Works, Part 2 · Treatise 10
A TREATISE OF ANGER.
MOses in the twelfth of Numbers is cōmended for the meekest man vponupon the earth: yet Exod 32. 19. he is said to be angrie, and also is commended for it, and his anger is allowed: where wee learne, that eueryevery anger is not forbidden in the word of God; but that only, which is either without, or not for a …ust cause; and which is not measured by the word. For anger is in vsus, as other qualities of the minde are: that is, if itThat there is a holy anger. be ruled by our corruption, it is euill, and is forbidden in the word, as a worke of the flesh: but if by Gods good Spirit it be sanctified, and ruled by Gods word, it is a dutie commanded; and we ought to bring it …oorth as a fruit of the Spirit. And many of Gods seruants in the Scriptures being angry for good causes, and obseruing measure, are commended for it: whose examples in the like causes we ought to follow.
That we may therefore know spirituall and Christian anger from fleshly & carnall anger, and that we may discerne the workes of Gods Spirit in vsus, from the corrupted workesTriall of our anger. of our flesh: it shall be profitable by some notes to make a difference betweene them, that so they may both be knowne.
The first note or difference betweene these two kindes of anger is this: If wee can patientlyThe first Note: To passe by iniuries done to our selues. swallow vp and ouercome iniuries and faults committed against our selues, yet in the cause of the Lord, we can be very hot, earnest, and iealous; this is a good signe, that our anger proceedeth from the Spirit of God within vsus. But contrariwise men in their owne causes, and quarrels, and when the iniurie is done to them, will be very hot, and angry, and marueilously much moued: but in the Lords cause they are as cold as ice, and there is no heate within them, which is a testimonie vntounto them, that their anger is fleshly, and that it doth greatly displease the Lord. Therefore if when wee see a man commit any sinne, and we also know, that it tendeth to the dishonour of God, and the hurt of his owne soule, and if then we can be grieued, and if then we cannot chuse but be angry; hereby we may know that our anger is good, because the glory of God, and the profit of our brother did therevnto moue vsus, and not our priuate iniuries. Now if wee would be glad thus to make the glorie of God the chiefe cause of our anger; let vsus first learne to passe ouer iniuries done against vsus, and quietly to beare them, and by that meanes we shal better learne more safely to be angry, when the thing concerneth the glorie of God, for if a man hath not learned to put vp his owne iniuries patiently and without reuenge, he shall mingle it with the other, and so shall passe measure, and most commonly he shall make both vnprofitable.
Secondly, some men can neuer be pleased, and eueryevery light trifle doth stirre them vp toThe second Note of holy anger: not easily prouoked. anger, which cannot but be euill: and this proceedeth altogether from the flesh, this anger cannot be allowed. But spirituall anger is not easily stirred vp, and when it is, then it is measured by the quantitie of the fault: a small fault, a small and short anger; a greater fault, a greater anger, & of a longer cōtinuance. For herein must we be like our heauenly Father, who is slow to wrath, chideth vsus not continually, marketh not what is done amisse, nor recompencethPsal. 133. vsus according to our deseruings. But continually vseth more meanes to causeSimile. vsus to louelove him, than to cause vsus to feare him. And thus ought it to be with vsus also, if we wil be children of such a father: so that we ought to striue and labour to be loued rather than feared, and by louelove to allure, rather than by feare to compell. Againe, with the Lord wee ought to be greatly grieued for great offences, & for smaller offences to be lesser grieued. Now if a man finde himselfe to bee of a hastie nature, and quickly angrie; know also that such a one exalteth folly, and that anger resteth in the bosome of fooles. But a man of a patient spirit passeth in wisedome. Yea, let him know, that such anger is not good, and therefore labour earnestly that it may be repressed in him: which that he may dolet him think and know that before holy anger there must goe prayer, that the Lord in merciemercy may rightly direct him in the same. If therefore we cannot, or do not before our anger, or when the occasion is offered, pray vntounto the Lord, that he may keepe vsus vpright in the same: we hauehave to suspect our anger, for we are in danger to fall and offend therein.
Thirdly, it is a marke of Christian anger, when we are angrie with sinne in whomsoeuerThe third Note of holy anger: to bee angrie with sinne wheresoeuer wee finde it. wee finde, or whosoeuer committeth it; for many will in their own matters and causes be very angrie, and in them will pretend a careful zeale of Gods glorie: but if a sinne be committed which toucheth them not, they can easily let it passe; as if a mans owne wife bee a whore, his children disobedient, his seruants stubborne, and wilful, or if any sinne be committed which toucheth him neere, thē wil he exclaim & cry out for that God is dishonored and will say, Who euer saw such seruants? What wickednesse is in children now adaies, that they be thus disobedient? and what women bee these to doe thus wickedly? In the meane time if another mans seruant be disobedient, if his wife be an whore, he cannot be angrie, he cannot be grieued Such men as these must needs suspect their anger, for herein they bewray want of faith, want of louelove, & want of care of the glorie of God, which as it is aduanced by the obedience of others, as well as by ours; so it is likewise dishonoured by the sinnes of others, as well as by ours. But when the sinne doth not concerne vsus, if then we cannot bee contented, but the very zeale of Gods glorie, and the louelove of our brethren doth moue vsus thereunto: then may we thinke that our hearts be vpright in that anger.
Againe, there be diuers, which when their enemies offend, then wil they be readie to cryNote. out against it, and will bee highly displeased withall: but if their friends offend; they can beare with them▪ and thinke the sinne in them smal or nothing But Christian and spiritual anger is cleane contrarie, for it rather beares with the fault in his enemie, than in his friends, and will sooner more sharply rebuke it in his friend than in his enemie. Therefore such friends as can smooth a man in his sinne, are neither to be liked, nor desired: for, Open rebuke is better than secret louelove, and the wounds of a louer are sweete. Wee see that if a mansAdmonition. child or his wife, or some speciall friend were sicke in bodie, they vse all meanes, that they might be restored to their health; and if they did not, their wife, children, or friends would quickly thinke they loued them not: And why should it not be thus in the spirituall sicknes of sinne▪ How doth a man louelove mee, when hee will not vse all meanes to deliuer me from the danger of sinne? When therefore our friends doe fall into sinne, if then wee can be angry, and that, when they doe most fauour vsus, because the cause is Gods, and concerneth their saluation: if then wee can remember old louelove, and temper wisely louelove with anger to reproue them, it is a signe that our anger is not fleshly but of the spirit.
Fourthly, there is a note of Christian & spirituall anger, which though it be very like toThe fourth note of holy anger: To be angrie with our own sins: Matth. 7. Ioh. 8. 7. the former, yet it discerneth one from another, as much as any other doth. For many men will be angry with other mens sinnes, but they can neuer be angry for their owne. Against such as these, the Lord speaketh, saying: Hypocrite cast out the beame out of thine owne eye first, and then thou shalt see to cast out the mo…e out of thy brothers eye. And againe in another place: He that is cleere among you, cast the first stone at her.
When we therefore can be first angry with our own sinnes, and more angry with them, than with others, yea when we can throw the first stone at our selues; then is our anger of the Lord. For no man can euer bee angrie in vprightnesse of other mens sinnes, which cannot first be grieued, and angrie with his owne. If our anger begin first with our selues, and that for euerie sinne that is in vsus, so that there is no sin which we are willing to fauour in our selues, or desirous to continue, and lie in it still, and no man is more grieued for our sinnes than we our selues are, and we doe more accuse and condemne our selues than any other doth, or can doe; and againe if a sinne be not in vsus, yet we be afraid least it may bee, and therefore wee vse meanes against it: then if wee bee angrie with the sinne of others, we hauehave this good warrant, that our anger is good; yea, if we be accused or thought to be corruptly angrie, either with our own causes, or with our enemies, insomuch that mē condemne our anger, yet we hauehave the testimonie of our hearts and consciences to tell that it is not so, and therefore herein may we take sound comfort.
Fiftly, some men there are, who when they are angrie with one, they will bee angrie withThe fift Note If our anger stretch beyōd the bounds, or hinder holy duties. all, and their anger doth so chafe and ouercome them as it were, that they are vnfit for duties either to God, or their brethren. This anger is altogether fleshly, & to be condemned. That anger then which maketh vsus vnfit to heare Gods word, to goe to prayer, which disquieteth our minds and troubleth vsus, that anger, I say is to be misliked, though it were for a good cause, and in Gods behalfe: for the workes of Gods spirit do not one let or hinder another, but rather do further one another: insomuch that if we were cold in prayer before, yet this earnestnesse in Gods cause doth quicken vsus vp, and maketh vsus very readie vntounto prayer; if wee were dull in hearing the word before, wee are now better affected, and this true zeale and anger in the Lords cause, and for his glorie, will put an edge to eueryevery good thing we goe about. True anger doth not let vsus from doing our duties vntounto God, nor diminish our louelove towards our brethrē; but rather stirreth vp in vsus a compassion ouer them, for the wrath of God which wee see hang ouer their heads. And for that cause, we are in pu… moued to pray for them more earnestly than before; so farre are we from taking reuenge▪ yea there is a greater care in vsus, how we may helpe them out of their sinne, than to punish them for their sinne. So that heere anger for the sinne is ioyned with a louing compassion ouer the partie: and the one doth not so much moue vsus to take reuenge of them, as the oher doth moue them to pitie their case. Here then is a speciall difference betwee… them▪ for Christian anger hath euer a griefe ioyned with it, both for the dishonour of God, & the hurt of our brother: but carnall and fleshly anger hath a ioy and pleasure in it, and …eedeth it selfe therewith, and is puffed vp. Such godly anger was in Christ against the Pharisies,Mark. 6. where it is said that hee was angrie and sorrowfull; and in another place, when hee saw the destruction of Ierusalem, for their sinnes, for which he had bin angrie with them: it is said of him that he wept. Likewise Paul, threatning the Corinthians that for their sins he wouldMatth. 23. 37. 1. Corinth. 5. come to them with a rod; saith after, I am afraid that when I come, the Lord doe humble me, and I shall bewaile many that hauehave sinned▪ contrariwise hee describeth fleshly anger to be such, as puffeth men vp, when they see the sinnes of their brethren.
Now that we may come to hauehave an holy anger wrought in vsus for sin, it is needfull that we labour for that affection which was in the Prophet Dauid when he saith, The rebukes of Psal. 69.them that rebuke thee, hauehave fallen vponupon me. Where the Prophet sheweth, that eueryevery sin which was committed against God, he thought that it was committed against himselfe: and was as grieued and angrie therewith, because the glorie of God (which was committed to his care) was stained, and God himselfe dishonoured; and this did make him angrie and zealous in the cause of the Lord: and this zeale must be also in vsus. Which that it may be tempered, and not too rigorous, we ought▪ also to consider how the Apostle Paul appheth theRom. 14. same place, when he would exhort them to beare the infirmities of the weake, and not to deale ouer sharply with them: he bringeth the example of Christ, who suffered for the sins of the people, as for his owne, and so accounted of them: So then we ought to thinke, that the sinnes which by our brethren are committed, are cōmitted of vsus▪ and are ours: which if wee can doe, it will much abate rigour and sharpe dealing in admonition, as also in the punishment of sinne. The Apostle in another place saith, Beare y… one anothers burthen, and so fulfill the measure of Christ. Now if wee shall ioyne these two affections together in vsus▪ first to thinke, that eueryevery sinne committed against Gods maiestie, is cōmitted against vsus▪ and againe, that eueryevery sinne which our brother doth, we in our own persons do the same: the first will breede in vsus an anger and zeale for the glorie of God: the other will worke in vsus patience and compassion, because of our owne flesh, and of the Image of God, whichNote. our brother beareth: and thereof will come a zealous anger ioyned with louelove and compassion of the partie.
By these notes may true Christian and spirituall anger be tried and discerned from that which is fleshly and carnall, that wee may follow the one as commanded in the law, and wrought in our hearts by the spirit of God; and that we may auoid the other as forbidden in the law, and proceeding from the corruption of our flesh, that we may neither be fooles which are alwaies angry for eueryevery thing, neither of the damnable and blasphemous family of fleshly louelove, which will not in their perfection be angry at all: other differences there bee; but if a man doe well consider of these, and practise them, hee shall easily discerne the rest.
FINIS.