A20559:521
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.
And as he looks for pardon from God for far greater matters, So he will not stick easily to give pardon for these lesser things. But he that cannot bring his heart to this to forgive his enemy and to do good to his enemy, he hath not yet attained to the first step of the duties required in this commandment Thou shalt not kill; and therefore can much less attain to the latter and greater. A second branch and indeed an effect of this kindness is to to construe all things in the best part▪ to take things in the best sense and meaning we can, not to be suspicious and misdeeming. For this ill construction and wrong interpretation of things by haling and wresting them to the worse sense we can, is a means to fill our own hearts full of bitterness, and make us ready upon every occasion to fall to brawling and contention with other men. When one shall be doubting, perhaps he thinks thus of me, it may be he had this meaning, or did it in this intent; this will marvellously infect the heart and fill it full of hatred and malice, and therefore Rom. 1. It is set down as a note of a wicked person that he takes all things in the worst part, and this is a su•e brand of a wicked person. But a courteous and meek man will be sure if a thing may be expounded one way better then an other, to take it in the best sense, and the best way he can.
And as he lookes for pardon from God for farre greater matters, So he will not sticke easily to giue pardon for these lesser thinges. But he that cannot bring his heart to this to forgiue his enemie and to doe good to his enemie, he hath not yet attained to the first step of the duties required in this commandement Thou shalt not kill; and therefore can much lesse attaine to the latter and greater. A second braunch and indeed an effect of this kindnes is to to construe all things in the best part▪ to take things in the best sence and meaning we can, not to be suspicious and misdeeming. For this ill construction and wrong interpretation of things by haling and wresting thē to the worse sence wee can, is a meanes to fill our owne hearts full of bitternesse, and make vs readie vpon euerie occasion to fall to brawling and contention with other men. When one shall be doubting, perhaps he thinkes thus of me, it may be he had this meaning, or did it in this intent; this will maruellouslly infect the heart and fill it full of hatred and malice, and therefore