene these two kindes of anger is this: If wee can patiently¹ swallow vp and ouercome iniuries and faults committed against our selues, yet in the cause of the Lord, we can be very hot, earnest, and iealous; this is a good signe, that our anger proceedeth from the Spirit of God within vs. But contrariwise men in their owne causes, and quarrels, and when the iniurie is done to them, will be very hot, and angry, and marueilously much moued: but in the Lords cause they are as cold as ice, and there is no heate within them, which is a testimonie vnto them, that their anger is fleshly, and that it doth greatly displease the Lord. Therefore if when wee see a man commit any sinne, and we also know, that it tendeth to the dishonour of God, and the hurt of his owne soule, and if then we can be grieued, and if then we cannot chuse but be angry; hereby we may know that our anger is good, because the glory of God, and the profit of our brother did therevnto moue vs, and not our priuate iniuries. Now if wee would be glad thus to make the glorie of God the chiefe cause of our anger; let vs first learne to passe ouer iniuries done against vs, and quietly to beare them, and by that meanes we shal better learne more safely to be angry, when the thing concerneth the glorie of God, for if a man hath not learned to put vp his owne iniuries patiently and without reuenge, he shall mingle it with the other, and so shall passe measure, and most commonly he shall make both vnprofitable.