Matthew hath ſomctning of the ſam2 tendency in Ch, 18, 21, mentioning it as an anſiver to a Queſtion which Peter propounded to our Lord ; but the circumſtances of both relations are ſo different, that I cannot think them the ſame, but do belicye theſe words {yo- ken at another time. This Dottrine of the forgiveneſs of our o&- tending Brother, is prefſed upon us in ſeveral places in the Golpet, and .New Teſtament, and that upon the graveſt Arguments imazina- ble, Matth.6. 15. and 18.35. Mark 11. 25, Chap. 6. 537. £5; 4+ 32. from whence we may juſtly conclude it a duty of very high concernment for us, both to underſtand, and to live 11 the praftice ofit, It ſignifies the laying aſide of all thoughts or deſire of revenge nour own cauſe, The precept is not excluſive of our duty in ſeeing the Glory of God avenged upon Murderers, Cc. Nor yet of our
ecking a juſt ſatisfaftion in a legal way, for wrongs done to us, re- lating to our Limbs or Eſtate, fo far as the Perſon 1s able to do it; much leſs doth it require the making ſuch an one as hath ſo injured us, our intimate and boſom Friend. That which it requireth 1s the
laying afide all Malice, or deſire of Revenge upon our Neighbour in
nion drop down dead bcfore him, yet preſcntly cries again, fill the} a caſe wherein our own Name or Honour is concerned, and is fitly
Glaſs; that hur.deeds of Shiners arc daily hurricd down to Hell jn their vickedn is, and yet their Compamions rake no warning. In
joyned to what went before ; this Malice, or deſire of Revenge, being the root of all the miſchief that Men voluntarily do one to another,
a fight at Sex or Land hundreds drop, yet thcir Companions do not | eſpecially of that which thev do to the innocent Servants of God.
fly, tut arc held up by their Stomachs, and Paſſion, and their Ears are made deaf by the noiſe of tie Druras and Trumpets. World hundreds ef $1nners drop daily into the Pir, yet the reſt of
5 Andthe Apoſtles ſaid unto the Lord, Increaſe our
So 1n the faith.
Tho we be not to ſeck a Connexion of all thoſe ſpeeches of our
Their Companions tumble them into their Graves, and never coni1- Lord which are rccorded by the Evangeliſts, they ſometimes heap- der the work of the Lord, nor conſider the operation of his hands, ing together many of his golden ſayings, without ſo much as regard rill they alſo like Shcep be laid in the Grave, and Death comes to to the order of time when he ſpake them, or their dependence each
iced wupon thein, and Hell to devour them alfa.
This now to thoſe| ,, another ; yet he that wiſely obſerves the preceding diſcourſe tor
290 Ay eaniſi4or nop chi nent St : - Sp n L a 6 , that duly confider not things, ard in particular do not conſider this charity, will eafily obſerve an excellent Connexion of this verſe with
Text, leemeth firanze and amazing, but it is no more to be won-
the former.
No duty required of Men and Women, more gratcs
dred at, than that hundreds read, and hear the word of God, and upon Fleſh and Blood, than this of forgiving Injuries 3 nothing that are not by it converted and changed. It is not to be expected, that = moſt of Peonls fad tudor wn put in practice, ſo as indeed #ny Providence of God thould work upon thoſe Souls any ſaving whoreathere- is F 1 root of Faith. this Ervit will not be found. It change, upon whom the word doth not work, Thar is the ordi- is Faith which worbeth by love, Till the Soul cometh ſteadily and fis-
vance of God with which the holy Spirit joyns it felf, which alone
edly to agree to thoſe
ropofitions of the word where his 15 re-
can produce thiis change, It God works not this change by it, he quired as the indiſpenſible Will of God 3 nay till it comes firmly to
will work it by nothing elſe ; tho he ſometimes maketh uſe of ſuch Providences toward Souls to whom he intendeth pood, to make
reſt upon thoſe promiſes and hope for them which are m duty ; finally till it comes to have received Chriſt, and
ade to this forgiveneſs irom
them obſcryc, and attend to the word better, in order to fo bleſſed him, and conſiders it ſelf bound to forgive, as God for Chrilts lake Þ
21 fic,
hath forgiven it,Eph.4.32.it will hardly comeup to the practice of U1:s duty. Hence it 1s that unregenerate Men are uſually 1mplacz
ble,raail
cious, always ſtudying Revenge. Nay ſo imperfe& axe the habits
' wenn” C wy OF R110 »
Chap, RV] h
th
th
fit: ty 1 whe ſpir and whi, all, . this vant ſtan day, they vant: thei Com Were Lore Ing, He ac ly ts ſuch make Ing u] wear, Drink ther. them them ] ſuch ol V. Io COMM ty Gloria, We hay ſtruec abilitie Mid, bot cea that thi when 1. Bec; + That he hath
Lunt, by -
V | h 1P- X YI [, & workings of Faith in Be! zevers, F to forgive. The Apoſtles therefore y
creaſe our Faith, atter hearing this diſcourſe,
ery properly Pray, Lord in-
Stviour had before preſſes the DG; ins f Charity; tie hid alfo thewed *hat muſt ! |
9c the io T6 "> os 4 [we - Others make the Con- Ic here {hey eth us what we bags " ST was _ wig nexion thus, Lord we have now heard thee diſcourting our duty as | in ſuch atts, 232. not to merit a. tid. | 7 Ol to Love, nw increaſe ou; Faith, dilcourſe fo us ſomething for the 20Pe to re increaſe of tat, But the former 5.
izemeth to be leaf} ſtrained. By the way we may obſerve from hence, that us the beginnings j1 the in- creaſe of our Faith mu be from Gag -
: In things fruly and ſpiritually good, witheut him we can do nothing, * 6 And the Lord ſaid, If ye h muſtard-ſeed, ye might fay unto this ſyc chou plucked up by the roots, and be thoy Planted in the ſea 3 and it ſhould obey You. Matthew hath in EF:& the la:ne C:VaÞ. I7., 20, mizht ſay unto this Mountain, See the Notes there. T cannot be of their mind who think that cu; Saviour i: 15, and the Parallel place, ſpeaks oniy of a Faith that WOFKs mtr aculors Operations, the objedt of which muſt be a Divine Revelation or Promije mad Pcrſons, that they ſhall þc iviec to do things (by God) out of, and beyond th. orainary COurſe of I do believe that in both Texts our Lord Celigns to theiy the great ho- nour he will give to the ex
erclie of the Grace of Faith ; ſo as nothing which ſhall be for te honour of God, and the
rd of God. Celve a reward fr :
ence to his Will, ow
Oni nfs _ £4} $ F
2d faith as a grain of
aMICnNCe and inkfulneſs ; y
lite to the true :: d regular perfo
we do, ang Our Duty, ; nf
do all whatſoever