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work, having in readiness, upon your mind, such pertinent scriptures as these: Be angry, but sin not, Eph. iv. 26; and, anger rests in the bosom of fools, Eccles. vii. 9. Shall I then sin against God? Shall I thus play the fool?

Rules to know when anger is sinful.

You sin in your anger, first, when it is without cause; as when neither God is dishonoured, nor your neighbour or yourself indeed injured; when it is for trifles, and only because you are crossed in your will and desire, and the like; but chiefly when you are angry with any for well doing, 1 Kings xxii. 24 - 26. Secondly, Though you have cause, yet if it extinguish your love to the person with whom you are angry; so that you neglect the common and needful offices thereof. Thirdly, When it exceeds due measure, as when it is over much, and over long. Fourthly, It is sinful when it brings forth evil and unseemly effects, such as neglect, or ill performance of any duty to God or man; also when it breaks out into loud, clamorous, or reviling speeches, or into churlish, sullen, or indecent behaviour, or when it is attended with any injurious act.

Thirdly, If you cannot keep anger from rising within you, yet be sure that you bind your tongue and hand to good behaviour. Make a covenant with them, and charge them not to show it, nor partake with it any further than considerate reason, and good conscience shall advise you, Psa. xxxix. 1. Set a law to yourself, Psa. cxli. 3, that you will not chide, nor strike while you are in the heat of anger. If there be cause of either, defer it until you have more government over yourself. If you say, that "If you do them not in your heat, you shall not do them at all;" I answer, that, in saying so you discover a great deal of folly and weakness. I am sure you never do them well in passion. And conscience of duty should lead you to chiding and correcting when there is cause, not passion: for, in it, you serve and revenge yourself upon the party, but not God.

Fourthly, Both before, and when you are angry,