A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

Therefore overcome evil with good, Rom. 12.21. Be so far from snatching Gods weapons out of his hand, that thou rather master unkindness with kindness. This Saint Paul makes to be the work of Patience; See that none render evil for evil, 1 Thess. 5.15. We think it ignominy and cowardice, to put up the lye without a stab, a wrong without a challenge. But Solomon says, (to whose wisdom all wise men will subscribe) that It is the glory of a man to pass by an offence. It is more honour, Injuriam tacendo far, quàm respondendo superare, Gregor. Satius ⟨p. 138⟩& tutius injurias perferre, quàm infer aut refer. The greatest magnanimity is Patience. Yet, O into what infortunate times are we fallen, when every wrong must be answered with blood! How hath the Devil bewitched us to glory in our shame! That the wretchedest and basest cowardice should ruffle it out in the garb of valour! Yet if the gravest Bishop in the Land do preach this, our impatient gallants will not believe it. Indeed how should they credit man, who will not be persuaded by God himself! O yet that our tears could wash off the guilt from mens souls, as easily as we can convince them by arguments! we would then with Jeremiah, wish our heads fountains, and our eyes spouts; to cleanse our Land from the blood thus shed, and the brave opinion of shedding it. Apud Christianos non qui patitur, sed qui facit injuriam, miser est, Hieron. Among Christians he is only the wretched man that does wrong, not he that suffers. It is a great virtue not to hurt him that hath hurt thee; Magna gloria, si cui potuisti nocere, parcas, Hugo. This was in those days truly noble; now nothing but revenge. Job is counted a fool, and David a coward. With them it was valour, Audire noxia, & respondere placita; To bless those that cursed them: we think that Degeneres animos patientia arguit; that patience is an argument of baseness. What is the difference? There was the faith and patience of the Saints: here is the infidelity and impatience of sinners. Let such men know:

Therefore overcome evill with good, Rom. 12.21. Be so farre from snatching Gods weapons out of his hand, that thou rather master unkindnesse with kindnesse. This Saint Paul makes to be the worke of Patience; See that none render evill for evill,