Obs. 1. From the context. The worst thing that we can bring to a religious controversy is anger. The context speaketh of anger occa- sioned by differences about the word. I J. sually no aftections are so out- rageous as those wliich are engaged in the quarrel of religion, for then
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that which should bridle the passion is made the fuel of it, and that which sliould restrain undue heats and excesses engageth them. How- ever, this should not be. Christianity, of all religions, is the meekest and most humble. It is founded upon the blood of Christ, who is a Lamb slain. It is consigned and sealed by the Spii'it of Christ, who descended like a dove. Both are emblems of a meek and modest humility. And should a meek religion be defended by our violences, and the God of peace served with wrathful affections, and the mad- ness of an evil nature bewray itself in the best cause ? Christ's war- fare ncedeth not such carnal weapons ; as Achish said, ' Have I need of mad men ? ' 1 Sam. xxi. 15. So, hath Jesus Christ need of our passions and furies ? Doth the God of heaven need ' a tongue set on fire of hell ' ? James iii. 6. Michael the archangel was engaged in the best cause against the worst adversary, with Satan about the body of Moses ; and yet the purity of his nature would not permit him to profane his engagement with any excess and indecency of passion : ' He durst not bring against him a railing accusation,' Jude 9. And as the wrath of man is unsuitable to the matters of God, so it is also prejudicial. When tongue is sharpened against tongue, and pen against pen, what followeth ? Nothing but mutual animosities and hatreds, whereby, if we gain aught of truth, we lose much of love and good- ness. Satan would fain be even with God. The devil's kingdom is mostly ruined by the rage of his own instruments ; and you cannot gratify Satan more than when you wrong the truth by an unseemly defence of it ; ^ for then he seemeth to be quits with Christ, overturn- ing his kingdom by those which are engaged in the defence of it. Briefly, then, if you would do good, use a fit means. The barking dog loseth the prey. Violence and furious prosecution seldom gaineth. Those engage most successfully that use the hardest arguments and the softest words ; whereas railings and revilings, as they are without love, so they are without profit. Be watchful ; our religious affections may often overset us.
Obs. 2. From that loovTcetli not the righteousness. Anger is not to be trusted ; it is not so just and righteous as it seemeth to be. Of all passions this is most apt to be justified. As Jonah said to God, ' I do well to be angry,' Jonah iv. 9, so men are apt to excuse their heats and passions, as if they did but express a just indignation against an offence and wrong received. Anger, like a cloud, blindeth the mind, and then tyranniseth over it. There is in it somewhat of rage and violence ; it vehemently exciteth a man to act, and taketh away his rule according to which he ought to act. All violent concitations of the spirit disturb reason, and hinder clearness of debate ; and it is then Avith the soul as it is with men in a mutiny, the gravest cannot be heard ; and there is in it somewhat of mist and darkness, by which reason, being beclouded, is rather made a party than a judge, and doth not only excuse our passion, but feed it, as being employed in represent- ing the injury, rather than bridling our irrational excess. Well, then, do not believe anger. Men credit their passion, and that foments it. In an unjust cause, when Sarah was passionate, you see how confident she is, Gen. xvi. 5, ' The Lord judge between me and thee.' It would
^ ' AflFectavit ij^uandoque diabolus veritatem defeudendo concutere.' — Tcrt.
140 AN" EXrOSlTlON", WITH NOTES, [JaS I, L'O.
liave been ill for her it" the Lord had umpired between her and Abra- ham. It was a strange conhdencc, when sshe was in the wrong", to appeal to God, You see anger is full of mistakes, and it seemeth just and lighteous when it doth nothing less than work the righteous- ness of God. The heathens suspected themselves when under the power of their anger. ' 1 would beat thee,' saith one, ' if I were not angry.' i When you are under the power of a passion, you have just cause to suspect all your apprehensions ; you are apt to mistake others, and to mistake your own spirits. Passion is blind, and cannot judge ; it is furious, and hath no leisure to debate and consider.
Ohs. 3. From that anger of man and righteousness of God. Note the opposition, for there is an emphasis in those two words man and (rod. The point is, that a wrathful spirit is a spirit most unsuitable to God. God being the God of peace, requireth pacatum aninium — a quiet and composed spirit. Thunder is in the lower regions, inferiora fulminant ; all above is quiet. Wrathful men are most unlit either to act grace or to receive grace ; to -act grace by drawing nigh to God in w'orship, for worship nuist carry proportion with the object of it, as the God that is a spirit, John iv. 27, will be served in spirit ; so the God of peace with a peaceable mind. So to receive grace from God : angry men give place to Satan, but grieve the Spirit, Eph. iv. 2G, 27, with 30. and so are more fit to receive sin than grace. God is described, Ps. ii. 4, to ' sit in the heavens,' which notetli a quiet and composed posture ; and truly, as he sitteth in the heavens, so he dwelleth in a meek and quiet spirit.