Ans. 1. To pass by an injury without re- venge, is no eclipsing one's credit ; the scripture saith, Prov. xix. 11., "It is the glory of a man to pass over a transgres- sion." 'Tis moi'e honour to bury an inju- ry, than revenge it ; wrathfulness denotes weakness ; a noble heroic spirit overlooks a petty offence.
A. 2. Suppose a man's credit should be impaired with those whose censure is not to be valued ; yet consider the folly of chal- lenging another to a duel, 'tis little wisdom for a man to redeem his credit by losing Ids life, and to run to hell to be counted va- lorous.
Obj. 2. But the wrong he hath done me is great.
Ans. But thy not forgiving him is a great- er wrong; he in injm-ing thee hath offend- ed against a man, but thou in not forgiving him oifendest against God.
Obj. 3. But if I forgive one injury y I shall occasion more.
Ans. If the more injuries thou forgivest, the more thou meetest with, this will make thy grace shine the more. Often forgiving will add more to the weight of his sin, and to the weight of thy glory. If any say, " I strive to excel in other graces, but as for this of forgiving, I cannot do it, I desire in this to be excused," — what dost thou talk of other graces ? The graces are inter se connexcc, linked and chained together ; where there is one, there is all ; he that cannot forgive, his grace is counterfeit, his faith is fancy, his devotion is hypocrisy.
Quest. 3. But suppose another hath wrong- ed me in my estate, may not I go to law for my debt ?
Ans. Yes, else what use were there of law-courts? God hath set judges to de- cide cases in law, and to give every one his right. It is with going to law, as it is with going to war; when the just rights of a nation are invaded, here it is lawful to go to war, so when a man's estate is trespass- ed upon by another, he may go to law to recover it. But the law must be used in the last place, when no entreaties or arbi- trations will prevail, then the chancery must decide it. Yet this is no revenge, it is not so much to injure another, as to riirh* one's self; this may I e, yet one may live iu charity.
Use \st. Here is a bill of indictment a- gainst such as study revenge, and cannot put up the least discourtesy. They would have God forgive them, but they will not forgive others ; they will pray, — come to church, — give alms, — but, as Christ said, Mark x. 21,, Yet lackest thou one thing; they lack a forgiving spirit ; they will ra- ther want forgiveness from God, than they will forgive their brother. How sad is it, that, for every slight wrong, or disgraceful word, men should let malice boil in their hearts ! Would there be so many duels, arrests, murders, if men had the art of for- giving ? Revenge is the projjcr sin of the devil ; he is no drunkard or adulterer, but this old serpent is full of the poison of ma- lice ; and what shall we say to them who make profession of religion, yet instead of forgiving, pursue others despitefully ? It was prophesied, " the wolf should dwell with the lamb," Isa. xi. 6. But what shall
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OF THE FIFTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
ve sav, nlicn such as profess to be Iambs become wolves? These open the mouths of the profane ajo^aiiist religion ; they will sav, those are as full of rancour as any. O whitlier is love and mercy fled ! If the son of man did come, should he find cliarit) on the earth ? I fear but little ! Such as but cherish anger and malice in their hearts, and will not forgive, how can they pray, " Forgive us, as we forgive others ?" Ei- ther they must omit this petition (as Chry- sostom saith some did in his time) or else they pray against themselves.
Use 2d. Let it persuade us all, as ever we hope for salvation, to pass by petty in- juries and discourtesies, and labour to be of forgiving spirits. Col. iii. 13., "Forbear- ing one another, and forgiving one another." L Herein m'c resemble God. He is "rea- dy to forgive," Ps. Ixxxvi. 5. He befi'iends his enemies, — he opens his hands to relieve them, who <tpen their mouths against him. It was Adam's pride to go to resemble God in omnisciency, but here it is lawful to re- semble God in forgiving enemies, this is a God-like disposition ; and what is godli- ness, but God-likeness.