;SECTIONXXIII. 501 they, who has offended you, you cannot expect to be forgiven of God : Nay, it is evident, according to the express sentenceof the gospel, you cannot be torgiven without it. If youforgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly .Father.fórgive you: Mat vi. 15. Do you not pray for pardon of your très- passes, even as you forgive those who trespass against you, and will you sin against your own prayers? S. Remember that revenge belongs to God, and the magis- trate : Now you must not take their work out of their hands. It is granted, that there may be some seasons' andoccasions, wherein it maybe proper andnecessary to show some degrees of resentment, and let your enemy know that you are not a senseless block, or a stone without feeling, in order to guard you from uni- versal insults and continual injuries. To resist the efforts of op- pression and violence, and to "smite others, so far as is plainly necessary for mere self-defence, has been always judged lawful. The measure of this resentment, and the manner of it in par- ticular instances, must be taught by religion and prudence : But remember, that it is far better to suffer two injuries, than to revenge'otíe. If a manwill strike thee on one cheek, rather turn the other to hint; Mat. v. 39. than take the awful work of ven- geance into thy own hand. In case of lesser injuries or affronts, it is best generally to neglect and forget them : In greater inju- ries, or the frequent repetitionof less, you may resent so far as is necessary for the defence of yourself, or for the reformation of the offender : But never let resentment carry revenge in it, that is merely to repay evil for evil. 9. Think with yourself, when you receive some high provo- cation, that God placesyou at that hourunder a special trial, and he waits to see what honour you will do to his grace, and his gospel, and whether the flesh or the spirit will come off con- queror : Heexpects that you should shew how well you are taught by the religion of Christ to love your enemies, and bless them that curse you ; -Mat. v. 44. It is of infinitely greater im- portance to you, to keep your own spirit easy and innocent, and adorn the doctrine of Christ, than to take the fullest revenge of him that has injured you. 10. Consider this, that by returning good for evil, you will better obtain all the supposed designs and ends of anger, than by practisingrevenge : For, 1. If your enemy has' any thing of humanity in him, any tenderness about his heart, youwill melt him down by such a carriage, you will soften his spirit into love, and bring him, as it were, to your foot. However, 2. If this de- sirable effect be not obtained, you spew your obedience to the gospel, you put your case entirely into the hand of God, who will plead your cause : Rom. xii. 20, 21. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good: If thy enemy hunger, feed 1 i3
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