_Revengeful Pafsions tip be denied. CHAP. XXX. ,Revengeful paftions to be denied. 13. A Nother part of fe/f-denia/ confilleth in the denying of Revenge*P;Om that provoke us againit thole that have done us wrong, or that we judge to beour ene- mies. It is the common faying of fuchperfons as are difpofed to this fin, that Revenge feet : it eafeth the minds of ma- litious perfons to have their will upon their adverfaries, and to fee them at their feet. Nothing of all his honours and pro- fperity could fatisfie Homan till he was revenged of Mordecai. As aburning fetteringboile or apolleme is eafed by opening and vent, fo is a boiling paffionate mind, when by railing fpeeches, or revengful actions it venteth it feif againft them that they hate. But in this alfo muff be denied by all that will be Chrifts Difciples : for he forgiveth none but thofe that can heartily forgive another : And that we may know that thiS is a part offelf-denial, of great neceffity, he bath put it intoour prayers, and will not have us fo much as ask for for- civetiefs our felves if we cannot forgive that we may know, thatfeeing it is not to be asked for on lower terms, it is not to be hoped for. The forgiving grace of God it'Chrift Both fo melt and overcome the hearts of all true Chriftians, that it difpofeth them in their meafure to imitate him in for- giving : And they cannot find in their heart to take another by the throat for an hundred pence, when their Lord hath forgiven them ten thoufand talents, Mat. i8. s4.28. The grace that is moll glorioufly manifefted in the Gofpel, muff needs make the deepeft impreffion on the foul, and confe- quently conform the foul into its image : and doubtlefs this is love, and compaffion, and fergsving-mercy : and therefore he that cannot love hu enemy, bleft them that (tole him, and Frit, for them that hate lnei perfectete him, and return good for evil, canbe no child of God, A(as.5.44,45,46a it is,an inhumane oblivionof our own condition fora man to Seek revenge of another for a trifle, ( for it can beno greater as it is againft Y 2 fuck 163
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=