Far short of the Christians Goal do they come,1 though they think they go far in the Christians race, who only are mild, gentle, kind, and courteous till they be wronged, but then are implacable, and will accept of no reconciliation, till they have taken revenge for that wrong. They think it a great glory that they can say, I run into no mans debt, I do wrong to no man, I even have been, and ever will be ready to do all offices of kindness that I can. But if any abuse me any way and wrong me, they shall know whom they abuse: and I will make them repent the wrong which they have done. My friend shall taste of my kindness: but mine enemy shall know what I am able to do. The pretended goodness of such men wanteth the substance of goodness: it hath but a show and shadow thereof. That is sound, solid, pure gold that abideth the flaming heat of the fiery furnace. A mans goodness cannot be proved to be sound till it be tried by the fire of wrong, or offence. Dogs, Bears, Tigers,2 Lyons, and the most savage beasts that be, can be quiet, and gentle till they be stirred and incensed. A Proverb saith The Devil is good while he is pleased. Behold then what kind of goodness it is, whereof such men boast. No better then the goodness of the most cruel creatures, not the Devil excepted. Do what you can to a sheep, you cannot make it snarl or bite. Do but clap a Dog on the back, he will be ready to fly in your face. He therefore that being provoked is stirred up to revenge, retaineth his natural doggish disposition. He that may justly be accounted a Lamb, or sheep of Christs fold, and to have the Spirit of the Lamb of God in him, will recompense to no man evil for evil, but overcome evil with good. 3To this height of goodness doth the condition of this Petition call us.4
Farre short of the Christians Goale doe they come,1 though they thinke they goe farre in the Christians race, who onely are milde, gentle, kinde, and courteous till they be wronged, but then are implacable, and will accept of no reconciliation, till they haue taken reuenge for that wrong. They thinke it a great glory that they can say, I runne into no mans debt, I doe wrong to no man, I euen haue beene, and euer will be ready to doe all offices of kindnesse that I can. But if any abuse mee any way and wrong mee, they shall know whom they abuse: and I will make them repent the wrong which they haue done. My friend shall taste of my kindnesse: but mine enemy shall know what I am able to doe. The pretended goodnesse of such men wanteth the substance of goodnesse: it hath but a shew and shadow thereof. That is sound, solide, pure gold that abideth the flaming heate of the fiery furnace. A mans goodnesse cannot be proued to be sound till it bee tried by the fire of wrong, or offence. Dogs, Beares, Tygers,2 Lyons, and the most sauage beasts that bee, can bee quiet, and gentle till they be stirred and incensed. A Prouerbe saith The Diuell is good while hee is pleased. Behold then what kinde of goodnesse it is, whereof such men boast. No better then the goodnesse of the most cruell creatures, not the Diuell excepted. Doe what you can to a sheepe, you cannot make it snarle or bite. Doe but clap a Dogge on the backe, hee will be ready to fly in your face. He therefore that being prouoked is stirred vp to reuenge, retaineth his naturall doggish disposition. Hee that may iustly bee accounted a Lambe, or sheepe of Christs fold, and to haue the Spirit of the Lambe of God in him, will recompence to no man euill for euill, but ouercome euill with good. 3To this height of goodnesse doth the condition of this Petition call vs.4
- 1Evil to be overcome with goodness.Euill to bee ouercome with goodnesse.
- 2Saevis inter se conuenit ursis. Iviven.Saeuis inter se conuenit vrsis. Iuiuen.
- 3Rom. 12. 17. 21.
- 4Non haec dixisse contentus estsed abundanius oftendere volens, quantum buius rei curam gerit, idipsum etiam specialiter incul cavit post impletam orationis formulam, &c. Chrys. bom. 20. in Mac. 6.Non haec dixisse contentus estsed abundanius oftendere volens, quantum buius rei curam gerit, idipsum etiam specialiter incul cauit post impletam orationis formulam, &c. Chrys. bom. 20. in Mac. 6.
