Chap.6. . accardissg toS t M A T T H a vv. gave it. When Peter heard that hemight not recompenfe to any evil for evil, but Inuit fludioufly leek his converfion and faivation. Lord, faith he, howoft fhall my broth~rfinneagaingme, and Ifor- give him ? till (even tines, this he thought a mighty deal ; a very high pitchof perfeftion. Our Saviour tells him, till fevenry times feven times, that is, infinitly, and without (tint : yet he alludes to Peters feven, and, as it were, alludesit, and his rafhnefle in fetcing bounds co this duty, and prefcribing, howoft, to him that was the wifedomofthe Father. This is when my brother returneth, and faith, It repents me ob. But what if hedoe not ? In forgiving an offendour, fay Divines, thereare three things. set. I. The letting fall all wrath and defire ofrevenge. z: A folernn Dikes Worthy profef ion of forgivenefle. 3. Reacceptance into former fami- Communi- liarity. Thefirst mutt be done however. For the fecond,If he fay, I rant P3 s rD repent; I muff fay ; I remit, Lssk. it 8. To the third,a man isnot bound till fatisfaftion begiven. Tour heavenly father Will alfoforgiveyou.] Yet is notour for- giving men, the carafeof his forgiving us, but a neceflaryantece- dent. The caute isonly the free mercy of God inChrift. He putsa- way our iniquities for his ownfake,Ifa.43a5 Nevertheleffe, for- afmuch as he hach made us this promife here, our forgiving others diner. its ( faith learned Beza) feemeth to have thenature of an intervenient Luk,,1,4. caufe,acaufe,fnequa non,of his forgivingus. Verle15. But ifyewill not,&c.] This is a matter much tobe obferved, therefore fooften inculcated. Judgement without mer- Jam.2.11, cy,Jhall be to them thatflewno mercy. There's but a hairs bredth betwixt him andhell, that hash not his fins pardoned in heaven. Such is thecafe ofevery one that doth not from his heart forgive his offending brother, Mat.i8.35. or that faith, I will forgive the fault,but not forget the matter,or affeet the perfon. Men muff for- bear one another, and forgiveoneanother, as Chrift forgave them; and that if any man have a quarrel againft any, Col.3.-13. for Nv,,ueñv: elfe what thanks is it ? The glory of a man is to pafle by an infir- Prov. c9. t . miry. It is more comfortable to lovea friend, but more honou- -rable to love anenemy. If thou refervein thyminde any peece of the wrong, - thou,provokeft and daily prayeft God to referve for thee apeece of his wrath; Which burneth as lowas- thenether- Deur,32,t1: snort beli,Neither will it help any, to do as Latimer reporterhof -come in his daies, whobeing not willing toforgive their enemies, P z would zLI
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