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CHAP. VI.
The fourth rule of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the causes of the sins here forbidden. Of unjust anger, and the fruits of it. It consists of, 1. Grief. 2. Desire of Revenge. The effects and fruits of it. 1. Towards Superiours. Envy. The causes of envy: the greatnesse of this sin. 2. Towards Equals. 3. Towards Inferiburs. The sappuration or breaking out of anger against Superiours. 1. By the eyes and face. 2. By the tongue, 1. By mur∣muring, 2. tale-bearing, 3. backbiting. Against Equals, by 1. dissention, 2. brawling, 3. rayling. The fruits of anger in Superiours. 1. Threatning. 2. Scorn∣fulnesse. The last fruit of anger, viz. murther of the hand.
THe fourth rule teaches us, that all the means or causes, which concur, or conduce to any act forbidden or commanded, are likewise forbidden or commanded. Here come in all those sins formerly mentioned, which are occasions, or provocations to murther, as unjust anger, and all the fruits of it.
As it was said at the beginning when we entred upon this Commandment, that pride is the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of all the breaches of this Commandment; so we say now that it is the fountain of unjust anger, and of all those sins that arise there from. Onely by pride, saith the Wise man, cometh contention and wrath: and the Apostle dehorting from provocation and envy, mentions vain glory or pride first, as the cause of both; Be not desirous of vain glory (saith he) provoking one another, envying one another. For as was said formerly, every man sets down this with himself, That he is good, and therefore whosoever loveth him doth his duty: as on the other side, whosoever hurts or injuris him, is necessarily evil, and one against whom he may justly conceive anger; for omnis 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 just a, each froward man thinks his anger just, accord∣ing as we said before, omnis iniquus mentitur sibi, every wicked man deceives himself. And from this proud conceit of a mans self, arises unjust anger against all such as do any way offend him.
This anger is compounded of two things. 1. Grief for some indignity offered to us. 2. Desire to requite it.
1. In the first is, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 animi, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, animosity or inward boyling of the blood, or fretting, from which through pride we condemn the party that injured us, as evil; and thence follows mala mens, a malicious intent towards him, the judgement being corrupted by the affections, and therefore the Apostle joyns anger and malice, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 together, and exhorting to put away all anger, and wrath, and clamour, he adds, with all malice, because this makes us condemn all his actions as evil: for hereby we become busie in other mens matters, full of evil surmises, and judices malarum cogitationum, judges of evil thoughts: and thus we come to have an evil opinion of him that offends us.
2. Then follows the second thing, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, desire of revenge, James and John 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Christs companie, and perceiving the Samaritans not willing to receive them, would needs call for fire from heaven to consume them.
Now if this anger be towards Superiours, or men in high place, dignity and estate, or eminent for vertue, then it produces envy, which is odium 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 re∣spectu superiorum, quia eis non 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a hatred of another mans felicity in respect of Superiours, because we cannot be equal with them. For there is in this case, as S. James saith, a spirit in us that lusteth after envy; and as Elihu saith in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Envy flayeth the inferiour, (as some read it) because that inferiours are apt to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those that are above them, or exceed them any way. And hence ariseth in inferiours, as the Apostle calls them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 swellings towards others, which either presently break forth, or if they lie long and come to suppuration, or impostume, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 calls them, they prove rubigo 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the rust and canker of the soul, which is a fearful thing, and worse then anger; for anger is cruel, and wrath raging, but who can stand before envy? saith the Wise man, this usually produces murther. Pilate saw that it was out of envy, that the Jews delivered Christ to be put to death. Therefore Seneca saith, that is ca∣sier for a poor man to escape contempt, then a rich man envy. We see it in Cain that envied Abels acceptance. In Rachel that envied Leahs fruitfulnefse, and Saul Davids happinesse.