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ANger, when it is immoderate, be∣comes sinful, when the Sun goeth down upon it, soon becomes a work of darkness: and therefore the Apostle after a Concession, Be angry, addeth a Restri∣ction, And sin not, let not the Sun go down upon your wrath, Eph. 4. 26. In which Re∣striction, sinful and remaining anger are connexed, and prohibited.
Now as this remaining or immode∣rate anger is sinful, so it is unhealthful: for the incommodities thereof are many,
and evil: as Feavers, Phrensies, and Mad∣ness, Trembling, Palsies, Apoplexies, de∣cay of Appetite, and want of Rest, Pale∣ness, Collicks, Plurisies, Inflammations, Cholerick, Caeliack, and Iliack Passions, &c. So that not without cause was the saying of Eliphaz, Wrath killeth the foolish man, Job 5. 2. And to this purpose I shall infer what I find recorded in hu∣mane Story. The Emperour Nerva ended his life in a Feaver, contracted by anger. The Emperour Valentinian died by an ir∣ruption of blood, through anger, Cuspia∣nus Chromerus l. 18. Vinceslaus, King of Bohemia, raging against his Cup-bearer, fell presently into a Palsie, whereof he died. Also L. Sylla, who in his anger had spilt the blood of many, at last in his fury, raging, and crying out against one that had broken promise with him, there∣by brake a Veine within him, vomiting out his blood, soul, and anger together, Valer. Maxim. l. 9. And Ajax through anger fell into a deadly fury.
Now from these Instances, we may conclude the truth of that Sentence in
Eccl. 30. 24.—Wrath shortens the life: And also of that old Medicinal Rule in Schold Salerni:
Si vis incolumem, si te vis reddere sanum,—Irasci crede profanum.
If thou wilt live in health, and free from sickness bane,
Then think thou choler in excess to be pro∣phane.
We may add hereunto, that anger in excess inflameth the blood, and increa∣seth choler, which is for the most part the cause of that acute, and dangerous disease, Cholerica passio, or Choler, which (as the Physicians write) is often so sharp and vehement, that it doth deprive a Man of life within the space of a day or two, even without a Feaver.
Moreover it is observed, that Chil∣dren most fretful are usually short-liv'd; and that anger if it be inveterate, causeth the Natural Spirit to feed upon the juyces of the Body; which must conse∣quently
produce Consumptions, and ab∣breviate Life.