True Christian forgiving,1 is a part or branch of that wisdom which cometh from above, a fruit of that spirit that resideth in Christ,2 an effect of Gods forgiving us. For sons of men are by nature wrathful and revengeful. Wrathful, in that they are very soon upon every small and sleight occasion provoked to wrath, as dry Tinder is ready to be fired by the least spark. Revengeful, in that being provoked, they are as it were on fire with revenge: like Gunpowder, which so soon as it hath taken any fire is instantly all on a flame. The Apostle among other properties of a natural man reckoneth these, maliciousness, envy, debate, malignity (whereby all things are taken in an evil part) implacableness, and unmercifulness. And in another place to the same purpose he saith, we are hateful, and hating one another. 3In regard of this wrathful and revengeful disposition,4 men are resembled to Wolves, Leopards, Bears, Lyons, 5Asps and Cockatrices. Unless this nature be altered it is no more possible for a man in true brotherly love to forgive, then for one of the forenamed savage creatures to be quiet, and do no hurt, when they are stirred up and provoked. Nature must be altered before a wrong can be thoroughly & rightly passed by and forgiven. This alteration of nature proceedeth from an apprehension of Gods love to us in Christ, and that in pardoning our sins. For the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, is as fire that warmeth our hearts thawing out the hard frost of hatred and revenge, and making them pliable to Gods heart and affection to us, merciful as he is merciful, kind, gentle and patient as he is, forbearing wrongs, and forgiving debts as he doth. Hence then it followeth, that if our disposition be inclinable to forgive, and if according to that inclinableness we do in truth actually forgive, we may be assured that God hath forgiven us: even as when we find a cold thing hot, we may infer it hath been heated.
True Christian forgiuing,1 is a part or branch of that wisedome which commeth from aboue, a fruit of that spirit that resideth in Christ,2 an effect of Gods forgiuing vs. For sonnes of men are by nature wrathfull and reuengefull. Wrathfull, in that they are very soone vpon euery small and sleight occasion prouoked to wrath, as dry Tinder is ready to be fiered by the least sparke. Reuengefull, in that being prouoked, they are as it were on fire with reuenge: like Gunpowder, which so soone as it hath taken any fire is instantly all on a flame. The Apostle among other properties of a naturall man reckoneth these, maliciousnesse, enuie, debate, malignitie (whereby all things are taken in an euill part) implacablenesse, and vnmercifulnesse. And in another place to the same purpose he saith, wee are hatefull, and hating one another. 3In regard of this wrathfull and reuengefull disposition,4 men are resembled to Wolues, Leopards, Beares, Lyons, 5Aspes and Cockatrices. Vnlesse this nature be altered it is no more possible for a man in true brotherly loue to forgiue, then for one of the forenamed sauage creatures to bee quiet, and doe no hurt, when they are stirred vp and prouoked. Nature must be altered before a wrong can be thorowly & rightly passed by and forgiuen. This alteration of nature proceedeth from an apprehension of Gods loue to vs in Christ, and that in pardoning our sinnes. For the loue of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, is as fire that warmeth our hearts thaughing out the hard frost of hatred and reuenge, and making them plyable to Gods heart and affection to vs, mercifull as he is mercifull, kinde, gentle and patient as hee is, forbearing wrongs, and forgiuing debts as hee doth. Hence then it followeth, that if our disposition be inclinable to forgiue, and if according to that inclinablenesse we doe in truth actually forgiue, we may be assured that God hath forgiuen vs: euen as when we finde a cold thing hot, we may inferre it hath been heated.
- 1Jam. 3. 17.Iam. 3. 17.
- 2I•est nobis quasi a natura, magis autem ab extermineo naturae, affectio quaedam pessima, libids nocendi, ut inextinguibilis inueniatur in miseris animabus nostris malitiae delectatio. Bern. in Quadr. Serm. 6.I•est nobis quasi a natura, magis autem ab extermineo naturae, affectio quaedam pessima, libids nocendi, vt inextinguibilis inueniatur in miseris animabus nostris malitiae delectatio. Bern. in Quadr. Serm. 6.
- 3Rom. 1. 29, 30.
- 4Tit. 3 3.
- 5Isa. 11. 6, 7, 8.
