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even of a Day's Continuance of Friendship, if every Thing, which it were poffible to take amiss, might put an End to it? But, if Wrath push us on to do Harm inftead of Good, then it hath arrived at its Heighth of Injustice, Not but we may lawfully in fome Cafes inflict Punishment on those, who have given us Offence, But then Anger is not to be the Profecutor: much lefs to pass or execute the Sentence. It is not so often, as we are juftly displeased with any one, that he is to fuffer: but then only, when a valuable Purpose requires it. Now we are by no Means qualified to determine that Point, while our inward Disturbance is vehement: nor fhould we ever allow ourselves to act, before we are cool enough to judge: nor are we always cool enough, when we think we are. And therefore we fhould learn to fufpect our Tempers, have Regard to the Opinion of the unprejudiced, and lean to the moderate Side, when there is any Doubt which is right. It will comparatively feldom happen, that Excefs of Mildnefs will do any great Mifchief: but the contrary Extreme causes an incredible deal perpetually. Every Day we see thofe, who are poffeffed by this evil Spirit, return monstrous Acts of Injustice for flight In

ftances

stances of Neglect or Unfriendliness; imagine their Displeasure, whencefoever it arises, a Juftification for stirring up all the World against the Object of it; and look upon themselves as ill used, if every one else will not be as unreafonable, as they are.

But I go on the next Branch of the Rule, which is,

IV. That we be angry only at fuch Times, as we ought.

And therefore it immediately occurs, never till we are sure, that the Thing, which offends us, is really done, and really a Matter to take Offence at. Blame not, before thou haft examined the Truth: understand first, and then rebuke. Some are eternally fufpecting, and finding Fault at all Adventures: as if they felt a Delight in the Imagination of Things being amiss. These, even when there happens to be Foundation for their Cenfures, are in the wrong notwithstanding; for it is more than they knew beforehand but, when it proves, as it often will, that all their ill Humour was groundless, this is very shameful to themselves, and very injurious to others; hardens them, inftead of having any good Effect upon them; and brings

a Ecclus. xi. 7. E 4

them

them at laft to think it the better Way, fince they must be blamed, to be blamed for fomething. But fuppofe there be an Appearance of Reason to chide: yet Appearances are deceitful; and Paffion spreads a Mist before our Understandings, which keeps us from seeing any thing exactly, and makes every thing look bigger than it is. No one therefore should exprefs, or even inwardly indulge, the leaft Warmth, till he hath first confidered the Cafe, as calmly as he can; and then, if there be Room for it, hath given the Parties, whom he suspects, Liberty and Time to make their Defence; attending to it with a fincere Defire of finding them innocent; making no Determination, till he hath searched the Matter fully; and being, in Obedience to St. James's Direction, Swift to hear, flow to speak, flow to Wrath b. The pasfionate Person is just the Reverse of this: impatient of all Attempts to set him right; resolute to have that true, which he hath once imagined; eager to pafs and execute immediate Judgement. It may therefore be of the utmost Confequence to get, though it were only a little Space, for cool Reflection. There is very fmall Danger, but that even after it we shall be b James i. 19.

angry

1

angry enough, if we have Caufe: and there is great Danger, that without it we may be angry, though we have no Caufe; or at least much more angry, than we have any Shadow of Caufe,

But admitting it to be feasonable for us to conceive the Indignation, that we do: yet feveral Things may render the prefent Time improper to vent it. We may be likely just then to exceed due Bounds: at least it may difcompofe us too much; and perhaps unfit us for Duties or Employments, to which we are immediately called; it may give Uneasiness, or fhew Disrespect, to the Company we are in, whom we thould never unneceffarily trouble with our Vexations: or it may have a wrong Effect on the Object of our Displeafure. If he be under the more than ordinary Influence of fome vehement Paffion, or his Reafon be any other Way disturbed or clouded; if some Prejudice, which cannot be removed instantly, makes him deaf in the mean while to all, that we can fay; if his Temper be not now serious enough to mind Reproof, or the Circumstances of Time or Place or Company be such, that he will refent it as an Indignity: the Discretion of

a Man

a Man fhould defer his Anger, how eager foever it may be to burst forth. But we are still more firmly bound to restrain ourselves, when the faulty have fuffered by their Faults, and want Confolation instead of Rebuke. Refentment was planted in us to discourage or withstand the injurious, not to infult the miserable: to give People a lively Sense of their Misbehaviour; not to triumph over them, when they have that Sense already; perhaps more of it, than they can well bear. Or, though they feel their Folly but imperfectly, yet if the Confequences of it be heavy upon them; either cafting them off, or feverely reproaching them, at fuch Times, is very ungenerous: and kind Forbearance, one would imagine, cannot fail to make the good Impreffions on them, that we wish. If indeed they ftill remain void of Reflection on their Conduct, and it be our Province to awaken them, we must attempt it: but as gently, as the Cafe will permit, and perhaps, not till having done whatever we properly can towards relieving their Distresfes, we thus acquire an indifputable Right of laying before them, with some Warmth

Prov. xix. II.

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