Charity and its fruits - Edwards - X - Lecture IX

Required reading
Charity and its fruits by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Lecture IX (The spirit of charity the opposite of an angry or wrathful spirit).

My summary
Now we are taught that the spirit of Christian love is the opposite of an angry or wrathful spirit or disposition.

Firstly Edwards shows us what is an angry or wrathful spirit.  Anger may be undue and sinful in respect to its:
(i) nature;
(ii) occasion;
(iii) end;
(iv) measure (degree and continuance).

Secondly Edwards teaches us how love is contrary to anger:
(i) love is directly and in itself contrary to all undue anger;
(ii) all the fruits of this love which are mentioned in the context of 1 Corinthians 13 are also contrary to it

Then by way of application, Edwards:
(i) encourages self examination for an angry spirit;
(ii) dissuades from and warns against all undue anger.

What grabbed me
Good chapter.

The part about anger over small things was particularly helpful for me: 'Anger is unsuitable and unchristian as to its occasion, when persons are angry upon small and trivial occasions, and when though there be something of blame, yet the fault is very small, and such as is not worth our being stirred and engaged about. God does not call us to have our spirits ceaselessly engaged in opposition, and stirred up in anger, unless it be on some important occasions. He that is angry at every little fault he may see in others, is certainly one with whom it is otherwise than is expressed in the text. Of him that is provoked at every little, trifling tiling, it surely cannot be said, that he is "not easily provoked." Some are of such an angry, fretful spirit, that they are put out of humour by every little thing, and by things in others, in the family, or in society, or in business, that are no greater faults than they themselves are guilty of every day. Those that will thus be angry at every fault they see in others, will be sure to be always kept in a fret, and their minds will never be composed ; for it cannot be expected in this world but that we shall continually be seeing faults in others, as there are continually faults in ourselves. And therefore it is, that Christians are directed to be " slow to speak and slow to wrath," James i. 19 ; and that it is said, that " He that is soon angry, dealeth foolishly." He that diligently guards his own spirit, will not be very frequently or easily angry. He wisely keeps his mind in a calm, clear frame, and does not suffer it to be stirred with anger, except on extraordinary occasions, and those that do especially call for it.'

Far too often I let little things make me unduly angry.  It is not loving.

Next week's reading
Read Lecture X (The spirit of charity the opposite of a censorious spirit).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.