A Catechijlical Expojition makes us accounted ~uiltlefs of Death, and his Obedience worthy of Life bo h 'which compleat our Jufri6carion, Eph. L 6, 7· To the Proije of theGlory of his'Gr' ~bertin be bat_b made us acccpt~d tn the B~Jovc4. V~r. 7· In whom we b11ve Rde~e: !ton tbro11gh hu Blood, the Forgtvencfs of Srns accordmg to the Ri{hcs of hi.r Grace 'P Q We have thas confider'd the Petition, Forgive us our Debts, what remains jur. tber con[tdcrablc? A. The Condition upon which we ask it, or the Plea we urge for obtaining it . .As we forgive our ])cbtort. "" ' Q Who a1·e meant here by Debtors? A. Other Men. Q HoW arc Men Debtors one tO anotlur? _ A. Either, 1. By owing them a Debt of Duty, and thus ali Men are mutually Debtors to one another; Superiors to ll)feriors, and Inferiors to Superiors, and Equals owe one another Love, Retpea, and Kindnefs. 2. Bv owing therp a Debt of Sadsfaaion for Injuries, and Wrongs done to others Q Which of tbife Debts is here meant? · A. The latter only; for we are bound ro forgive thofe who owe us SatisfaE.tion and Reparation. Q What learn you from hence, tbat tbofe wbo bave wronged others are called tbeir Debtors? . .A. That they who in any kind wrong others are obliged to make them SJtisfaEtion . if in their good Names, by acknowledging the Olfence, and !lopping Slanderous Re: pons; if in their Good and Eflates, by a lull Refiitution. Q Is Rejlitution necejfary to the obtaining of Pardon? . Jl. It is; for Unjuft Detainer is as evil as Unjuft Seifure; and it is a continued Theft; and our Repentance can never be true while we continue in the Sin we feem to repent of; and without True Repentance tbere can be no Pardon or Salvation. Q, But wbat if thofc we have VJronged be ./ince dead ? A . We ought to make Reftitution to thofe to whom it is to be fuppofed what we have detained would have defcended. Q If none fuch can or fount/ what mufl we then do? _ .1!. Then God's Right takes Place, as the Univetfal Lotd of all, and we are ob· . Jiged to rell:ore it to him, that is, to his Servants, and to his Family, and in the Works of Piety and Charity. Q fVe bave already conjider'd tbe Debtor's Duty, which is to mah.e Satisfatlion and ReftittJtion, what i.r tbe Duty of the Creditor or Perfon wronged? A. To forgive his Debtors; fot we pray that God would forgive us as we forgive them. Q Wherein t/otb tbis Forgivenifs confzjl? A. In Two Things. '· Fir!\, In abfiaining from the Outward Aas of Revenge upon them. 2. Secondly, In the Inward Frame and Temper of our Hearts towards th:m, beilring them no Grudge, nor ill-will, but being as much in Charity with chem as though they had never offended us. ·Q Mujt we then fit quiet under every Petulant Wrong that is done us, atld 1~ ttmpt others to the Sport of abJt}ing us? A. Private Revenge is in no Cafe wbatfoever to be allowed. Rom. 12. 19. 'Dearly Bdovcd, avenge not your feivcs, hut rather give place unto Wrath; for it it ~ritten, Vengeance is mine, and 1will repay, faith the Lord. Revenge only belon&s to God, and the Magiftrare to whom he bath delegated it. Rom. 1 3· 4· for be 1t the Minijler of God, a Revenger to executt Wrath upon bim th11t dotb Evz'l. Q But if the Wrong done us tend to the Lo{s of our Nece.lfary Subjijicnce, or OltY Life., may we not rifr/f it, and require Satiifaliion for it? A. We may 1 but it mull be only in a Publick and Legal Way, and even then we mull harbour no Maliceagainll them, but be teady to perlotm all the Offices ofCbaIiry and Kindnefs within our Power. Q .i11ay w~ not profecute tbofe who have wronged us, unlefs tbe Injury be imoltrablc? A~ We may when we cannot paB by the Wrongs without wronging orbers; bUt \r\'here rhe Injuries are fupportable, and we may forgh'c 1hem wifhouc injuring · of others, rho Law ofCbrillianity commands usfotodo. J'IJaub.5. 39· Bu~IJ:(,
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