3. For the Necessity of it;1 it is absolutely necessary for Society with men, and Communion with God. In regard of society with men, there is no living in this world without a mind willing and ready to forgive wrongs: and that by reason of the wrongs which others from time to time will do to us, and we to others. We live here among many and sundry sorts of people, and those of divers and different dispositions: some giving offence in one kind, others in another. If we be forward to take revenge of every wrong, and have not a mind forward to forgive, we shall never have a quiet mind. Revenge will be as a poison continually working in our souls, ⟨p. 167⟩exceedingly disturbing and disquieting them. And for our selves, flesh is in us all: it abideth in the best, so long as they abide in this world. By reason of the flesh in us we are subject to many infirmities, whereby sundry offences are given to others, sometimes on weakness, and sometimes on wilfulness: sometimes on sudden passion, and heat of blood, and sometimes again on deliberation and cold blood. By reason hereof we need that others should bear with us, and forgive us. But if we forgive not others, how can we look that others should forgive us. 1. Our example in taking revenge of others, is a pattern to others to take revenge of us. 2. It is just with the Lord to suffer men so to do, according to that which Adoni-bezek said,a As I have done, so God hath requited me. bSo much is oft expressly threatened. In regard of Communion with God, 4there is no hope, no possibility of reconciliation and atonement with God for such as are ready to take revenge of men. Christ hath set it down, as a ruled case, as an inviolable Law, more stable, and unalterable then the Laws of the Medes and Persians established by the King, 5that, if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses. 6In the Parable we read that the Lord who forgave his servants debt, recalled his grant, when he heard that servant would not forgive his fellow servant.
3. For the Necessitie of it;1 it is absolutely necessary for Society with men, and Communion with God. In regard of societie with men, there is no liuing in this world without a mind willing and ready to forgiue wrongs: and that by reason of the wrongs which others from time to time will doe to vs, and wee to others. Wee liue here among many and sundry sorts of people, and those of diuers and different dispositions: some giuing offence in one kinde, others in another. If we be forward to take reuenge of euery wrong, and haue not a minde forward to forgiue, we shall neuer haue a quiet minde. Reuenge will bee as a poison continually working in our soules, ⟨p. 167⟩exceedingly disturbing and disquieting them. And for our selues, flesh is in vs all: it abideth in the best, so long as they abide in this world. By reason of the flesh in vs wee are subiect to many infirmities, whereby sundry offences are giuen to others, sometimes on weaknesse, and sometimes on wilfulnesse: sometimes on sudden passion, and heate of bloud, and sometimes againe on deliberation and cold bloud. By reason hereof we need that others should beare with vs, and forgiue vs. But if we forgiue not others, how can we looke that others should forgiue vs. 1. Our example in taking reuenge of others, is a patterne to others to take reuenge of vs. 2. It is iust with the Lord to suffer men so to doe, according to that which Adoni-bezek said,a As I haue done, so God hath requited mee. bSo much is oft expressely threatned. In regard of Communion with God, 4there is no hope, no possibilitie of reconciliation and atonement with God for such as are ready to take reuenge of men. Christ hath set it downe, as a ruled case, as an inuiolable Law, more stable, and vnalterable then the Lawes of the Medes and Persians established by the King, 5that, if yee forgiue not men their trespasses, neither will your heauenly Father forgiue your trespasses. 6In the Parable wee reade that the Lord who forgaue his seruants debt, recalled his grant, when hee heard that seruant would not forgiue his fellow seruant.
- 1Necessity of forgiving.Necessitie of forgiuing.
- aJudg. 1. 7.Iudg. 1. 7.
- bMat. 7. 1.
- 4Luke 6. 37.
- 5Math. 6. 15.
- 6Math. 18. 27, 32, 33, 34.
