330 Spiritual PerfeFlion. brighteft Beam of the divine Beauty; wherein God doth moll delight and ex- cel. The returning good for evil is the nobleft effeaof Love, wherein our near- eft refemblance of God confif}s. We have the Example of it in the highefl degree of PerfeEion in our Suffering Sa- viour. If ever any one had a right to Revenge Injuries, our Saviour had, His Innocence Was entire, nay, his benefi- cent Goodnefs. to his Enemy, was infi- nitely obliging : the Miferies he fcffer'd were Extreme, a Death equally Ignomi- nious and Cruel : the Dignity of his Perfon was truly Infinite. Yet in the extremity of his Sufferings, when the fenfe of Injuries is molt quick and exaf- perating, in the midft of their fcornful Infultings, he earnef}ly prayed for their Pardon ; Father forgive them, they know not what they do. He might have call'd upon the righteous Judge of the World, the Revenger of opprefi Innocence, to have deftroyed them by Fire from Hea- ven : but he Addreffes his requeft by that Title that was moft endearing him to God, Fatherforgive them, 'tis the delire of thy Son, dying in Obedience to thy Will, they know not the greatnef of their guilt. Now the more we are con- form'd to our meek and forgiving Savi- our, themore weapproach to Perfe&ion. And Luke 23.
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