« back to search

Anger "consumes the lodging wherein it lies, the heart; it consumes the object whither it goes; and looks death and destruction upon every thing in the way."

— Tubbe, Henry (1618-1655)

Author

Meditations Divine & Morall

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

Printed for Robert Gibbs

Date

1659

Metaphor

Anger "consumes the lodging wherein it lies, the heart; it consumes the object whither it goes; and looks death and destruction upon every thing in the way."

Metaphor in Context

Some would have this word Ira, Anger, to be derived from uro, to burn: because it burns and consumes all before it. It consumes the lodging wherein it lies, the heart; it consumes the object whither it goes; and looks death and destruction upon every thing in the way. So the Philosopher defines it, A burning (or boyling) of the blood, or an exuberancy of heat about the heart. Or you may derive our word Anger from Ango; which first sagnifies to strangle or suffocate; and then by Metaphor to torment, vex, grieve, or trouble, as well the mind as the body. And this reaches to both: it destroys the vital parts, and hinders the due operation and exercise of the intellectual faculties: it puts all out of frame and order. So the moral definition fits very well; which terms this troublesome grief [...], appetitum recontristationis, an appetite (or desire) of interchangable sorrow, of continual distraction. Others would have Ira come from Ire, to go, because the angry man goes out of himself and runnes mad: but whither he will go, or where he will stop, God knows; for the devil drives him. If he be so mad to increase the flames, let him enjoy his fiery death alone. Let him live like the Salamander, and die like the Phaenix. Oh sweet revenge! I would be loath with my load of mutual wrath to increase the Funeral Peal. It is the sweetest revenge to forget an injury. If thou be angry indeed, let not the person but his sin offend thee. Be angry, and sin not. Be angry with sin, or else you sin in not being angry. Be angry with any thing but sin, and you cannot but sin in being angry. Be angry and sin not, be not angry and sin. Consider betimes what thou hast done or said in thy inconsiderate wrath which with too late repentance thou mayst wish were now made void. Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of judgement, saith our Saviour. When the blood begins to revel in your veines, give this sudden check to that rebellious motion. I am strangely affected now; but I shall be of another minde by and by. Why should I deliver that in anger which cannot be unsaid when I am pleased? why should I do that now in these mad fits which will vex me when I am well in my wits? After a showre of wrath comes a flood of grief. Cannot Religion, and Piety, and Conscience obtaine that of me at this instant which a little time will enforce.
(pp. 142-3, in. 74)