I. The Necessity thereof appeareth, in that the Lord will not accept of any service thou performest unto him, if thou be not in love and charity with thy neighbour; as our Saviour himself speaketh in that known place,1 If therefore thou bring thy gift to the Altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee. Leave there thy gift before the Altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come, and offer thy gift. This phrase, Thy brother hath ought against thee, may be indefinitely taken of one that hath provoked another, or hath been provoked himself: hath ought against thee, whether by thy default or his. So that hereby is implied, whether wrong be done by thee, or to thee, if there be any variance between thee and thy neighbour▪ peace and reconciliation must be speedily sought. For without it, God will not accept of any worship or service thou offerest unto him. Though Christ here instanceth but in one kind of worship, which was the offering up of Sacrifice, yet under this he comprehendeth all the parts and kinds of Gods worship, as praying, hearing, receiving the Sacrament, or the like. So that Christs meaning is, that whensoever thou settest upon any part of Gods worship and service, and then rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, i. e. that thou hast any way wronged and offended thy brother; or as Mark hath it,2 If thou hast ought against thy brother, i. e. if he hath wronged thee, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then go to the ordinance of God.
I. The Necessity thereof appeareth, in that the Lord will not accept of any service thou performest unto him, if thou bee not in love and charity with thy neighbour; as our Saviour himself speaketh in that known place,1 If therefore thou bring thy gift to the Altar, and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee. Leave there thy gift before the Altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come, and offer thy gift. This phrase, Thy brother hath ought against thee, may be indefinitely taken of one that hath provoked another, or hath been provoked himself: hath ought against thee, whether by thy default or his. So that hereby is implied, whether wrong be done by thee, or to thee, if there be any variance between thee and thy neighbour▪ peace and reconciliation must be speedily sought. For without it, God will not accept of any worship or service thou offerest unto him. Though Christ here instanceth but in one kind of worship, which was the offering up of Sacrifice, yet under this hee comprehendeth all the parts and kinds of Gods worship, as praying, hearing, receiving the Sacrament, or the like. So that Christs meaning is, that whensoever thou settest upon any part of Gods worship and service, and then remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee, i. e. that thou hast any way wronged and offended thy brother; or as Mark hath it,2 If thou hast ought against thy brother, i. e. if he hath wronged thee, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then go to the ordinance of God.
- 1Mat. 5. 23, 24.
- 2Mark 11. 25.
