A20559:513
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
He makes no bones to cut of a leg or an arm; well if he like it so well, he shall make trial in himself how good it is, which shows also that God doth exceedingly hate this venturousness and boldness of men, to run upon their brother in revenge. And that we way the better see the foul unlawfulness of this sin of revenge, consider what wrong it doth both unto the party, and to God, and to his own self that would be revenged. For the person on whom he seeks revenge, he takes upon to punish him without any calling or authority, and therefore is injurious. Why but, may not I do to him as he did to me? No, God gives no such allowance, therefore he goes beyond his calling, and for this cause is injurious. Then to himself he doth injury that seeks revenge. For it embitters his enemy more and makes him more mad against him. And then he is not sure to speed better, but he may get more hurt to himself, or if he be to strong for the other, yet he hates him more, and watcheth him a mischief, & besides he strips himself of Gods protection, he neither can pray for a blessing, nor have a blessing, because he is out of Gods defence, he promiseth no shelter, nor his Angels watch not over him, that is out of his ways; therefore he is subject either to hurt an other, and so to embitter him more, or to be hurt, and then he hath no comfort, for he ran into his own danger, and sought his own hurt. Then he wrongs God most of all, for he takes Gods office out of his hand, for God hath said, vengeance is mine, and I will revenge. Who made you a Magistrate now to take Gods turn? What commission have you to lay hands on his image? But if I suffer this, he would always be meddling and saucy, I should not have any quiet by him. But God saith, I will revenge. Think you God hath left governing the world, or is he a sleep trow you, that he cannot see these troublesome persons, or doth he want justice or power that he cannot or will not punish them sufficiently, but you must needs rush upon the breach, and pass sentence your self?
He makes no bones to cut of a leg or an arme; well if he like it so well, he shall make triall in himselfe how good it is, which shewes also that God doth exceedingly hate this venturousnes and boldnes of men, to run vpon their brother in reuenge. And that we way the better see the foule vnlawfulnesse of this sin of reuenge, consider what wrong it doth both vnto the partie, and to God, and to his owne selfe that would be reuenged. For the person on whom he seekes reuenge, he takes vpon to punish him without any calling or authoritie, and therefore is iniurious. Why but, may not I doe to him as he did to me? No, God giues no such allowance, therfore he goes beyond his calling, and for this cause is iniurious. Then to himselfe he doth iniurie that seekes reuenge. For it imbitters his enemie more and makes him more madde against him. And then he is not sure to speed better, but he may get more hurt to himselfe, or if he be to strong for the other, yet he hates him more, and watcheth him a mischiefe, & besides he strips himselfe of Gods protection, he neither can pray for a blessing, nor haue a blessing, because he is out of Gods defence, he promiseth no shelter, nor his Angels watch not ouer him, that is out of his waies; therfore he is subiect eyther to hurt an other, and so to imbitter him more, or to be hurt, and then he hath no comfort, for he ranne into his owne daunger, and sought his owne hurt. Then he wrongs God most of all, for he takes Gods office out of his hand, for God hath said, vengeance is mine, and I will reuenge. Who made you a Magistrate now to take Gods turne? What commission haue you to lay hands on his image? But if I suffer this, he would alwaies be medling and saucie, I should not haue any quiet by him. But God saith, I will reuenge. Thinke you God hath left gouerning the world, or is hee a sleepe trow you, that he cannot see these troublesome persons, or doth hee want iustice or power that hee cannot or will not punish them sufficiently, but you must needs rush vpon the breach, and passe sentence your selfe?