n-.x,_Z -, <á,on- z :er c _rnier: 217 which ifwe conceiue,we doenot forgiue. 2. Wemufftake heedofoffence, andhauecare that ourdoings be not fcandalous to the Church. 3. Ourfuites nut be taken in hande tomiaintaine godlypease: for Wall injuries were put vp, there would be no ciuill Bateor gouernment. q.. This muff be, that the partie offendingmaybechaflifed, andhee brought torepentance forhis fault: for ifmanymen werenot repreff d, they would ,grooveworfe. g. Lawmu1 be the !aft remedie. As Phifitians vie defperate remedies, when weaker will not ferue : euen fo,muff we vfe law, as thelafl meanes whenall other faile. The dealingoftheworld in this cafe is no example for vs to follow. For through rageand flomacke menwill abidenoprivate agreement, and therefore they vfe the law in the firff place,as the Corinthians did: butwhat faithPaul,r.Cor., 6.7. It t! vtterlyafauá amongyots. But if thelawbeviedaright, a Chriflian man may filehis neighbour at law , and loue the partie fued : for there is diffe- rence betweene dealing againfl a manbefore a Magiflrate,and the dealing of oneprivateman with another. Forprivate dealing is commonly reuenge, and therefore vnlawfull. 3. The vfe.. THe vie ofthis claufe isveryprofitable, forit fhewesvs a livelyfigne,where» byour conferencesmay be afli}red of thepardon ofour finnes, namely,a reaale& and willing defre toforgiue men. -Manyvfe thefe words long and' ofien,yet findno affurance ofpardon:and thecaufe is,becaufe theyhaueno de- fireof Godsmercie, nor willingneffe to forgiue others : which if indeed they had, then nodoubt the forgiueneffeof their limesshould by this meanes be faled veto them . Wherefore ifany would be perfwadedofGods mercie in this point,let themdefcend into their owne foules,and fearchnarrowly, ifthey can find their heartsas readie to forgiue, as they are readietodefire forgiuenes atGodshand, then theymay af ure tbemfeluesofGodsmercie in Chrilf,as we are taught by our SauiourChrifl, Matt. 5.7. Bleffedare themercifull,for they (hallchtaine rnercie.Confider_ thefecomparifons. A manwalking vnderawall in acolde funuieday, is heatedofthe wall which firfl receiued beate from the Sunne: fo beethat fheweth mercie toothers, bath firfl receiued mercie from God. Allia take apeeceofwaxe, andputtoafeale; it leauethan imprefïion or marke like it Idle in thewax : which when aman lookes on, hedothcertainly know that therebath beene aPeale, theprint whereofisleft behind. Euen fo it is in eueryone that path a readineffe to forgiue others : by which a Chriffian mayeaf,lyknow that Godbath Pealed rohim the forgiueneffe ofhis finnes in his veryhe= : therefore let men looke into their hearts, whether they haue anyarfeclion to forgiue others , forthat is as it were theprint in their hearts of Gods mercie towards them inforgiuing them. Many thereare which pray for pardon at Gods hand, but they can not Brooke it,thatthey fhould forgiue theirneighbours.Hereupon come thefe fay- ings : I may foegjue him,btvt I will not forget him: hemaycome in my Pater veer
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=