And so much for those means and remedies, whereby we may prevent and repel anger before we fall into it. Now in the next place I will set down, how we are to behave our selves after that anger hath made an entrance, and taken place in us. And this the Apostle teacheth us in the restraint: Let not the Sun go down on your wrath. That is, if thorough infirmity ye fall into unjust anger, yet continue not in it, but rather abandon this corrupt affection with all possible speed. So that our anger must not sleep with us, and after we awake, awake also; we must not use it like our garments, lay it aside overnight, with a purpose to take it again the next day: but rather we are to put it off like the old man, with full resolution never again to entertain or assume it, or like some polluted rags which are not worth ⟨p. 71⟩the wearing. And this must we do not once or twice, but if every day with the sun anger arise in our harts, we are every day to dislodge and expel it, before the sun going down. And as the night doth cool the heat which in the day time the sun hath made; so must it also quench the flames of anger kindled in our harts. And not without 1great reason he requireth that before night cometh, we abandon anger, for otherwise we shall give place to the devils tentations, as he intimateth in the words following: for having exhorted, us not to let the sun go down on our wrath he presently addeth: Neither give place to the devil. Noting thereby that they who do not only entertain anger in the day, but also lodge it in the night, do thereby lay them selves open to the fiery darts of Satan. For he continually goeth about like a roaring seeking 2whom he may devour. And when he findeth such as have retained anger even in their beds, thinking them a fit pray, he approacheth & with his bellows of fury, he more inflameth the fire of anger, till it flameth out into furious revenge. ⟨image 78⟩he aggravateth the injury received, telling them that if they put up such an indignity, they will expose themselves to the like, or for suffering this loose all their credit and reputation, by incurring the note of cowardice. And so having wrought in their harts a full resolution to take revenge, in the next place he putteth into their heads the most fit means and opportunity of performing it with all rage and cruelty.
ANd so much for those meanes and remedies, whereby we may preuent and repell anger before wee fall into it. Now in the next place I will set downe, how we are to behaue our selues after that anger hath made an entrance, and taken place in vs. And this the Apostle teacheth vs in the restraint: Let not the Sunne goe downe on your wrathe. That is, if thorough infirmitie yee fall into vniust anger, yet continue not in it, but rather abandon this corrupt affection with all possible speede. So that our anger must not sleepe with vs, and after wee awake, awake also; we must not vse it like our garments, laye it aside ouernight, with a purpose to take it againe the next daye: but rather vvee are to put it off lyke the olde man, with full resolution neuer agayne to entertayne or assume it, or like some polluted ragges vvhich are not vvorthe ⟨p. 71⟩the wearing. And this must wee doe not once or twise, but if euery day with the sunne anger arise in our harts, we are euery day to dislodge and expell it, before the sunne going downe. And as the night doth coole the heate which in the day time the sunne hath made; so must it also quench the flames of anger kindled in our harts. And not without 1great reason he requireth that before night commeth, we abandon anger, for otherwise we shall giue place to the diuells tentations, as he intimateth in the wordes following: for hauing exhorted, vs not to let the sunne goe down on our wrath he presētly addeth: Neyther giue place to the diuell. Noting thereby that they who do not onely entertaine anger in the day, but also lodge it in the night, do thereby lay thē selues open to the fiery darts of Sathan. For he continually goeth about like a roaring seeking 2whom he may deuoure. And when he findeth such as haue retayned anger euen in their beds, thinking them a fit pray, he approcheth & with his bellowes of fury, he more inflameth the fire of anger, till it flameth out into furious reuenge. ⟨image 78⟩he aggrauateth the iniury receiued, telling thē that if they put vp such an indignity, they wil expose thēselues to the like, or for suffering this loose all their credit and reputation, by incurring the note of cowardize. And so hauing wrought in their harts a full resolution to take reuenge, in the next place he putteth into their heades the most fitte meanes and oportunitie of performing it with all rage and cruelty.
- 1The danger of anger retained.The daunger of anger retained.
- 21. Pet. 5. 8,
