So did our Saviour Christ, he committed his cause 1to the judgement of God his Father. So the godly before Christ. David to Saul, eThe Lord be judge between thee and me, and do me right on thee. And Jeremiah; fHearken, ô, Lord, to me; and hear the voice of them that contend with me: gAnd let me see thy vengeance on them: for to thee do I commit my cause. So the faithful ever since Christ. hFar be it from us, saith Tertullian, to Scapula, to attempt or plot any revenge of our wrongs, which we expect from God alone. iLet us send our prayers and tears, saith Cyprian to the persecuted Christians, as Messengers and Ambassadors of our hearts unto God. kIt is the divine 8vengeance that must right our wrongs. The Lord, saith Athanasius to Constantine, judge between thee and me; since thou givest way to my false Accusers against me. mWe, saith Gregory Nazianzen speaking of Julians time, that had no other weapon, nor wall, nor bulwark, but our hope in God left us, whom could we have either to hear our prayers, or to protect our persons but him? nWe entreat ô Emperor, say the Soldiers in Ambrose his cause against the Arians, We fight not: neither fear we, and yet we entreat only. Nay, oWe will stand to it, and fight it out, even to death, if need be, saith Bernard, for our Mother the Church; but with such weapons as we may, not with sword and target, but with tears and prayers to God.
So did our Sauiour Christ, he committed his cause 1to the iudgement of God his Father. So the godly before Christ. Dauid to Saul, eThe Lord be iudge betweene thee and mee, and do mee right on thee. And Ieremie; fHearken, ô, Lord, to mee; and heare the voice of them that contend with mee: gAnd let mee see thy vengeance on them: for to thee doe I commit my cause. So the faithfull euer since Christ. hFar be it from vs, saith Tertullian, to Scapula, to attempt or plot any reuenge of our wrongs, which we expect from God alone. iLet vs send our praiers and teares, saith Cyprian to the persecuted Christians, as Messengers and Embassadors of our hearts vnto God. kIt is the diuine 8vengeance that must right our wrongs. The Lord, saith Athanasius to Constantine, iudge between thee and me; since thou giuest way to my false Accusers against mee. mWe, saith Gregorie Nazianzen speaking of Iulians time, that had no other weapon, nor wall, nor bulwark, but our hope in God left vs, whom could we haue either to heare our praiers, or to protect our persons but him? nWe intreat ô Emperour, say the Souldiers in Ambrose his cause against the Arrians, We fight not: neither feare we, and yet we intreate onely. Nay, oWee will stand to it, and fight it out, euen to death, if neede be, saith Bernard, for our Mother the Church; but with such weapons as we may, not with sword and target, but with teares and praiers to God.
- 1d 1 Pet. 2▪ 23.
- e1 Sam. 24. 13. 16.
- fJer. 18. 19.Ier. 18. 19.
- gJer. 20. 12. & 11. 20.Ier. 20. 12. & 11. 20.
- hAb•it ut v•tionē no• aliquam michinem•r, quam à Deo expectamus. Tertull. ad S•ap.Ab•it vt v•tionē no• aliquam michinem•r, quam à Deo expectamus. Tertull. ad S•ap.
- iM•amus preces & lachrymas cord• ad Deum legatos. Cypr. lib. 4. ep. 4.
- k[…] ultio dirin• defendit; I•em ad Demetr.〈…〉 vltio dirin• defendit; I•em ad Demetr.
