A Golden Chain

Now if any shall rail on us, our duty is, not to rail again.¹ Bless them that persecute you, bless, I say, and curse not. Be courteous, not rendering evil for evil, neither rebuke for rebuke, but contrariwise bless, knowing that ye be thereunto called, that you should be heirs of blessing. This thing was notably practised by David, Psal. 109.4. For my friendship they were mine adversaries, but I gave my self to prayer. And therefore in this case, either silence is to be used, or at the most, only a just and manifest defence of our innocency to be made. Hezekiah commanded the people to be silent,² and not to say any thing to the speech of Rabsachai now flattering now threatening. When Eli spake hardly of Anna, and bad her put away her drunkenness, she answered,³ Nay, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit, I have neither drunk wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Thus Joseph clears himself, saying,⁴ I have done nothing wherefore they should put me in the dungeon. And Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar: Unto thee, O King, have I done no hurt. And our Saviour Christ when the Jews said unto him,⁵ Say we not true, that thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil? answered, I have not a devil, but I honour my father, and ye have dishonoured me. And Paul being to make an Apology for himself, begins thus:⁶ Men and brethren, I have in all good conscience served God unto this day.

Now if any shall raile on vs, our dutie is, not to raile againe.¹ Blesse them that persecute you, blesse, I say, and curse not. Be courteous, not rendring euill for euill, neither rebuke for rebuke, but contrariwise blesse, knowing that ye be thereunto called, that you should be heyres of blessing. This thing was notably practised by Dauid,