A. We must put difference betwixt a wrong done upon such an occasion as may afterwards be avoided, and that which ⟨p. 187⟩is done upon an evil disposition, which remaining in a man, may be a means to make him continue to do more and more wrongs. The wrong of the former must be so forgiven, as the wrong doer be so accepted as if he had done no wrong at all. As for the latter, we are to try if he may be brought to sight of his evil disposition, and to repentance for the same. If he be, then ought we to esteem him as if he never had done us any hurt. But if obstinately he persist in that evil disposition, and be like, on all occasions, again and again to wrong us, though we do, as we ought, fully forgive all the wrongs done, and neither take any present revenge, nor keep them in mind and memory for any future revenge, yet may we in our judgement esteem him to be such an one as we find him to be.1 (Woe to them that call evil good: that put light for darkness, and sweet for bitter.) For example, if I find one of whom I have had a very good account, and thereupon used him very familiarly, to have no command of his tongue, but on all occasions to be ready to blab out, and blaze abroad whatsoever he seeth or heareth, if therein he have wronged me, I may forbear to use him so familiarly as I did before, and take heed what secrets I communicate to him, though I fully forgive the wrong that is past. Or if I have accounted one to be an entire friend to me, but by experience find him to be hollow-hearted, and maliciously minded against me, I ought wisely and warily to avoid his society, and to take heed of the snares which he layeth for me.2 (For which we have the pattern of David, 3and Christ) yet so to pass by the wrongs done as if none had been done.
A. Wee must put difference betwixt a wrong done vpon such an occasion as may afterwards be auoided, and that which ⟨p. 187⟩is done vpon an euill disposition, which remaining in a man, may be a meanes to make him continue to doe more and more wrongs. The wrong of the former must be so forgiuen, as the wrong doer be so accepted as if he had done no wrong at all. As for the latter, we are to try if he may be brought to sight of his euill disposition, and to repentance for the same. If he be, then ought we to esteeme him as if hee neuer had done vs any hurt. But if obstinately he persist in that euill disposition, and be like, on all occasions, againe and againe to wrong vs, though we doe, as we ought, fully forgiue all the wrongs done, and neither take any present reuenge, nor keepe them in mind and memory for any future reuenge, yet may we in our iudgement esteeme him to be such an one as wee finde him to be.1 (Woe to them that call euil good: that put light for darknesse, and sweet for bitter.) For example, if I finde one of whom I haue had a very good account, and thereupon vsed him very familiarly, to haue no command of his tongue, but on all occasions to be ready to blab out, and blaze abroad whatsoeuer hee seeth or heareth, if therein hee haue wronged mee, I may forbeare to vse him so familiarly as I did before, and take heed what secrets I communicate to him, though I fully forgiue the wrong that is past. Or if I haue accounted one to be an intire friend to mee, but by experience finde him to bee hollow-hearted, and maliciously minded against mee, I ought wisely and warily to auoid his societie, and to take heed of the snares which he layeth for me.2 (For which wee haue the patterne of Dauid, 3and Christ) yet so to passe by the wrongs done as if none had been done.
- 1Isa. 5. 20.
- 21. Sam. 19. 20.
- 3Joh. 2. 24.Ioh. 2. 24.
