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,…

Fifthly, some men there are, who when they are angry with one, they will be angry with¹ all, and their anger doth so chafe and overcome them as it were, that they are unfit for duties either to God, or their brethren. This anger is altogether fleshly, & to be condemned. That anger then which maketh us unfit to hear Gods word, to go to prayer, which disquieteth our minds and troubleth us, that anger, I say is to be misliked, though it were for a good cause, and in Gods behalf: for the works of Gods spirit do not one let or hinder another, but rather do further one another: insomuch that if we were cold in prayer before, yet this earnestness in Gods cause doth quicken us up, and maketh us very ready unto prayer; if we were dull in hearing the word before, we are now better affected, and this true zeal and anger in the Lords cause, and for his glory, will put an edge to every good thing we go about. True anger doth not let us from doing our duties unto God, nor diminish our love towards our brethren; but rather stirreth up in us a compassion over them, for the wrath of God which we see hang over their heads. And for that cause, we are in pu•• moved to pray for them more earnestly than before; so far are we from taking revenge▪ yea there is a greater care in us, how we may help them out of their sin, than to punish them for their sin. So that here anger for the sin is joined with a loving compassion over the party: and the one doth not so much move us to take revenge of them, as the other doth move them to pity their case. Here then is a special difference betwee•• them▪ for Christian anger hath ever a grief joined with it, both for the dishonour of God, & the hurt of our brother: but carnal and fleshly anger hath a joy and pleasure in it, and •eedeth it self therewith, and is puffed up. Such godly anger was in Christ against the Pharisees,² where it is said that he was angry and sorrowful; and in another place, when he saw the destruction of Jerusalem, for their sins, for which he had bin angry with them: it is said of him that he wept. Likewise Paul, threatening the Corinthians that for their sins he would³