The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…

3. If by frailty or strong tentation, thou shalt perceive that thou hast committed any grievous sin or fault; presume not to sleep, till thou hast upon thy knees, made a particular reconciliation with God in Christ for the same: both by confessing the fault, and by fervent praying for the pardon of the same. Thus making thy score even with Christ every night, thou shalt have the less to account for, when thou art to make thy final reckoning before his Majesty in the Judgment day.

4. If thou hast fallen out with any in the day,¹ let not the Sun go down in thine anger that night. If thy conscience tells thee that thou hast wronged him, acknowledge thine offence, and^* entreat him to forgive thee. If he have wronged thee, offer him reconciliation; and if he will not be reconciled, yet do thou from thy heart forgive him, Mat. 5. 23. But in any case presume not to be thine ⟨p. 187⟩own revenger. For in so doing thou dost God a double injury: First, in offering to take the Sword of Justice out of his hand, as though he were not just, having reserved the execution of ^avengeance to himself.⁴ Secondly, in usurping authority over his ^bservant, without referring the cause to his hearing and censure, being his, and thy Master. Besides, thou art too partial to be a Revenger. For if thou be to execute revenge on thy self, thou wilt do it too lightly; if on thy enemy, too heavily. It belongeth therefore to God to revenge; to thee to forgive.