his; and, as the Scripture expresses it, exalteth folly*. He aims at the appearance indeed of great importance and superiority: and would have it pass for inward strength, that he exerts himself so immoderately. But unreasonable passions are no more a proof of healthy vigour in the soul, than fevers or convulsions are in the body. Every little accident affects and flutters an infirm constitution: while those of a juster make bear considerable changes undisturbed. In the same manner a rightly tempered mind repulses even great assaults without effort, and remains unmoved: while the slightest trials put a weak one into remarkable agitations. Persons of the tenderest frames, of the smallest experience and knowledge, of the lowest or the most impaired faculties, have usually the least command of themselves, when provoked. Nor doth the sudden fierceness, with which resentment inspires men, at all imply true bravery, though it may accidentally produce some effect, like it: for this even extremity of fear will do. Then further, excessive anger is attended with all imaginable symptoms of weakness. For it makes the wisest people say and act the silliest things that can be; and become quite ridiculous, whilst they aim to appear terrible: threatening what they dare not do, attempting what they cannot do, and what, when the mad fit is a little over, for the world they would not, if they could: exposing themselves by the most wretched false reasonings; laying great stress upon trifles, that will bear none at all; and, when one wild assertion is confuted, running instantly to another to justify their choler, and all in vain. So piteous is the figure, that the passionate make: and it is often a lasting shame, which the blustering

* Prov. xiv, 29.

affectation of false greatness brings upon them in a few moments. Composure is an essential part of true dignity and an elevated soul is above taking notice of the impotent attacks, which a mean one shews its meanness by busying itself to resent and

return.

Some sort of exorbitant anger indeed is far from deserving contempt: but in proportion as it ceases to be despicable, it becomes hateful. Nay, it hath often both these bad qualities at once. The little fretfulness that goes no further than peevish words at every turn, though an object of derision, yet breaks grievously in upon the quiet of life, and freedom of con versation: puts every one, that comes near the person subject to it, under very disagreeable restraints; and usually to small purpose. For the least incident of a thousand shall be sufficient to turn his highest good humour into a furious rage, a perverse captiousness, or a sullen silence: while he himself doth not know, or is ashamed to tell, at what he is offended; and yet, like a froward child, grows the more unmanageable for the pains taken to please him. This must cause uneasiness to all that see it but some have a tenderness of mind, that makes them feel it acutely. They fear they have done amiss, and search in vain for what can have given such great disgust. But especially they who have either any affection for such an unreasonable person, or any interest depending on his regard for them, must be perpetually miserable with him. So that, when these wretches do no worse, they perplex and disquiet every one about them; and those most, to whom they should be the kindest. But when their passion bursts forth with any uncommon degree of vehemence, then it hath effects yet more serious: the

most grating and disobliging things are said, that can be invented; failings unmercifully exposed; cruel imputations, though known to be false, injuriously made: secrets divulged, that ought to have been for ever hidden; promises broken, that should have been kept inviolably: and all this, merely because an inconsiderate creature is pleased to be in a rage, perhaps without a shadow of ground for it.

Thus even the more transitory fits of anger hurry men into behaviour extremely wicked: and a storm of fury, that possibly doth not last a quarter of an hour, destroys or grievously diminishes the comfort of another, it may be through all his days. But when their displeasure takes deeper root, and infects the temper with a settled ill will; then they will make it the business of their lives to depress and sit heavy upon the object of their malignity, to frustrate his most equitable expectations, and follow him about with unwearied labours to blast the success of every thing, which he undertakes. Neither generosity, nor humanity, nor goodness of character, nor nearness of relation, nor greatness of favours received, can extinguish their resentment: which sometimes conceals itself under specious pretences and smiling appearances, watching the opportunity of some effectual mischief; at others incapable of disguise, it blazes forth in open violence; laws and punishments, human and divine, are unable to deter them, and nothing short of immediate destruction will assuage their hatred. How pernicious must people of this character be in society; how dangerous must they appear in the eyes of men, how guilty in the sight of God! Guilty, not only of all the evil, which they have directly done; but all, which they have either incited others to do for them, or provoked others to

do against them. For an angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression

The misbehaviours and cross accidents, of which this world is full, were intended to exercise those virtues of meekness and patience, which the next world is intended to reward. But to use the vexations of life as opportunities to run mad and do mischief, is acting contrary to the whole design of our Maker; contrary to the native tenderness of our own hearts, to our consciousness of human frailties, to the pity we ought to feel for the miseries of human circumstances; contrary to the dictates of natural religion, which requires us to imitate the goodness we adore, and to the most express precepts of Christianity, which allows us not the least hope of God's mercy on any other condition, than this, that if we forgive men their trespasses, our heavenly Father will also forgive ust.

But here some will plead, that however hurtful to ourselves or others this passion may be, it cannot be so sinful as it hath been represented, because it is often involuntary. And some degrees of it we must own, seem to be so and the temptations of our corrupt nature to very blameable degrees are often exceedingly strong. But still in such cases we are strangely willing to believe much less to be in our power, than, by the help of God's grace, is. And the way to know, how far it really extends, will be, not to imagine about it, and lament that we cannot do what in truth we can do very well: but to try, and that by the use of proper means. For they, who are totally unable to check their passion by an immediate effort of their mind at the time, had they governed themselves rightly before, perhaps would scarce have felt † Matth. vi. 14.

Prov. xxix. 22.

any passion to check. And therefore I shall now proceed in conclusion,

III. To direct, how excessive anger may best be avoided.

Now the great general rule for this and every good purpose is, to obtain from God, by reading his Holy Word, by meditation and prayer, the spirit of love to him and to our neighbour. In proportion as that rules in our hearts*, we shall be humble and meek, live as being always in his presence, fear to offend him, desire to please him, labour to imitate him: we shall think often and seriously what great provocations from us our heavenly Father hath passed over, through so long a course of years; what shocking indignities our blessed Redeemer underwent contentedly and silently for our sakes; with what persevering patience the Holy Ghost offers to us his sanctifying influences, notwithstanding all we do to grieve him; how effectually pious men, in all ages, have been moved by these benefits to copy the divine long-suffering: we shall learn to bear with our fellow-sinners, with whom the Almighty bears: we shall call to mind, that he hath made them of the same blood, united them into the same body under Christ our head, strives with them by the same spirit: we shall recollect, that he commands us to forgive each others trespasses and promote each others happiness, and will treat us as we treat our brethren: that all the vexations which befall us here, if we go through them with the temper, which we ought, instead of doing us the least harm, shall unspeakably augment our felicity hereafter; and that by all the injuries, which others do us, however they may triumph in them at present, they are only heaping coals of fire