The Institutes, Book VIII

Book VIII

• The Institutes VIII.1 — How our fourth conflict is against the sin of anger, and how many evils this passion produces. How our fourth conflict is against the sin of anger, and how many evils this passion produces. In our fourth combat the…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.2 — Of those who say that anger is not injurious, if we are angry with those who do wrong, since God Himself is said to be angry. Of those who say that anger is not injurious, if we are angry with those who do wrong,…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.3 — Of those things which are spoken of God anthropomorphically. For if when these things are said of God they are to be understood literally in a material gross signification, then also He sleeps, as it is said, “Arise,…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.4 — In what sense we should understand the passions and human arts which are ascribed to the unchanging and incorporeal God. In what sense we should understand the passions and human arts which are ascribed to the…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.5 — How calm a monk ought to be. And so a monk aiming at perfection, and desiring to strive lawfully in his spiritual combat, should be free from all sin of anger and wrath, and should listen to the charge which the…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.6 — Of the righteous and unrighteous passion of wrath. From almost every cause the emotion of wrath boils over, and blinds the eyes of the soul, and, bringing the deadly beam of a worse disease over the keenness of our…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.7 — Of the only case in which anger is useful to us. We have, it must be admitted, a use for anger excellently implanted in us for which alone it is useful and profitable for us to admit it, viz., when we are indignant…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.8 — Instances from the life of the blessed David in which anger was rightly felt. And at any rate (this is the case), when we are agitated against this very anger, because it has stolen on us against our brother, and…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.9 — Of the anger which should be directed against ourselves. And some are commanded to “be angry” after a wholesome fashion, but with our own selves, and with evil thoughts that arise, and “not to sin,” viz., by bringing…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.10 — Of the sun, of which it is said that it should not go down upon your wrath. And of this sun God clearly makes mention by the prophet, when He says, “But to those that fear my name the sun of righteousness shall arise…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.11 — Of those to whose wrath even the going down of the sun sets no limit. But what am I to say of those (and I cannot say it without shame on my own part) to whose implacability even the going down of the sun sets no…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.12 — How this is the end of temper and anger when a man carries it into act as far as he can. But it looks as if even this was not the end of vengeance to every one, but some can only completely satisfy their wrath or…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.13 — That we should not retain our anger even for an instant. Or how can we think that the Lord would have it retained even for an instant, since He does not permit us to offer the spiritual sacrifices of our prayers, if…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.14 — Of reconciliation with our brother. And because we often spurn the brethren who are injured and saddened, and despise them, and say that they were not hurt by any fault of ours, the Healer of souls, who knows all…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.15 — How the Old Law would root out anger not only from the actions but from the thoughts. But why should we spend any more time over evangelic and apostolic precepts, when even the old law, which is thought to be…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.16 — How useless is the retirement of those who do not give up their bad manners. Sometimes when we have been overcome by pride or impatience, and we want to improve our rough and bearish manners, we complain that we…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.17 — That the peace of our heart does not depend on another's will, but lies in our own control. That the peace of our heart does not depend on another’s will, but lies in our own control. The chief part then of our…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.18 — Of the zeal with which we should seek the desert, and of the things in which we make progress there. Of the zeal with which we should seek the desert, and of the things in which we make progress there. Further, it is…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.19 — An illustration to help in forming an opinion on those who are only patient when they are not tried by any one. An illustration to help in forming an opinion on those who are only patient when they are not tried by…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.20 — Of the way in which auger should be banished according to the gospel. Wherefore if we wish to gain the substance of that divine reward of which it is said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” we…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.21 — Whether we ought to admit the addition of “without a cause,” in that which is written in the Gospel, “whosoever is angry with his brother,” etc. But you should know that in this, which is found in many copies,…vatican.va
• The Institutes VIII.22 — The remedies by which we can root out anger from our hearts. Wherefore the athlete of Christ who strives lawfully ought thoroughly to root out the feeling of wrath. And it will be a sure remedy for this disease, if…vatican.va