Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

3'84 The ufis arifing out of the fifth petition. the duty of him that bath offended to acknowledge his fault with promife of amendment to him that is offended. And this duty ( though very late ) was performed by Jofephs brethren, Gen. 50, i 7. But many when they have offended a man, they do hate him fo much the more (as Amnon did Thamar 2. Sam. i 3. r 5.) and are further from reconciliation then the party offended : Becaufe they having de- ferved ill of him, as their confcience telleth them, therefore they expea ill from him, and confequent- ly hate him. And of fuch the Italian proverb is true, He that offendeth will never forgive. But thefe men that will not forgive them whom they have of- fended, of all others are fartheft from pardon, be- caufe they be farthefl from repentance. z. How we Now let us confider how we are to behave our are to be- have our felves towards them that offend us. Our duty fland- (elves to- eth on foure degrees: Firfl, if the offenfe be not no- wards thole torious to take no notice of it but to diffemble it who have of- fended > > us. and to paffe by it. For as Solomon faith, Prov. io. 12. Hatred flirreth up contention : but love covereth the multitude of offenfes: and Prov. 19.11. The difcre_ tion ofa man maketh him flow to anger, and it is his glo- ry to paffé by an ofenf. Examples, in Saul, 1. Sam. 10.27. and David, Pfa1.38.i3,i4. Our firfl duty therefore when we are wronged is, not to fret and fume, florm and chafe, and much leffe to proceed to brawling or blows: For, as Solo- mon faith, Indignation refleth in the bofome of fools, Eccles 7. I O. but he that isflow to anger is wifi, Prov. 14.29. And to moderate our anger and delire of revenge, let Duty i. Means to moderate our anger.