lefs at this time. For then 'tis odds, if the Mind be not fo clouded, as not to dif cern the Juftice of its Adverfary's Caufe, or elfe so overfway'd by Difaffection, as not to make a proportionable Allowance. But notwithstanding the Unreasonableness of this Procedure, an angry Person will hear no body but himself, he is impatient of Contradiction, and takes every one for his Enemy, that oppofes his Opinion. And as this Paffion won't endure Oppo+ fition; fo, fometimes 'tis fo unrighteous, as to be provok'd, because it finds none. Some angry People, when they meet with a patient and unconcerned Silence, are of ten not a little exafperated: This they either interpret as an Argument of their being contemn'd, or lelse they are vexed to find their Rage fo impotent and unfuccessful, as not to be able to do any Execution upon their Neighbour's Quiet; they are forry to find his Mind fo fecure and impregnable against all their malici. ous Affaults, and 'tis a Difturbance to them, to find that they are unable to disturb others. A Fifth A Fifth Argument against this Paffion, is the Indecency of it. What wild Dif composure it caufes in those who are under its Power, is easy to obferve. What a furious and ill-natur'd Air does it paint the Face with? The Eyes are flaming out in Revenge; the Voice loud and boisterous, like a Storm; the Joints tremble by the tumultuous Motion of the Spirits; and when the Courfe of Nature is thus fet on Fire, the Tongue, that unruly Member, will be fure to put in for its Share, of Extravagancy, and speak proud and foolish Things: And thus with a blind and undistinguishing Courage, their Paffion falls foul upon every thing, that comes in its Way, making no difference oftentimes between Friends and Enemies,between Things Sacred and Prophane; confounding all Diftinctions of Times and Perfons, forgerting all Obligations, neither fearing God, nor regarding Men, which proves it unjuft, as well as indecent. In fhort, this Paffion, when 'tis not under the Check of Reason, is a lively Representation of a most accomplish'd Madness: The Deformity formity of this Paffion, if confidered, would be a fufficient Prefervative against it: A Man, that deliberates upon the Iffure, can't be guilty of an Action fo unbecoming the Sense and Gravity of his kind, nor make himself fo ill a Sight upon any Provocation whatfoever: He well knows that fuch a furious and ridiculous Behaviour is often a greater Injury, than that which was the Cause of it, and does more ef fectually expofe and leffen him in the Judgment of wife Men, than the MaHice of his greatest Enemy could poffibly do. A Sixth Argument to diffuade us from Anger, may be drawn from the Danger of it. Now we cannot name any thing, which has done fo much. Mischief in the World, as this Paffion. What Ruine and Defolation of Countries? How many Cities have been laid in Ashes, by this Wildfire? When it gets into crown'd Heads, and fcepter'd Hands, it ravages far and near: For weak Minds, and powerful Fortunes, which are too often join'd together, make its Fury irrefiftible resistible: And though when it poffeffes private Perfons, it has not fo large a Compass to swagger in, yet it often acts to the Extent of its Power, and makes Men do as much Mifchief as they are able To Revenge, they will make their Way, though it be through all the moft fcandalous and deteftable Actions imaginable : Neither Defamation, Treachery, nor Murder it felf can fometimes ftop them, from faying and doing those Things on the fuddain, which may encumber their whole Life with uneafy and calamitous Confequences: Some of which they are fometimes quickly fenfible of; for the furious Defire of Revenge is apt to deftroy its own Design. The Mind is fo ftrongly poffeft with offenfive Imaginations, that it has no Leifure to confult its own Security; fo that a Man in fuch Disorder, muft needs be very much expos'd, and give a wary and confiderate Adversary great Advantages against him; at best, falling on with a blind fort of Violence, 'tis odds that he hurrys himself over the Precipice, whilst he thinks to crufh ano ther. However, the moft fuccefsful Outrages of this Nature do procure a Man the more Enemies if maintain'd, and if not, they make the Reftitution and Regret for the Injury much more expensive and troublesome. 7. This Paffion indifpofes us for the heavenly Life: The Difpofition of the Saints above is peaceable and benevolent; they always wish well to, and are pleased with others as well as themselves; and were they otherwise affected it's not poffible to conceive how they fhould be happy: And if we expect to arrive at their Happiness we must conform to their Temper;, if we have any Aim at those bleffed Manfions above, if we defire to cohabit with thofe peaceful Spirits, with that agreeable and inoffenfive Company, we must qualify and prepare ourselves with those Virtues which make it fuch; we must compofe our Minds into a Suitableness with thofe calm Regions, by the Exercise of Meekness and Charity, being difficultly provok❜d, and easily reconcil'd whereas, if our Difpofitions are froward P and |