Nothing can be more unbecoming, or contribute more to render ourselves, and all who are connected with us, miserable, than the habitual indulgence of vio lent and unreasonable anger. That this passion is within our power to a considerable extent, cannot be doubted, and is evidently implied in the precept of the apostle above quoted. To accustom our minds to habits of just reflection, and to endeavour to be less irritated by im pressions of injury, and sooner pacified when we meet with offence, will be attended with the most salutary effects upon the temper, and contribute essentially to our comfort and tranquillity. Archdeacon Paley, in his treatise on moral and political philosophy, has suggested a variety of considerations, which are well calculated to effect this desirable purpose, and which may there fore be called the sedatives of anger. Among these the following seem most worthy of notice. " The possibility of mistaking the motives from which the conduct that offended us proceeded ; how often our offences have been the effect of inadvertency, when they were mistaken for malice ; the inducement which prompted our adver sary to act as he did, and how powerfully the same in ducement has, at one time or other, operated upon our selves ; that he is suffering, perhaps, under a contrition, which he is ashamed or wants opportunity to confess; and how ungenerous it is to triumph, by coldness or in sult, over a spirit already humbled in secret ; that the returns of kindness are sweet, and that there is neither honour, nor virtue, nor use, in resisting them : for some persons think themselves bound to cherish and keep alive their indignation, when they find it dying away of itself. Add to this, the indecency of extravagant an
ger; how it renders us, while it lasts, the scorn and sport of all about us, of which it leaves us, when it cea ses, sensible and ashamed ; the inconveniencies and ir retrievable misconduct into which our irrascibilty has sometimes betrayed us; the friendships it has lost us ; the disti esses and embarrassments in which we have been involved by it, and the sore repentance, which, on one account or other, it always costs us. But the re flection, calculated above all others to allay that haugh tiness of temper which is ever finding out provocations, and which renders anger so impetuous, is that which the gospel proposes, namely, that we ourselves are, or shortly shall be, suppliants for mercy and pardon at the judgment seat of God. Imagine our secret sins all dis closed and brought to light; imagine us thus humbled and exposed ; trembling under the hand of God ; cast ing ourselves on his compassion, crying out for mercy: Imagine such a creature to talk of satisfaction and re venge, refusing to be intreatecl, disdaining to forgive, extreme to mark, and to resent what is done amiss ; imagine, I say, this, and you can hardly feign to your self an instance of more impious and unnatural arro gance." (Book III. part ii. c. 7.) (in)*