A26892:8335
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
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.
§. 18. Prop. 10. In general, All wrongs, and debts and damages must be forgiven, when the hurt is like to be greater which will come by our righting our selves, than that which by forbearance we shall sustain: And all must be forgiven where Gods Law or mans forbiddeth us not to forgive. Therefore a man that will here know his duty, must conduct his actions by very great prudence (which if he have not himself, he must make use of a guide or Counsellor): and he must be able to compare the Evil which he suffereth with the evil which will in probability follow his Vindication, and to discern which of them is the greater: Or else he can never know how far and when he may and must forgive. And herein he must observe,
§. 18. Prop. 10. In general, All wrongs, and debts and damages must be forgiven, when the hurt is like to be greater which will come by our righting our selves, than that which by forbearance we shall sustain: And all must be forgiven where Gods Law or mans forbiddeth us not to forgive. Therefore a man that will here know his duty, must conduct his actions by very great prudence (which if he have not himself, he must make use of a guide or Counsellour): and he must be able to compare the Evil which he suffereth with the evil which will in probability follow his Vindication, and to discern which of them is the greater: Or else he can never know how far and when he may and must forgive. And herein he must observe,
§. 19. 1. The hurt that cometh to a mans soul is greater than the hurt that befalleth the body: And therefore if my suing a man at Law be like to hurt his soul by uncharitableness, or to hurt my own, or the souls of others by scandal or disturbances, I must rather suffer any mere bodily injuries, than use that means: But if yet greater hurt to souls would follow that bodily suffering of mine, the Case is then altered the other way. So if by forgiving debts or wrongs, I be liker to do more good to the soul of him whom I forgive, or others, than the recovery of my own, or the righting of my self is like any way to equal, I am obliged to forgive that debt or wrong.
§. 19. 1. The hurt that cometh to a mans soul is greater than the hurt that befalleth the body: And therefore if my suing a man at Law be like to hurt his soul by uncharitableness, or to hurt my own, or the souls of others by scandal or disturbances, I must rather suffer any meer bodily injuries, than use that means: But if yet greater hurt to souls would follow that bodily suffering of mine, the Case is then altered the other way. So if by forgiving debts or wrongs, I be liker to do more good to the soul of him whom I forgive, or others, than the recovery of my own, or the righting of my self is like any way to equal, I am obliged to forgive that debt or wrong.