Verf. 16. the Epiffte to the Romans. comprehendeth all things and perlons, that for charity and concord take, we fhould embrace humble perlons, and bale things, out of a lowly minde, in imitation ofourSaviour,who converted with Publicans and (inners, Luk 15. See Phil. 2. 5,6,7,8, &c. and abafed himfelf1 unto moft ihamefull things out of love to us, Phi/.2. 7,8. T 1 tit. Proceed to the next precept, and tell us what is meant by recompenfing evill for evil!. S 1 t.By evils here are meant wrongs and injuries, which we are comman- ded to fuffer patiently, and not to requite then!. It is like that precept of Chrift, Mat. 5. verf. 39. It is a cor- ruption of our nature, that we are prone to return wrong for wrong, one evil! turn for another, and men think they have a;goodly pretence for it,be- caufe others began with them : but the truth is, that whereas it is no fmall fin, to infer and do hurt to another, in his. perfon, name, or goods, by word or deed, fecretly or openly : for fuch do offend firft againft God, forbidding wrong doing; Secondly, againft charity, which doth no evil! to her neighbour, 1 Cor.1.3,5. For we are one body inChriff, and members oue of ano- ther ; Thirdly,againft Juftice, who mea- lures right to every man, and con- demns all injuries : yet to referre and requite one evill with another, is a far greater fin, not only becaufe they do adde fin to fin, but for that a man may do a hurt fuddenly and unadvifed- ly, not perceiving that he doth evil!, but offending through ignorance or overfight; whereas' they that recom- penfe evill for evil!, do it purpofely, malicioufly, and wittingly, knowing that they do evill, and yet will do it: contrariwife, they that patiently and meekly fuffer injuries, as 'they keep themfelves pure from fin, fo they de- clare themfelves to be led by the Spirit ofGod, (which is the Spirit of meek - neffe)and to bear the image of Chrift, who when he was reviled, reviled not again ; and when he fuffered, threat - ned not, t Pet:2. 23. 5. I Here it mull be obferved, that this precept of retaliation, reacheth not to the Magifrate, whole office is to ren- der evill for evill, tooth for tooth, eye for eye, blond for blond : See Rom. 13. to render evill to an evill doer, is a work of juf { ice, and thereforelgood. It checketh only private injuries be- tween a man and his neighbour, in filch we may not carry a minde de- firous of revenge, but be willing to bear. Moreover, if it be evill to recom- penfe evil! for evil!, it is far' worfe to recompenfe evil! for good. This is not only an humane error, but adia- bolicall naughtineffe, and the very height lof all unthankfulnelTe, to deal unkindly with filch as have ufed us kindly : the jufl God hall threatned that evill Mall never depart from the houle of fuch as fo do : let the Jewes be an inftance for proof hereof, for the wrath and vengeance of God lies heavie upon thatNation, untill this day ; be- caufe unto the Prophets, unto Chrift, unto the Apoftles, which did good to them by inftru&ing them, and calling them unto the Kingdome of God, they wretchedly recompenfed much evil!, beating fome,rev iling fome, and killing others. Laftly, note that evill muff be re- quited to no man ; neither to a friend and a Chriftian, for he is our brother; nor yet to an enemy or Infidell, for he is a man as we are, made after Gods own image. T 1 M. Come now to the next Aphorifine, and tell us thefumme ofit. S 1 t.. The fumme is, that we ought to embrace innocency of life, even in the fight of men, that evill men may have no caufe to reproach us as evil! doers, 2 Pet. 3. verf. 12. and good men may be edified by our example, 1 Cor. 1o, 33. and be moved' to glorifie GOD, Mat. 5.16.1 Pet. 2.12. T I M. What it meant by [ bonofi thing ?] S i t. tuft and holy things where- by the praife ofGod is advanced,and the falvation of our neighbour furthered. Zz Se 1 Innoee,cy of man- ners.
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