late with his oppressor, as Christ did*^ ; or insist upon his riglit, as did the Apostle Paul*^; but we are perfectly sure that a readiness to demand our utmost right on every occasion, argues a spirit very different from that which is inculcated in the Gospel of Christ.]
2. A keen resentment of wrongs—
[This is thought highly meritorious. A disposition to pass by an insult or an injury would be deemed meanness and cowardice ; and the person who indulged it would be banished from society, and held up to universal scorn and contempt. Hence arise wars, duels, and domestic feuds without number. But is such a disposition agreeable to the word of God ? Look at the conduct of David, when persecuted by Saul : he re- peatedly had his adversary within his power, and could easily have killed him; but he would not: he preferred rather the committing of his cause to God ; and rendered nothing but good, in return for all the evil that Saul had done unto him : and, to shew that he did not consider such conduct as a superfluous act of generosity, he brands the opposite conduct with the name of wickedness : " Thus saith the proverb of the ancients ; Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked ; but mine hand shall not be upon thee*^." Compare with this the conduct also of the saints in the New Testament : St. James, speaking of them to their proud oppressors, says, " Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you^."'\
That the sentiments of the world on the subject of retaliation are quite erroneous, will appear yet further, by considering,
II. The line of conduct which Christianity requires — The authoritative command of Jesus in the text, is this : " I say unto you. That ye resist not evil," that is, that ye resist not the injurious person^. This, especially taken in connexion with our Lord's illus- tration of it, undoubtedly enjoins us to live in the exercise of,
1. A patient spirit —
[We are not to be inflamed with anger against those who treat us ill : but to bear their injuries with meekness and long- suffering. The direction of the Apostle is, " In your patience possess ye your souls :" and again, " Let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking
b John xviii. 22, 23. <= Acts xvi. 37.
^ 1 Sam. xxiv. 10, 13. See also xxvi. 7 — 12. ^ Jam. v. 6. ^ TO) TTorqpd).