A guide to go to GodA guide to goe to God

A. We must freely forgive one another. The word forgive applied to God, implieth as much. We therefore professing to forgive As God forgiveth, must forgive freely, ⟨p. 185⟩not on by-respects, not as forced, not for outward recompense, or advantage to our selves, but for the Lords sake, for loves sake, and for his sake whom we do forgive. Where the Apostle before this duty of forgiveness premiseth kindness and tenderness, ¹saying, Be kind one to another and tender-hearted, forgiving one another, he giveth us to understand that it must be freely done: which is further enforced by the pattern of God that he setteth before us, in these words, Even as God for Christs sake forgave you. That which God doth for Christs sake, he doth most freely. This pattern the Apostle himself exactly followed. For where he maketh mention of his own forgiving another, he saith,² I forgave in the person, or in the sight of Christ, that is, freely, heartily, approving my self to Christ therein, in whose presence I stood.

A. We must freely forgiue one another. The word forgiue applyed to God, implyeth as much. We therefore professing to forgiue As God forgiueth, must forgiue freely, ⟨p. 185⟩not on bie-respects, not as forced, not for outward recompence, or aduantage to our selues, but for the Lords sake, for loues sake, and for his sake whom we doe forgiue. Where the Apostle before this duty of forgiuenesse premiseth kindnesse and tendernesse, ¹saying, Be kinde one to another and tender-hearted, forgiuing one another, hee giueth vs to vnderstand that it must be freely done: which is further enforced by the patterne of God that he setteth before vs, in these words, Euen as God for Christs sake forgaue you. That which God doth for Christs sake, he doth most freely. This pattern the Apostle himselfe exactly followed. For where he maketh mention of his own forgiuing another, he saith,²