XI.

very much at Heart, may, on a fudden SER M. Surprize of Paffion, be tempted to Speak unadvifedly with his Lips. But it happens but too frequently, that those who put in this Plea, have no Claim to it. For what if this Paffion, which they pretend to be a Frailty, prove really a Fault? And in general it will be found, that haughty, opprobrious Language is not fo much owing to a Man's fudden Temptations to Anger as to an inward ftanding Habit of Contempt, which that occafional Temptation, by throwing Him off his Guard, manifefted and expofed to View. A fecret, unfufpected Pride then, the fettled Temper of our Minds, may be the original Cause of difdainful and contemptuous Expreffions, and a Surprize of Pafion only the Occafion of discovering that Temper by fuch Expreffions.

In vain therefore do fuch Perfons feek to fcreen themfelves from Guilt, by refting the Occafion of it on the ungoverned Burfts, or unguarded Sallies of Paffion; fince they habitually encourage another ill Affection of the Mind, which is fure to fet their Paffion at Work. As well may the Intemperaté complain, that they cannot fecure themselves against the Attacks of many Diftempers from the Weakness of their Conftitution, when their Intemperance has R 4

been

SER M. been the true Occafion of that Weakness.

XI.

But,

3dly, We are not always to judge of the Sinfulness of Anger from the open and undifguifed Appearance of it, either in our Words or Actions: it may be concealed and treasured up in our Thoughts, and yet retain as much Malignity as when it immediately breaks out and difcovers itself in contumelicus Language, or Acts of Violence, For, by brooding in the Mind, it becomes the Parent of a very untoward Iffue, Malice and Hatred.

Malice is a cool and deliberate Refentment; but fometimes more keen and malevolent than that which is rafh and precipitate. It is like a maffy Stone, flowly raifed; but threatening the greater Danger to Him on whom it fhall fall. Many, I queftion not, are apt to footh themselves with the deceitful Thought, that they are Men of Temper and Patience, because, on very great Provocations, they can fo far fmother and fupprefs the firft Impulse of Paffion, as not to betray any frong Symptoms of it: when all the while their Coolness is owing to nothing better than their Cowardice. The Veil that is flung over their Fury does not alter it's real Complexion, it only enables it to act with lefs Sufpicion, and therefore with greater Security at a more proper Opportu

P

XI.

ty. The Heat of Anger thus concealed SER M. then, may be as injurious as that which immediately discharges itself, and evaporates in a fudden Flame: but the Guilt of the Malicious is aggravated in this, that he acts with more Deliberation than thofe of a hot and fiery Temper. He has Time to debate the Matter coolly with Himfelf; to call in the Counfels of Reafon and Prudence; and to fue for the Succours of Grace. All this he may do, and ought to do: And if either through a wilful Omiffion of this, or in Spite of all the Remonftrances of Reafon and Confcience, He ftill perfeveres in the determined Refolution of executing His wicked Purposes; His Sin, thus heightened with every Circumftance of Prefumption, becomes exceeding finful.

But farther, Anger is yet finful when encouraged in our Thoughts to the Degree of Hatred. For though our Refentment, in this View, may not run fo high as to fuggeft any evil Defigns of injuring a Man in His Perfon or Property; or though it fhould fpare, what it very feldom fpares, His Reputation; yet ftill it is apt to cherith an evil Difpofition towards Him. It inclines us to rejoice at the Misfortunes that befall Him; or at leaft to be unconcerned for them: it reftrains many Acts of our Benevolence towards Him, when it would be equally our own Interest to perform

XI.

SERM. perform them: nay it may turn away ou Eyes from Him in the Day of His extreme Adverfity and Affliction.

Now it is certain, there is no Man, who retains the leaft Senfe of Humanity, but wishes to live in a good Understanding with all Mankind; abflracting from every Confideration, but the pleafing Reflection that naturally arifes in the Mind from fuch a Situation. The Reafon of this we need not inquire at prefent: it is enough that every Man feels this focial Defire so strong in His own Heart. Why then will any One chufe to practife fuch a strange Sort of Self-Denial as to rob His own Breast of fuch pleasurable Emotions, for no Reason but to rob His Fellow-Creatures of the fame? This is not only hindering Good, or what amounts to the fame, doing Evil, for Evil's Sake, (the Temper of the most accurfed Spirit) it is yet worfe; it is doing Evil to ourselves for the Sake of doing Evil to others. But, "Is it not a Pleasure "to us when we rejoice at the Misfortunes "of Others; and therefore are we not fill "in the Poffeffion of Pleafure?" A Pleafure it is, but a Pleasure arifing from Peffion only a Pleasure that will not endure the Teft of Reafon, or the Survey of Reflection and therefore an unnatural, brutifh, and favage Pleafure: All which is evident from this, that when Time has in

Part

XI.

Part obliterated, and at laft totally effaced, SER Ma the deformed Image of Hatred; we find a thorough Complacency and Satisfaction at the Retreat and final Farewel of fo unwelcome a Guest, And this is ftill farther confirmed from the Joy that arifes on the Reconciliation of Perfons at Variance. What tumultuous Tranfports, think we, muft have filled the Hearts of Jacob and Efau at their firft Interview; when the Current of Brotherly Love had been fo long interrupted between them? Take the Account of it in the inimitable Simplicity of Scriptural Language And JACOB lifted up His Eyes, and looked, and behold ESAU came, and JACOB-bowed Himself to the Ground Seven Times, until He came near to His Brother and ESAU ran to meet Him, and embraced Him, and fell on His Neck, and killed Him: and they wept.

Were ever Revenge, Malice, or Hatred accompanied with such grateful Sensations, fuch kindly Overflowings of Joy and Gladnefs in the Heart? No: Benevolence, on fuch Occurrences, afferts the Right of fupreme Dominion in the Human Conftitution, and triumphs over all the Tribe of. the unfocial Affections. We are convinced of our Folly in revolting from Her gentle Sway to be enflaved by Tyrants, and terrified by Monsters. This Conviction turns Our Hearts; which again are foftened by a Mixture

I