When Praying the Father, You Are Not to Be Angry With a Brother

Chapter XI.—When Praying the Father, You are Not to Be Angry with a Brother.

That we may not be as far from the ears of God as we are from His precepts,[1] the memory of His precepts paves for our prayers a way unto heaven; of which precepts the chief is, that we go not up unto God’s altar[2] before we compose whatever of discord or offence we have contracted with our brethren.[3] For what sort of deed is it to approach the peace of God[4] without peace? the remission of debts[5] while you retain them? How will he appease his Father who is angry with his brother, when from the beginning “all anger” is forbidden us?[6] For even Joseph, when dismissing his brethren for the purpose of fetching their father, said, “And be not angry in the way.”[7] He warned us, to be sure, at that time (for elsewhere our Discipline is called “the Way”[8]), that when, set in “the way” of prayer, we go not unto “the Father” with anger. After that, the Lord, “amplifying the Law,”[9] openly adds the prohibition of anger against a brother to that of murder.[10] Not even by an evil word does He permit it to be vented.[11] Ever if we must be angry, our anger must not be maintained beyond sunset, as the apostle admonishes.[12] But how rash is it either to pass a day without prayer, while you refuse to make satisfaction to your brother; or else, by perseverance in anger, to lose your prayer?