Spiritual physic to cure the diseases of the soul, arising from superfluity of choler,…Spiritual physicke to cure the diseases of the soule, arising from superfluitie of choller,…

Sect. 5.

The fourth means to subdue anger is this: Let the angry man think with ¹himself whether he is purposed ever or never, to lay aside his anger. If ever, how much better were it that he should leave his anger, then that it should leave him? that he should vanquish it, then that it should be over come of it self? that he should quench it with the water of the spirit, then that it should last until it burn out? for not only this but all other passions will in time tyre themselves, and fall down with their own ruin. But if they purpose to live in perpetual enmity, let them consider that they nourish in themselves a Viper, which vvill fret out their own bowels. For who receiveth more vexation grief and disquietness by anger then himself, who is subject to the ⟨image 83⟩passion? and what doth sooner cut off the thread of life, then the sharpness of fretting grief? Lastly, let him think with himself what good time he spendeth in a bad matter, which being so short and precious, should be more esteemed and better employed; as in seeking to get friends, and not to loose them being gotten by unjust anger, in pacifying and reconciling enemies, rather then exasperating them by offering new injuries; in performing the works of charity & Christianity: that so we may hear at the latter day that comfortable sentence. Come ye blessed and inherit the kingdom prepared for you: For I was an ²hungered and you gave me meat, &c. rather then in acting the works of the flesh, among which anger is numbered, Gal. 5. 20. which who so commit shall