PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

177-
It becomes sinful, or contradicts, however ~ the rule
of scripture, when it is conceived upon slight and in.
adequate provocations, and when it continues long.
. 1. When it is conceived upon slight provocations;
for, " charity suifereth long, is not easily provoked."
" Let every man be slow to anger." Peace, long
suffering, gentlenes~, meekness, are . enumerated
among the fruits of the Spirit, Gal. v. 22. and compose
the true Christian temper, as to this article of
Jutv.
J
2. \Vhen it continues long ; for," let not the sun
go down upon your wrath."
These precepts, and all rea~oning indeed upon
the subject, suppose the passion of anger to be with.
in our power : and this power consists not so much
in any fdculty we p.)ssess of appeasing our wrath at
the time (for we are passive under the smart which
an injury or affront occasions" and an we can then
do is to prevent its btcaking out into action) as in
so molifying our minds by habits of just reflection,
as to be less irritated by ilnpres.sions of injury, and to
be sooner pacified.
Reflections proper for this purpose, and which
may be called the sedatives of anger, are the follow ..
ing: the possibility of mistaking the motives from
\vhich the conduct that offends us proceeded; how
often our offences have been the effect of inadvertency,
when they were construed into indications of
Jllalice; the ind ucement which prompted our ad.
-{ersary to act as he did, and how powerfully the
same inducement has, at one time or other, operated
npon ourselves; that he is suffering perhaps under
a contrition, which he is ashamed, or wants opportunity,
to confess ; and how ungenerous it is to tri.
umph by coldness or insult over a spirit already humbled
in secret; that the retu.rns of l~iI\dness are sweet,
and that there is neither honour, nor virtue, nor
use in resisting them-for some persons think them.
:::~~lve.s bound to cheri,h an,-l keep al:iyc their jndig~