A39682:248
A Saint Indeed
A saint indeed: or The great work of a Christian, opened and pressed; from Prov. 4. 23 Being a seasonable and proper expedient for the recovery of the much decayed power of godliness, among the professors of these times. By John Flavell M. of the Gospel.
London: printed by W.R., 1668
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.
Suppose, by revenge thou shouldst destroy one enemy, I will show thee how by forgiving thou shalt conquer three: thine own lust, the Devils temptation, and thine enemies heart: and is not this a more glorious conquest? if by revenge thou overcome thine enemy, yet (as Bernard saith) inselix victoria, ubi superans virum; succumbit vitio: unhappy victory, when by overcoming another man; thou art overcome by thine own corruption, but this way you may obtain a glorious conquest indeed. What an honourable and dry victory did David this ⟨p. 124⟩way obtain over Saul, 1 Sam. 24. 16, 17. And it came to pass whom David had made an end of speaking these words, that Saul lift up his voice and wept; and he said to David, thou art more righteous than I.
Suppose, by revenge thou shouldst destory one enemy, I will shew thee how by forgiving thou shalt conquer three: thine own lust, the Devils temptation, and thine enemies heart: and is not this a more glorious conquest? if by revenge thou overcome thine enemy, yet (as Bernard saith) inselix victoria, ubi superans virum; succumbit vitio: unhappy victory, when by overcoming another man; thou art overcome by thine own corruption, but this way you may obtain a glorious conquest indeed. What an honourable and dry victory did David this ⟨p. 124⟩way obtain over Saul, 1 Sam. 24. 16, 17. And it came to pass whon David had made an end of speaking these words, that Saul lift up his voice and wept; and he said to David, thou art more righteous than I.