This is an especial property of a Saint,1 and child of God, in whom the wisdom that cometh from above abideth. For that wisdom is peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits. Hereby a manifest difference is discerned betwixt that Spirit which cometh from above, and that spirit which ariseth from the flesh: betwixt a regenerate and a natural man. By nature man is exceedingly prone to revenge.2 The heathen, who were guided only by the light of nature, discerned not the excellency and necessity of this grace.3 Their Philosophers, who were their Divines, accounted it not unlawful to revenge wrongs.4 Yea they held it a bounden duty, and a glorious virtue to seek and take revenge: insomuch as if any notorious wrong were done to a man and he taken away, before revenge taken, & the surviving friends were negligent in revenging the same, they imagined that the ghosts of the deceased would never leave haunting and terrifying those surviving friends till they had taken revenge.
This is an especiall propertie of a Saint,1 and child of God, in whom the wisedome that commeth from aboue abideth. For that wisedome is peaceable, gentle, easie to be entreated, full of mercie and good fruites. Hereby a manifest difference is discerned betwixt that Spirit which cometh from aboue, and that spirit which ariseth from the flesh: betwixt a regenerate and a naturall man. By nature man is exceedingly proane to reuenge.2 The heathen, who were guided onely by the light of nature, discerned not the excellencie and necessitie of this grace.3 Their Philosophers, who were their Diuines, accounted it not vnlawfull to reuenge wrongs.4 Yea they held it a bounden dutie, and a glorious vertue to seeke and take reuenge: insomuch as if any notorious wrong were done to a man and he taken away, before reuenge taken, & the suruiuing friends were negligent in reuenging the same, they imagined that the ghosts of the deceased would neuer leaue haunting and terrifying those suruiuing friends till they had taken reuenge.
- 1Jam. 3. 17.Iam. 3. 17.
- 2Heathen hold revenge lawful.Heathen hold reuenge lawfull.
- 3Ulcisci te lacessitus potes. Cic. de Orat.Vlcisci te lacessitus potes. Cic. de Orat.
- 4Odi hominem & odero: utinam ulcisci poteram. Cic. ad Attic. Sophocles in Electra. Euripides in Orest.Odi hominem & odero: vtinam vlcisci poteram. Cic. ad Attic. Sophocles in Electra. Euripides in Oreste.
