John Trapp on Proverbs 16:32

Verſ. 32. Hee that is ſlow to anger is better than the mighty] Unruly paſſions are thoſe Turks (ſaith One) that wee muſt conſtantly make war with: Thoſe Spaniards with whom (as another ſaith) whoever made peace, Liv. Hiſt. l. 9. gained nothing but repentance; Pax erit in fida, pax incerta, as Livie ſaith of that which the Romans made with the Samnites, a peace worſe than war, De civ. Dei, lib. 3. cap. 28. as Auſtin ſaith of the peace brought in by Sylla. Men muſt bee at deadly feud with thoſe luſts that war in their members, Jam. 4.1. fighting againſt their ſouls, 1 Pet. 2.11. Theſe to conquer, is the nobleſt, and moſt ſignal victory, ſith in ſubduing of theſe, wee overcome the Devil, Eph. 4.26. Jam. 4.7. As in yeelding to them, wee give place to him, and entertain him into our very boſomes. Paſſionate perſons, though they bee not drunk, yet are not they their own men: But have ſo many luſts, ſo many Lords, conquering Countries (as Alexander) vanquiſhed of vices: Or as the Perſian Kings, who commanded the whole world, but were commanded by their Concubines. How much better Valentinian the Emperour, who ſaid upon his death-bed, that among all his victories one onely comforted him; And being asked what that was? Hee anſwered, I have overcome my worſt enemy, mine own naughty heart.

Latiùs regnes, avidum domando Horat. lib. 2. Carm. Spiritum, quàm ſi Lybiam remotis Gadibus jungas, & uterque Paenus Serviat uni.

I cannot better Engliſh it, than by Solomons next words, Hee that ruleth his ſpirit, is better than hee that taketh a City. See this exemplified in Jacob, who did better (when hee heard of the rape of Dinah) in holding his peace, than his Sons did in taking and pillaging the City Shechem. Gen. 34. None was to triumph in Rome, that had not got five victories:Iſidor. Tranq. Hee ſhall never triumph in heaven, that ſubdueth not his five ſenſes himſelf.