A guide to go to GodA guide to goe to God

Many among us,¹ that are taught better divinity, do too much nourish this corruption of nature. If they be wronged by word or deed, they think it dishonourable to put it up, or pass it over without revenge: which is the cause of so many challenges as from time to time are given and taken: and of the many mortal monomachies, and desperate duels which are daily undertaken: yea and of many secret plots and practises for doing some notorious mischief, and for taking away the very life of such as have done them wrong. If such as are able with better discretion, and more moderation to temper their outward actions, well observe, and throughly try their inward disposition, they shall find this sprout of corrupt nature, revenge, too deeply fixed in them: yea they shall find many bitter fruits thence sprouting, in revengeful thoughts and desires, wishing many mischiefs to fall upon them by whom they think themselves any way wronged. What is this but inward revenge? Surely revenge is one of the most incurable sores of the flesh. It is most hardly subdued and mortified. A good sign therefore of renewed nature it is to forbear revenge and forgive wrongs: if at least it be done in truth, from the heart, for the conscience sake.

Many among vs,¹ that are taught better diuinitie, do too much nourish this corruption of nature. If they be wronged by word or deed, they thinke it dishonourable to put it vp, or passe it ouer without reuenge: which is the cause of so many chalenges as from time to time are giuen and taken: and of the many mortall monomachies, and desperate duells which are daily vndertaken: yea and of many secret plots and practises for doing some notorious mischiefe, and for taking away the very life of such as haue done them wrong. If such as are able with better discretion, and more moderation to temper their outward actions, well obserue, and throughly trie their inward disposition, they shall find this sprout of corrupt nature, reuenge, too deepely fixed in them: yea they shall find many bitter fruites thence sprouting, in reuengefull thoughts and desires, wishing many mischiefes to fall vpon them by whom they thinke themselues any way wronged. What is this but inward reuenge? Surely reuenge is one of the most incurable sores of the flesh. It is most hardly subdued and mortified. A good signe therefore of renewed nature it is to forbeare reuenge and forgiue wrongs: if at least it be done in truth, from the heart, for the conscience sake.