The iouofourLoue after Aíhwednefday. how tobeedifcouered. Serm.3. 5+ theSunnedoes not grudge at his feruing ofyou. Thefecond, That the night isof itfelfe fad,melancholly,and inadifpofition to troublefomethoughtsand immaginations. Now then, thatyour fantafiemay notprefent you with anarmieof fearefull cogitations, and the difmall reprefen- rationsof reuenge, before thatthe nightcomes on, quiet that ragingfeawithin thy bre(t,by throwingOftvpon it;become loft &gentle by clenfing thy heart ofall rancourand malice. Ifrhebeames of the Sunnecannot pierce through a thicke cloud, they will hardlymaketheir way through the pitchiedarkeneffeof thenight, being that they are naturally then in their augmentation. When the cheerefulneffeof theday, employmentin bufineffes,andthecompanie and corn fortofour friends cannot remooue the cloudsof our anger, the night will hard- ly fcatter them, who is themother ofpainefull thoughts. For , asthe infirmi- ties of the bodieencreafeby theabfence of the Sunne ; fo in like fort doethe difei fesof the foule. I knownot whither Iofhuah were toucht or no with this Spirit, whenhee willed the Sunneto (landftill,whenhewas inthe purfuit ofhis enemies. . It feemeth vnto fome,That it is aversehard matter, and morethan flefh and bloud canbeare, topardon frefh iniuries , theblond boyling theninour breft : But this is anfwer'dby that exampleofour Sauior Chrift,whowhen his wounds did poure forth bloudoneuerie fide, yet his tonguecrydeout, !plop illis, quid nefciunt quid faciunt,Forgiue them, farthey knownot whatthey doe. WhereI would haueyoutonote, that theword faciunt is of theprefent Tenfe. When they were boringhis feet with nailes, Saint Aufien tothispurpofe faith, ispetebat'veniam, i quibus adhuc accipiebat iniurtant,He cranedpardonfor thof ofwhommen then heefuf- feredwrong : For hedid not fo muchweigh,that hedied by them,asthat hedied forthem. Cumoft infangainefuo (faith Ezechiel)dixit, Fiue,i. Wbenhemu in his owne blond, hefiid, Line. And Saint Bernard, That hee offeredvp his life, Nonin- terpellant 6tti',fedrepellentibto non inueeantibtts,fedprottocanttbm,Xltfor thofe that inuekedhim,but prouokedhim. The replies of theFlefli are infinite, andwithoutnumber.Somefay,Whileft weehue in the worldwemutt follow the fafhions of the world, and liue accor- ding to it'sLawes : and that ifa man put vp one iniurie, he(hall haue a thoufand put vpon him. Ianfwerhereunto, That itis a foulerfiultto feeke outreafons to defend andmaintainefinne, thanto commit it. Andif thou(halt tell mee, thou defireft tòbe reuenged becaufe thouart weake, and cant not bridle thyanger; I (hall the rather pittie thee,and (hall withall councelland aduife thee to aske par- donof God, forthis thy*eakeneíl'e andinflrmitie. But that thou íhouldí}de- fend thyoffence withreafons and force ofargument,if is not a thing to bee im- magined : but moreagainft reafon it is, to reafon again(tGod. Let vsnow kaue the Gofpell andthe facred Scriptures, and let vs bringthis bufineffewithin the fpheare of reafon : I fay then, That it is the Language ofhim that knowes not what reafonis, as if it were pofliblethere couldbeany reafonagain(tGod. The Clownerefts fowell contented withhis poore Cottage, that he wil not change itfor theKings Pallace : And theworldly man likes fowell ofthe lawes and fa(hions of theworld, that he fticks not topreferre thembefore ofGod. OthersRandvpon their honour, alledging, How cana man huein theworld, without the vpholdingof hishonourand reputionr I anfwere, It i5 notto bee found inthe Scripture, That Chrift dorhcouncell any man tofufferinhis honor for him, or to loofe hisreputation ; Marry heehath promifedareward vnto himthat for hisfake (houldlaydowne his life,or leaue'his goods, 'forfaking all to Rww.Traí1at. 31. ;itloan. Theexcufes of the flefhagáft this louing of our enemies , and their con- futation, Matjtefv ta.
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