5.1 For the Rarity, or scarcity of it, I may justly in the Prophets sense use these words of the Prophet,2 Run ye to and fro through the streets, and see now and know, and seek in the broad places, if ye can find a man, if there be any that forgiveth wrongs, and passeth by offences. View the world, observe such as are reputed to have a generous mind. Among them ye shall find Challenges sent and taken, and desperate Combats undertaken for every flight wrong, for every disgraceful and displeasing word. Enter into the City, go about the Country, mark the disposition of inhabitants in City and Country, and ye shall find among them for petty injuries, and ignominious speeches, complaints to Justices, Warrants, Arrests, Actions, Imprisonments, and suits in Law to the utter undoing of one another. Inns of Court, Seats of Justice, Universities, Yea, and Pulpits are full of bitter invectives, spiteful calumniations, and revengeful defamations for every offence, and that ofttimes when the offence is rather taken then given. Men, Women, Old, Yong, Rich, Poor, Brothers and Sisters, Fellow-servants, Neighbours, Friends, all of all sorts, are exceedingly given to revenge. If the thoughts of men could be ransacked, and the desire of revenge that therein lurketh be discovered, it would then more evidently appear that this grace of forgiving wrongs, which is indeed rare in the excellency of it, is also exceeding rare in the scarcity of it: hardly to be found any where.
5.1 For the Raritie, or scarcitie of it, I may iustly in the Prophets sence vse these words of the Prophet,2 Runne yee to and fro thorow the streets, and see now and know, and seeke in the broad places, if ye can finde a man, if there be any that forgiueth wrongs, and passeth by offences. View the world, obserue such as are reputed to haue a generous minde. Among them yee shall finde Challenges sent and taken, and despera•e Combates vndertaken for euery flight wrong, for euery disgracefull and displeasing word. Enter into the Citie, goe about the Country, marke the disposition of inhabitants in Citie and Country, and ye shall finde among them for petty iniuries, and ignominious speeches, complaints to Iustices, Warrants, Arrests, Actions, Imprisonments, and sutes in Law to the vtter vndoing of one another. Innes of Court, Seates of Iustice, Vniuersities, Yea, and Pulpits are full of bittet inuectiues, spightfull calumniations, and reuengefull defamations for euery offence, and that ofttimes when the offence is rather taken then giuen. Men, Women, Old, Yong, Rich, Poore, Brothers and Sisters, Fellow-seruants, Neighbours, Friends, all of all sorts, are exceedingly giuen to reuenge. If the thoughts of men could bee ransacked, and the desire of reuenge that therein lurketh be discouered, it would then more euidently appeare that this grace of forgiuing wrongs, which is indeed rare in the excellency of it, is also exceeding rare in the scarsity of it: hardly to be found any where.
- 1Scarcity of forgiving.Scarcitie of forgiuing.
- 2let. 5. 1.
