5. Lastly, we should return good for evil; then you come to the top of Christianity. This is a sign of 1great progress in Religion: If I be weak, saith Ambrose, perhaps I may pardon one charging me falsely; but if I have profited, although not altogether perfect, though he flows in upon me with reproaches, I hold my peace and answer nothing; but if I be perfect, I then bless him that reviles me, according to that of St. Paul, Being reviled, we bless. If you can do thus, if you can heartily pray for your reproachers, and desire good to them, and be willing to take notice of any good in them, to clear up their innocency where there is just cause, if you can be ready to offer any offices of love, and respect, and kindness to them, and so heap coals of fire upon them; this is a great sign of grace, you have made a good progress indeed in Gods way: Mat. 5. 44, 45. Bless them, says Christ, that curse you, pray for them that despitely use you, that ye may be the children of your Father, &c. Why, were they not children before? Yes, but this declares it, now God owns them for his children: If we behave our selves thus, we shall have the comfort of this, that our reproaches come to us as to Gods people, whereas others cannot have the comfort of this, you cannot have any comfort from this argument, unless you behave ⟨p. 403⟩your selves under reproaches after this manner: Now what a great evil is this to cut a man off from that comfort which hath been spoken of in this argument? and if you do behave your selves christianly under reproaches, God is more and more engaged to stand for your names, and you are more prepared for glory. As he is not fit to govern, that is not fit to serve, but he that is fit to serve, is so much the fitter to govern; so those that can bear disgrace are fit to be honoured, and the greater glory will be afterwards; As the Sun that shines through the clouds shines the brightest, so when honour shall come through dishonour, it shall be the greatest honour. And then you shall come to know that honour is sanctified to you, and that it is in love, and you shall be more able to rejoice in the honour that God shall bring to your names then you would have done, and so your reproachers shall be servants to you.
5. Lastly, we should return good for evil; then you come to the top of Christianity. This is a sign of 1great progress in Religion: If I be weak, saith Ambrose, perhaps I may pardon one charging me falsly; but if I have profited, although not altogether perfect, though he flows in upon me with reproaches, I hold my peace and answer nothing; but if I be perfect, I then bless him that reviles me, according to that of St. Paul, Being reviled, we bless. If you can do thus, if you can heartily pray for your reproachers, and desire good to them, and be willing to take notice of any good in them, to clear up their innocency where there is iust cause, if you can be ready to offer any offices of love, and respect, and kindeness to them, and so heap coals of fire upon them; this is a great sign of grace, you have made a good progress indeed in Gods way: Mat. 5. 44, 45. Bless them, says Christ, that curse you, pray for them that despitely use you, that ye may be the children of your Father, &c. Why, were they not children before? Yes, but this declares it, now God owns them for his children: If we behave our selves thus, we shall have the comfort of this, that our reproaches come to us as to Gods people, whereas others cannot have the comfort of this, you cannot have any comfort from this argument, unless you behave ⟨p. 403⟩your selves under reproaches after this maner: Now what a great evilis this to cut a man off from that comfort which hath been spoken of in this argument? and if you do behave your selves christianly under reproaches, God is more and more engaged to stand for your names, and you are more prepared for glory. As he is not fit to govern, that is not fit to serve, but he that is fit to serve, is so much the fitter to govern; so those that can bear disgrace are fit to be honored, and the greater glory will be afterwards; As the Sun that shines through the clouds shines the brightest, so when honor shall come through dishonor, it shall be the greatest honor. And then you shall come to know that honor is sanctified to you, and that it is in love, and you shall be more able to rejoyce in the honor that God shall bring to your names then you would have done, and so your reproachers shall be servants to you.
- 1Mihi infirmo siquis injuriam facit forfican licet infirmus donem injuriā meam; si verò is sum qui proficiam & si nondū perfectus, non retorqueo contuneliam, etsi influat ille •onvitiis et invadat au •es meas •ontumeliis go taceo et •ihil respō leo: si verò perfectus sim benedi•o maledipenti, ficut & Paulus Malediei•ur & be•edi•imus. Ambr. off •. 1. c. 48.Mihi infirmo siquis injuriam facit forfican licet infirmus donem injuriā meam; si verò is sum qui proficiam & si nondū perfectus, non retorqueo contuneliam, etsi influat ille •onvitiis et invadat au •es meas •ontumeliis go taceo et •ihil respō leo: si verò perfectus sim benedi•o maledipenti, ficut & Paulus Malediei•ur & be•edi•imus. Ambr. off •. 1. c. 48.
