nothing." I am aware, that it is difficult to bear injuries, when we know them to be altogether unmerited. But to abstain from every thing vindictive was enjoined under the Old Testaments : and much more is it insisted on in the New Testament ^ And the more undeserving we are of the injurious treatment, the more are we called upon to display our patience, after the example of our blessed Lord, who in- stead of rendering evil for evil, silently committed his cause to his righteous God and Father'.]
2. A yielding spirit —
Suppose a person were to carry the insult so far as to strike us a blow upon the face : what ought we to do then ? Are we not at liberty to return the blow ? No : we may ex- postulate with the injurious person as our Lord did; " If I have done evil, bear witness of the evil ; but, if not, why smitest thou me ?" but we must not for a moment think of avenging ourselves'^. It may be said, this would be an encouragement to him to strike us again : we hope not ; but if it were, it were better to " turn the other cheek," and be smitten again, than that we should resent the injury ; for the blows only hurt our body ; but the resentment would wound our soul.
Again, suppose any one were to injure us in our properti/, as well as our person, and, under colour of law, were to " take away our coat :" what shall we do ? Shall we indulge a liti- gious spirit, in order to get it back again ? No; rather let him " take our cloak also," than induce us to gratify an angry or vindictive spirit^
Once more ; — Suppose any one, under pretence of some public emergency, were to infringe upon our liberty, and to compel us (as the Jews did Simon the Cyrenian, when they " compelled him to bear" our Saviour's cross,) to carry a bur- then for them " a mile :" what then ? Must we submit ? Whether in all cases, or not, I do not pretend to say: but this is clear; that it is better to " go with him two" miles, than to vex ourselves, and quarrel about it. The man that yields, is always safe ; he knows the extent of the injury which he receives : but he who once begins to contend, knows not where he shall stop, nor what injury he may suffer in his own soul, before the contention shall cease.]
3. A forgiving spirit —
[Forbearance and forgiveness are frequently united in the Holy Scriptures ; nor should they ever be separated in our
g Lev. xix. 18. Prov. xx. 22. and xxiv. 29.
1' Rom. xii. 17, 19. 1 Thess. v. 15. * 1 Pet. ii. 20—23.
^ Isai. 1. 6. with Lam. iii. 30. • 1 Cor. vi. 7.