And because they are not easily bridled, who once have bin taken with this unbridled affection, by a sweet speech he doeth (as it were) lay hands upon us, that he might restrain us, whiles he, calleth us beloved. This then is the precept, that we neither revenge, nor seek to revenge the injuries done. The reason is added ⟨image 185⟩because we must give place to wrath. And to give place unto wrath, is to yield unto the Lord the power of judging, which they take from him, that take upon them revengement. Wherefore if it be a great sin to usurp the turn or course of God, then is it not lawful to revenge: for so we prevent the judgment of God, who will have this reserved to himself. And withal he insinuateth, that they who patiently expect his help, shall have God their revenger: but they who prevent him, leave no place for the help of God. Moreover he doth not only here forbid, that we execute revengement our selves, with our own hands, but also that our hart should be tempted with any such desire▪ it is therefore superfluous to distinguish between public & private revengement. For he is no more excusable, who with an evil mind, & desirous of revengement, seeketh the help of the magistrate, than he who deviseth what way he may revenge by himself. Yea revengement is not alway to be desired of God, as we shall see straightways: because if our prayers proceed from a private affection, & not from the pure zeal of the spirit, we do not so much procure the Lord to be our judge, as we make him the minister or executioner, of our wicked concupiscence. Therefore we do not otherwise give place unto wrath, than when with quiet minds we expect a fit time of deliverance: in the mean while wishing that they who are now our adversaries, by repenting may become our friends. For it is written. 1He bringeth a proof taken out of the song Moses, where the Lord denounceth himself, to be the revenger of his enemies. And those are the enemies of god, who vex his servants without cause. He ye toucheth you (quoth the Lord) toucheth the apple of mine eye. Let us therefore be content with this consolation, that neither they shall escape unpunished, who trouble us without a cause: neither shall we by suffering make our selves more subject, or more open for the injuries of the wicked: but rather we shall give place unto yt Lord, (who is out only revenger & deliverer) that he may help us.
And because they are not easely bridled, who once haue bin taken with this vnbridled affection, by a sweete speache hee doeth (as it were) lay hands vpon vs, that he might restraine vs, whiles hee, calleth vs beloued. This thē is the precepte, that wee neither reuenge, nor seek to reuenge ye iniuries done. The reason is added ⟨image 185⟩because we must giue place to wrath. And to giue place vnto wrath, is to yeelde vnto the Lorde the power of iudgeing, which they take from him, that take vpon them reuengement. Wherefore if it be a great sin to vsurp the turne or course of God, thē is it not lawful to reuenge: for so we preuent ye iudgment of God, who wil haue this reserued to himselfe. And wtall he insinuateth, yt they who patiētly expect his help, shal haue God their reuēger: but they who preuent him, leaue no place for the helpe of God. Moreouer he doth not only here forbid, yt we execute reuēgemēt our selues, wt our own hands, but also yt our hart should be tēpted wt any such desire▪ it is therfor superfluous to distinguish between publik & priuate reuēgemēt. For he is no more excusable, who wt an euil mind, & desirous of reuengmēt, seeketh the help of ye magistrat, thē he who deuiseth what way he may reuēge by himself. Yea reuengmēt is not alway to be desired of God, as we shal see straightwaies: because if our praiers proceed frō a priuate affectiō, & not frō the pure zeale of ye spirit, we do not so much procure ye Lord to be our iudge, as we make him the minister or executioner, of our wicked cōcupiscence. Therefore we do not otherwise giue place vnto wrath, thē whē with quiet minds we expect a fit time of deliuerance: in the meane while wishing yt they who are now our aduersaries, by repēting may become our friends. For it is writtē. 1He bringeth a poofe takē out of ye song Moses, where ye Lord denoūceth himself, to be the reuēger of his enemies. And those are ye enemies of god, who vexe his seruāts wtout cause. He ye toucheth you (quoth ye Lord) toucheth the apple of mine eye. Let vs therefore be content wt this consolatiō, yt neither they shall escape vnpunished, who trouble vs wtout a cause: neither shall we by suffering make our selues more subiect, or more open for the iniuries of ye wicked: but rather we shal giue place vnto yt Lord, (who is out only reuēger & deliuerer) yt he may help vs.
- 1Deut. 32.35.
