The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 91 – Part 92
Of sinfull Anger and Godly.
ANger is both sinfull and Godly:
Sinfull anger is an inordinate desire to be revenged of him whom we suppose to have wronged us for any cause whatsoever: And is a secret pride conceived in the minde, which hindereth one from doing good to the person with whom he is offended: And is also when it is conceived without sufficient cause, or exceedethMatth. 2. 21. Ephes. 4. 26. Prov. 10. 11. 1 Sam. 18. 7. 2 Sam. 16. 5. Luke 9. 49. either in the time, or in the measure, whereupon the Holy Ghost admonisheth that the Sunne should not goe down upon our wrath. And lastly, it is when it makes us to forget our dutie towards God and man, and so to fall to brawling. Of this sin there are many branches, to wit, malice, fury, impatiencie, malediction, blasphemie, reproch, revenge, contention, threatnings, cruelties, and often-times mu…thers.
Godly anger i… that when a man is angry not upon his own private cause andExod. 16. 20. Chap. 32. 19. Num. 16. 15. 1 Ki. 19. 14. Nehem. 5. 6. Ier. 6. 11. quarrell, but upon his own sinnes, and upon whatsoever hindereth the glory of God: And this anger hath three markes whereby it is known. 1. A right beginning, or motiv…. 2. A right Object. 3. A right manner of being angrie, &c.
1. It must be … just and weightie cause that must move us, namely upon an offence to God: Such was the Anger of Elijah, and others.
2. It must become a man, and that upon counsell and deliberation.1 Sam. 20. 32. Prov. 20. 18. Iam. 1. 19.
3. It must be kindled by God, and holy affections, as namely to desire to maintaine the honour and praise of God by love of vertue, and hatred of vice.
A Description of a sinfull angry man.
An Angry Person
Stitreth up strife, and dealeth foolishly; His wrath resteth in his bosome,S…r. 28. 10. Pro. 14. 17. 29. Ch. 29. 22 Eccl. 7. 9. Pro. …7. 4. Ch. 14. 29. Prov. 21. 5. Prov. 22. 22. C…ap. 15. 18. he aboundeth in iniquitie.
He is outragious, and exalteth follie.
His motions are alwayes to sti…re up contentions.
His face is inflamed, and his hands are fighting.
His teeth are as speares and arrowes piercing.
His words are like unto Hammers striking.
His bodie, when he is moved, trembleth.
His heart within him as fire burneth, and
His throat as a Sepulchre gapeth.
And thus the image of God being a Microcosmus for beautie, a little world for excellencie, is made a confused image, and ugly: So that there is not found among all creatures living such a monster so deformed as an angrie person.Prov. 17. 12.
Ahaziah was angry with Elijah: Ahab with Micaiah for speaking truth to him.2 Ki. 1. 1 Ki. 20. 2 Chron. 16. 2 Sam. 14. Num…. 21. Num…. 24. 1 Sam. 17. Luke 15. Esth. 3. 2 King. 6. Gen. 4. 2 King. 5. Dan. 2. 12. & 3. 1…, 19. Exod. 10. Gen. 30. 1 Sam. 18. 2 Chron. 26. 1 King. 22.
Asa was angry with Hanani, and that because he reproved him.
Absalom was angry with Ioab, because he came not, when he sent for him.
Balaam was angry with His Asse, because he lay downe in travelling under him.
Balak was angry with Balaam, because he had not cursed the Israelites for him.
Eliah was angry with David, because he came to fight against the Philistine.
Elder brother was angry with His Father, because the Prodigall was entertained by him.
Haman was angry with Mordecai, because he would not, …s others did, honour him.
Iehoram was angry with The Lord, because he had sent a famine on the land.
Cain was angry with Abel, because the Lord respected his offering.
Naaman was angry with Elisha, because he had not come down to him.
Nebuchadnez. was angry with Shadrach, because he would not worship the golden image.
Pharaoh was angry with Moses, because he told him the Lords Message.
Potiphar was angry with Ioseph, for the false report of his wife against him.
Saul was angry with David, for the praise that the women gave him.
Ʋzziah was angry with The Priests, for that they did withstand him sacrificing.
Zedekiah was angry with Micaiah, for doing the Lords Message unto the king.
Godly men subject to Anger.Jewes. Act. 7. 54.
David was angry with Nabal The Lord For not sending some reliefe unto him.1 Sam. 25. 2 Sam. 6. 1 King. 19. Gen. 31. Gen. 48.
David was angry with Nabal The Lord Because that Ʋzzah was suddenly smitten by him.Psal. 31. 22.
Elijah was angry with God, because Iezebel sought to take his life from him.
Iacob was angry with Laban, Insomuch as that he chode with him.
Ioseph was angry with Iacob, For putting his right hand on Ephraim.
Ieremiah was angry with The Lord, Because of the manifold afflictions laid on him.Ier. 20. Iob 16. 21. Ionah 4. Iosh. 7. Numb. 11. Gen. 30. Gen. 16.
Iob was angry with The Lord, Insomuch as he desired to plead with him.Job 6. 26. & 10. 1. & 34. 37.
Ionah was angry with The Lord, Because the Ninevites were spared by him.
Ioshua was angry with The Lord, So as that he rent his clothes before him.
Moses was angry with The Lord, Insomuch as that he desired God to kill him.Psal. 88. 15. Gen. 27. 46.
Rachel was angry with Iacob, because that she had not children by him.
Sarah was angry with Hagar, so as she cast her out from the house of Abraham.
The Patriarks were angry with Ioseph for his dreame, so that they hated him.Gen. 37.1 Sam. 29. 4.
Iames and Iohn were angry with The Samaritans, So as they would have had fire to consume them.Luk. 9. 55.
Ʋse. Barnabas and Paul were angry with One the other, so as they departed one from the other.Act. 15.Ps…. 8. Prov. 22. 24.
Reade Prov. 29. 20. Prov. 25. 8. Prov. 15. 1. Psal. 37. 8. Iam. 1. 19, 20. Prov. 17. 14.
Use.
Make no friendship with an angry man: goe not with the furious, lest thou getProv. 22. 24. Chap. 22. 25. Rom. 12. 19. Lev. 19. 17. Eccl. 2. 15. & 10. 6. Iam. 1. 26. his wayes.
Avenge not your selves, saith the Apostle, but rather give place unto wrath: for vengeance is the Lords, and he will repay it.
Woe be to that man that hath lost Patience, being furious.
The man that refraineth not his tongue, his devotion is vain, saith the Apostle.
Reade Prov. 12. 16. Prov. …9. 19. Chap. 14. 17, …9. Iob 5. 2. Prov. 15. 18. Ephes. 4. 31. Prov. 30. …5. Syr. 20. 18. Chap. 28. 10, 11.
Of Godly Anger.
The Remedie against Anger.
1. Consider that injuries happen unto us by Gods appointment for our good.
2. That God forgiveth us more sinnes, then we can possibly forgive men, and if we forgive not, we shall not be forgiven.
3. Consider that bruit beasts do live peaceably with those that are of the same kinde: Elephants company with Elephants: Kine and Sheep feed together, and Birds of a Feather fly together, Cranes on the day fly together, and at night one playeth the Centinell, watching over the other.
4. Nature hath given weapons to all living Creatures to fight, hoofes to Horses, hornes to Buls, tuskes to Boares, stings to Bees, clawes and beakes to Birds, but man is created to peace, being created unarmed and naked, that he might not have to hurt withall, therefore it is unnaturall by seeking weapons to revenge which are without thee, being by nature denyed unto thee.
5. Remember that a soft answere putteth away wrath.Prov. 15. 1.
Reade Prov. 19. 19. Chap. 22. 24. Chap. 12. 13. Iob 5. 2. Prov. 14. 17. Chap. 15. 18. Chap. 15. 8. Chap. 27. 4. Chap. 2…. 20. Iob 3. 1. Matth. 5. 22. Prov. 16. 3. Ephes. 4. 31. 1 Thes. 5. 18. Ecclus. 4. 5. Chap. 1. 27. Chap. 20. 18. Chap. 28. 10. Psal. 37. 8.
was angry (and sinned not) with
Ahasuerus Haman for procuting the decree against the Jewes.Esth. 3. & 7.
Christ The Pharisees for watching him, if he healed on the Sabbath dayes.Mark 3. 4. 2 Sam. 12. Dan. 6. Job …2. 2 1 Ki. 19. Elihu. 2 King. 13. Gen. 30. Gen. 34. Gen. Iob 2. 31. 36 Jer. 6. 10 Pharaoh. Exod. 11. 8. Lev. 1…. Numb▪ 16. Nū. 31. Luk. 14. 21. Exod. 16. 20. The Master. Exod. 32. 19. Neh. 5. 1. Numb. 25. 2 Chron. 26.
David The man for taking the poore mans sheep from him.
Darius Himself, for sealing the decree against Daniel.
Elijah Israel, for that they had broken down Gods Altars.
Elisha Iehoahaz, for not striking the ground five or six times.
Iacob Rachel, For asking of children of him so unadvisedly.
Iacob Simeon, For slaying the men of Shechem so cruelly.
I…b His wife, for willing him to curse God and dye.
Ieremiah The people, for tha… Gods word was as a reproch unto them.
Moses Aaron, for that the people had not eaten the sin-offering.
Moses Corah, for his and his companies rebellion.
Moses The Captains, for sparing of the Midianitish women.
Moses The people of Israel For reserving of Manna untill the morning▪
Moses The people of Israel For making the molten calf, & worshipping.
Nehemiah The Jewes, for the cry of the poore made against them.
Ph…nehas The man for committing with the Midianitish woman, &c.
The Priests Ʋzziah, for going about to burn incense before him.
Be angry then, and sinne not, Ephes. 4. 2….Prov. 14. 2…. Prov. 27. 6. Prov. 18. 14. Prov. 19. 11.
Faithfull are the wounds of a lover: but an enemies kisses are cruell.
The spirit of a man will sustaine his infirmitie, but a wounded spirit who can beare?
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger, and it is his glory to passe over a transgression.
Murmuring.
MUrmuring is between secret backbiting, and open railing, a smothered malice, which can neither be utterly concealed, nor dare be openly vented, and is a repining, whereby we doe complaine of the providence of God, either that he doth too much oppresse, or else that he dealeth more mildly with others then with us, and this proceedeth from infidelitie, and is perceived to be in man, when he is more grieved for the want of such and such like things, then thankfull for that the Lord hath given him; and freed him from such and such like troubles that others are fallen into: or else when God hath given him sufficient to live upon, wherewith he is not content, though others want the same.
Elder brother murmured against His Father, because the Prodigall was entertained.Luk. 15. Act. 6. Matth. 2. 3. Fs…h. 5. Mark 14. Num. 11. Ch. 6. 4▪ 9. Matt. 20. Luk. 5. Wisd. 1. 11. Phil. 2. 14.Aaron Mitiam. Joh. 6 41, 61. Disciples.
Gretians murmured against The Jewes, because their widowes were neglected.
Herod murmured against Christ being borne, with all Jerusalem with him.
Haman murmured against Mordecai, seeing him advanced by Ahasuerus the king.
Iudas murmured against At the Oyle bes…owed on Christ by Mary Magdalene.Moses.
Israelites murmured against The Lord often-times, for which they were plagued by him.
Hi…elings murmured against The master of the vineyard, for giving alike to all of them.Elias Jonah Ier. Iob.
Pharisees murmured against Christ, for eating with sinners, & doing miracles among thē.
The Remedie of Murmuring.
1. Consider the generall providence of God in creating all things, and in preserving all things: for if we beleeve the Lord made all things of nothing, shall we not beleeve he will preserve them? Doe we beleeve that God made all men, and shall we stand in feare of men?
2. To beleeve that God preserveth all as well as he created them, yea the small Sparrow doth not fall upon the earth without his providence, yea, and his care is greater over the beasts of the field, much more will he provide for man, for whom all things are made.
3. Consider the Lord hath made nothing in vaine, he hath made all things for his glory, he hath made our bodies, he will then provide for them, seeing the Creation of them is more wonderfull then the preservation. The Lord hath care of the wicked, more of the Godly.Psal. 29.
4. Adde unto the former a patient minde, by which we must be content with whatsoever God sendeth, acknowledging Godlinesse to be great riches, and so to commit every thing to Gods protection, waiting on him; The which that we may doe the Lord grant. Amen.
Doe all things without murmuring, (saith the Apostle.)Phil. …. 14. Wisd. 1. 11.
For murmuring is unprofitable, (saith the Wise man.)