The understanding of a man] the heavenly wisdom of God, which is in the mind of a regenerate person, according to the measure thereof, withholdeth him from rash and unadvised anger, but not from all anger: for then it should deprive him of some virtue, and disable him from the performance of many duties. As the distempered passions of wrath be works of the flesh, and carefully to be avoided, so are the well governed affections of anger fruits of the spirit, and seasonably to be exercised. He that is overcarried with rage and choler, doeth want those lovely graces of meekness, and patience: and he that is never stirred to any displeasure, is possessed with stupidity, and destitute of zeal, and Christian feeling. Now to shun these vicious extremes on both sides, and observe the laudable mediocrity between them, these rules may direct us. First, that all our anger be only for sin, and so we shall best put in practise the Apostles precept, to be angry and 1sin not. Then shall we not be testy with them that be innocent, because we are incensed by them that are faulty: then shall we never like fumish Balaam fall out with beasts, & unreasonable creatures, much less be embittered against things that are senseless. Secondly, that our anger be measurably proportioned to the measure of the offence, greatest indignation must be conceived against the greatest transgressions, though they bring not to us so great annoyances: and smaller faults should less displease us, though in private respects they seem to be more for our damage: for every part ought rather to be tenderly affected at Gods dishonour, then his own detriment. Thirdly, that it be not overlong continued, and excessive in time, but bounded within the limits of a day at the furthest: the Lord would not have wrath protracted till night, nor the sun to go down upon it. Fourthly, that the crimes of our familiars, benefactors, kinsfolk, and dearest friends, do make ⟨p. 57⟩us more angry then theirs that are not so nearly united to us: that we take to heart the sin of our child, more then of a brother: and of a yoke-fellow, more then of a child: and our own, more then a yoke-fellow, child, brother, or of any, or all others.
THe vnderstanding of a man] the heauenly wisedome of God, which is in the minde of a regenerate person, according to the measure thereof, withholdeth him from rash and vnaduised anger, but not from all anger: for then it should depriue him of some vertue, and disable him from the performance of many dueties. As the distempered passions of wrath be workes of the flesh, and carefully to be auoyded, so are the well gouerned affections of anger fruites of the spirit, and seasonably to be exercised. He that is ouercarried with rage and choller, doeth want those louely graces of meekenes, and patience: and he that is neuer stirred to any displeasure, is possessed with stupiditie, and destitute of zeale, and Christian feeling. Now to shunne these vicious extreames on both sides, and obserue the laudable mediocritie betweene them, these rules may direct vs. First, that all our anger be onely for sinne, and so we shall best put in practise the Apostles precept, to be angry and 1sinne not. Then shall we not be teastie with them that be innocent, because we are incensed by them that are faultie: then shall we neuer like fumish Balaam fall out with beasts, & vnreasonable creatures, much lesse be imbittered against things that are senselesse. Secondly, that our anger be measurably proportioned to the measure of the offence, greatest indignation must be conceiued against the greatest transgressions, though they bring not to vs so great annoyances: and smaller faults should lesse displease vs, though in priuate respects they seeme to be more for our dammage: for euery part ought rather to be tenderly affected at Gods dishonour, then his owne detriment. Thridly, that it be not ouerlong continued, and excessiue in time, but bounded within the limits of a day at the furthest: the Lord would not haue wrath protracted till night, nor the sunne to goe downe vpon it. Fourthly, that the crimes of our familiars, benefactors, kinsfolke, and dearest friends, doe make ⟨p. 57⟩vs more angrie then theirs that are not so neerly vnited to vs: that we take to heart the sinne of our child, more then of a brother: and of a yoke-fellow, more then of a childe: and our owne, more then a yoke-fellow, childe, brother, or of anie, or all others.
- 1Ephe. 4. 26.
