is hard and the taske difficult But know sayes St. Aug. that the harder the work is the more gratefull will it be to God and profitable to us There be many kinds of Almes which God in mercy and for Christs merits is pleasd to accept Act. 10. as he did those of Cornelius but no Almes more acceptable no sacrifice so pleasing to him as when from the very ground of our hearts we forgive them that offend and trespasse against us Christ when he hung fast nail'd to the Crosse had his Tongue only free from the wounds of nayles and lash of Whips and he thus hanging upon that cursed and shamefull Tree used that his sacred Tongue in prayer and supplication for those who had crucified him with their hands and revild him with their reproachfull Tongues So eloquent and potent an advocate was he even for the Iewes and other his adversaries Neither did Christ â—n this want Disciples or followers though they were but a few that conform'd themselves to this his most godly practise When Stephen pray'd for those that stond him heaven presently opend as if the Saints Angels in heaven were delighted with so rare a spectacle or sight to wit a man praying for those by whom he was murderd This protomartyr Stephen stood when he commended his owne cause to God but pray'd kneeling for his enemies and withall Act. 7. Saw heaven opend and Jesus standing at the right hand of God If it be lawfull O Lord Almighty for sinfull flesh and blood to pry into thy Actions by a curious enquiry Give me leave blessed God to put this bold question unto thee Lord what is it that thou now doest how hasty is thy mercy and goodness how doest thou make hast to help and save us how different is the method of thy proceedings from ours with us the fight goes before the reward or triumph but behold now a Saint rewarded before he had fully conquerd Before Stephens mouth was open'd Heavens Gates were unlock'd and opend so that he presently Saw the Glory of God What man is there that liveth that whilst he lives can see God and shall not see Death This holy Martyr Stephen vvas yet alive in the flesh vvhen he did partake of the beatificall vision O vvonderfull mercy worthy of all Admiration God never openly shewes himselfe to his Servants but in Heaven vvhich is his dwelling place vvhy vvas it then that happiness broke as I may so say out of Heaven Gates and ran to meet Stephen in the mid vvay of his race This Champion vvas as yet in the field he vvas yet wrastling upon the stage of this world and in this conflict between life and Death the flesh and the spirit he prayed and that for his enemies O happy and powerfull Prayer that could open Heaven But let us weigh the cause why his reward was so hastily bestowd It is this Our remission and pardoning of Injuries our earnest deprecation and interceding for our Enemies is so gratefull and pleasing to God that now when Stephen was upon his knees this most mercifull Lord layes aside his dreadfull Majesty dispences with his royall law of crowning after victory prevents this first Martyr with a rare and extraordinary mercy and commands the most beautifull Queen of Heaven Happiness to step out of those celestiall doores to embrace this blessed Champion in her Armes at the Threshold before those doores that so he that rewarded his deadly Enemies his persecutors with love and pour'd out prayers and teares to God in their behalf might contrary to the statute law of Heaven be call'd to triumph before Death was fully conquer'd And this is a royall priviledge indulged only to those who can and do forget and forgive Injuries Hence we may inferre that to do an ill turne not to suffer one is hurtfull to a man and full of danger for that thereby he makes God his adversary and loseth his favour who is pleased with and delights only in those that can suffer patiently and readily forgive an Injury David a man of meekness and after Gods owne heart who had fought with Lions and Beares and often got the conquest yet he being so valiant as that no feare or terrour could abate his couragious valour when his raging and most cruell enemy Saul oftentimes fell into his hands and was at his mercy yet he chose rather to spare then kill him and bore as it were before him this motto in his triumphant Banner Jf I have rewarded evill to those that repaid my good will with discourtesies Psalm 6. then let me be overthrowne and fall before mine enemies So St. Paul although he was of that brave and stout spirit that he challengd an Army of Spirituall adversaries with Death and Hell into the field and bid them open defiance yet he was mercifull and gentle to his enemies 1 Cor. 4. that he said Being cursed we blesse being persecuted we suffer being defam'd we beseech c. his example may be to us a Pattern of meek patience It is the most noble and generous kind of reveng to pardon when thou hast power to punish And it is a more glorious Act to overcome an Enemy by silence then by a multitude of words Prov. 20. It is an honour for a man to abstaine from strife Ambr. saith that to revenge is not an Act of fortitude or courage but of an abject minde and base cowardise He that revenges himself overcomes not but is overcome by his enemies And of this opinion is the Prince of Philosophers who sayes thus As it argues a weak stomack not to be able to digest hard meat that is put into it so it is an argument of a pusillanimous spirit Arist l. 4. E. h. c. 3. not to be able to beare with an angry word A man can not give a clearer testimony or demonstration that he is a true Christian then by loving his enemy For the exercise of our vertues our piety and patience we have need either of a most syncere friend or most sharp enemy who is more Injurious to himself then thou or any man can be Chrysostome said truly that a desire of Reveng in the heart is more hurtfull then a Viper whose poyson is incurable Hom. 41. in Act. Neither is it a lesse evill to repay an injury then to offer it He that strikes his Enemy gives himselfe his deadly wound and he that wounds himself we count him a mad-man or a fool This is to take coales out of the fire but first to burne out owne fingers and then throw them upon another Thus is the Author of any evill at first or last punished by it when he against whom it was intended escapes oftentimes unhurt or unpunished Whosoever hateth another man woundeth his owne soule and he that loveth not Lact deira dei To 3. bideth in death But what soever may be said to the contrary It is an hard thing for flesh and blood to
place of torment where thou shalt burne in everlasting flames with the Devill and his cursed Angells A patient suffering of Injuries is a Gate through which we enter into the heavenly joyes But he that seeketh vengeance shall find vengeance of the Lord Ecclus 20. 1. Num. 12.19 Deut. 32.35 and he will surely keep his sins Lastly thou maist object and say I can take no rest night nor day my meat and my drink are uncomfortable to mee so long as I see Mordochey my enimy sitting and untouch'd free from all misfortunes and grief and plotting against me this or that mischief O fond man foelish to thine owne destruction Ezekiel reports of certaine valiant men Ez. 32 27. who went downe â—o the grave with their weapons of Warre and laid their Swords under their heads See here a new and unheard kind of pillow a sword On such a pillow do all those that are greedy of revenge lay their heads to sleep who never cease from wickedness and take no rest or quietness in any thing but in calumniating and fighting in brawling with those whom they conceive to be their enemies Thus Cain the first Scholler in the Devils School as Basil calls him he slew Abell with his bloody hand to the intent that his Brothers glory being ecclipsed and darkned his owne might shine the brighter and be more firmely established But he found a quite contrary event Esau Saul and Antiochus implor'd Gods mercy begg'd his pardon for their sins and that not without tears and yet were not heard God rejected their Prayers Esau found no place for repentance Heb. 12. though he sought it with teares In like manner Said and Antiochus though they endeavored to take hold on the hornes of the Altar even that of mercy they were repuls'd and beaten off and not undeservedly for that they refus'd to spare and to be pitifull to those from whom they had receiv'd any the least indignities Eccl. 28. He shall have judgement without mercy who shewed no mercy to others King Davids fall was foule and deadly when he committed 2. sins at once Murder and Adultery but so soone as he had shew'd but the least signe of Repentance and utter'd scarce two words when he said to Nathan I have sinned against the Lord 2 Sam. 12.13 The prophet Immediatly replied The Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not die How oft did Antiochus confess that he had sinned and not without bitter lamentation and howling cry to the Lord for mercy and pardon no doubt he made great vowes and offer'd great gifts to God in his Temple and promised if God would pardon to amend his life for the future Notwithstanding al these protestations he suffer'd a repulse God did not encline his eares to this Tyrants prayers no wonder For this tyranical King did differ much from King David They behav'd themselves diversly and in a diffeferent manner towards their enemies David was inferiour to none in Warre and conquest his success and victories were great and many he likewise overcame all in mercy and pity in sparing those who did injure him either by opprobrious words or open hostility He us'd his power in nothing less then in taking revenge against any more gentle and milde was he to his foes then Antiochus was to his owne people and Citizens against whom he breath'd nothing but swords and fire blood and revenge and being thus unmercifull and full of cruelty he found no mercy The Phisitians use not to desert their sick patients untill they plainly perceive that their disease or malady is pass'd all hope of recovery yet there is a certaine kind of disease which when they discover in their patients they presently bid them prepare for death it being impossible for them to be cur'd Even so it is in the soule Although we are to dispaire of no mans salvation be he never so wicked so long as he has life and being yet when his bowells do swim in the gall of bitterness when his soule is inflam'd with masice burnes with hatred and a desire of revenge of this kind of sickness St. John spends his Crisis he tells us it is deadly 1 Io. 5 There is a sin sayes he unto Death I say not that a man should pray for it These men seldome repent that are obstinatly resolv'd and bent to revenge their private quarrells and distasts against their enemies And in whom there is this bitterness of spirit in them there is no sense or feeling of Gods Judgements Ecc. 21. they are by them no whit terrified Although all the learn'd and wise men in the world thunder against this sin with their pens although all Gods Prophets and Ministers pronounce heavy threats against it and withall intreat and perswade the men of the World to cover all their injuries with the mantle of forgetfullness to bury them in the Grave of forgiveness and to embrace one another in the Armes of love and tender affections notwithstanding all these exhortations threats and precepts the ungodly ones who are fitted to destruction shun and decline all the wayes of amity and reconciliation they not fearing the wrath of God not regarding his Ministers go on boldly in their revengfull purposes and labour to repay to their enemies for bad turnes the like requitalls When neither the Prophets wisemen nor any of Gods Messengers could be heard but still men went on in their malice at last the wisest and the fairest among the sons of men the Prophets instructour the King of Angells came with great power and Authority from his heavenly Father not so much to perswade as to command us to this union a peaceable agreement among our selves he came also not to counsaile us but to imprint this law of love in our hearts and yet miserable wretches we are we kick and rebell against our Saviours Doctrine we reject his law He in his Fathers name commands us thus But I say unto you Mat. 5. love your enemies we his rebellious Subjects retort and cry unto him O Christ you speak in vaine to us your commands are to no purpose although we be Christians yet we in this will shew our selves worse then Heathens we will take revenge and not attend to thy words This is the blasphemous answer of proud worldlings to Christ who exhorts us to love our enemies but none will obey his voyce But I say unto yee resist not evill Thus Christ what Resist not evilf Then we shall be branded for Cowards thus we out of an impudent boldness Pray for them that persecute and revile you that ye may be the Sons of your Father which is in Heaven This is Christs advise but we count this a Jejune and frigid Prayer and are loath to purchase that royall Title at so deare a rate as we esteeme it Doe good to those that hate you So Christ enjoyns but we are ready to reply Thou commandest Lord that which is against the very grain
provoke Gods patience to wrath against us by being to hasty in the prosecution of the ruine of our enemies Let us wait for the Harvest Let us referre them and our cause to the Barre of Gods Iustice This kind of weeds this cockle these Tares shall not escape the cutting Hooke they shall be throwne into the fire but the Harvest is not yet therefore Gods leisure must be waited on his time expected Christ when he taught his Disciples to pray and offer up their soules to God in the 7. Petitions of the Lords Prayer not without great cause he repeated and explained that which concerns the forgiving of our enemies which Injure us and what did he give us to understand by that explication but that this Doctrine of forgiveness was often to be inculcated and the duty ever practised And truly we cannot too often repeat ' that which is never sufficiently never well enough learned David commending to us the excellency of Gods Law speaks thus of it Psal 119. Thy commandement is exceeding broad indeed it is of a large and vast extent in that it commands us to love not only those of our acquaintance but also strangers our enemies as well as benefactours our foes as well as our friends and those that are unworthy of our favour aswell as those that deserve our love and honour A man can give no such certaine argument that he is rich by wearing about his neck a Chaine of Gold as he that loves his enemies demonstrates and clearely proves that he is the Son of God Chrys hom 2. in Ep ad Phil. But where is the man that has sâ—ch a command o're his passions that when the waves of Anger rage and swell does not curse his enemy with bitter execrations even to the Pit of Hell But this becomes not Christians who have given up their names to Christ promising to be his Disciples in imitating hivertues It beseemes such to bridle their Anger and to allay their unruly passions Good counsaile is that of St. Ser. 3. Inter. 17. Hom. Aug. Hast thou heard a reproach it is but winde Art thou angry here rises a wave when then the winde blowes and the Waves rise the ship is in danger So is thy heart if thou givest way to the ' passion of Anger Having heard thy selfe reproach'd if thou studiesâ— to be reveng'd thou hast made shipwrack of thy patience And why so because Christ is asleep in thee upon a Pillow as he was in the ship with his Disciples Thou hast shut Christ out of thy thoughts thou hast quite forgotten that when he was hanging betweene the two Theeves he entâ—eated God with teares to pardon not to imprison or hang his persecutors Thou seest then how Christ sleeps in thee as he did in the ship when the storme rose he sleeps in thee who has left thee by his example a lesson from which thou maist learne not only to watch for thy enemies good but to die for him if there be need Therefore by an active remembrance of his vertues stir up Christ in thy heart and say to thy selfe what am I poore worme that I should desire to be reveng'd upon any that has done me some harme I will resolve rather to undergoe the stroake of death then my enemy shall sustaine by me any the least harme The soule that burnes hot with an eager desire of revenge when it departs out of the body and takes its flight to Heaven will certainly be repeld by Christ who by his precept and practise taught us meekness not raging malice being a Teacher of submission not of persecution the Master of Charity who did instruct us to pardon our enemies not of Hatred and Revenge those that practise these are none of his Disciples they belong not unto Christ But the revengfull soule wants both eyes and eares it is deafe and blind and carried wheresoever the violence of passion drawes it of this constitution and humor were those of whom we finde mention made in Plautus In paen Act. 3. Scen. who sayes that the rich cormorants of those dayes were such that if you did them a good turne it was blowne out of their memories like a feather but if you did them any the least displeasure their implacable wrath would lye as heavy upon you as Lead Indeed most men are of a leaden obtuse and earthy mind sleepy and drowsie in all things excepting injuries they are watchfull in these and will be sure to repay them upon the least blast of any offence or displeasure conceived to come from another all courtesie and love flyes away and vanishes out of their thoughts but a contumelious word or any disgracefull Act sinks deep as it were lead into their hearts and sticks there as fast and unmoveable as malice and hatred can make it Give me leave my Christian Brethren to speake what is true and what I repeat with greife The very Idolatrous Gentils overcome us with Goodness and pity to their enemies Their testimonies and examples so convince our Consciences that at the great day of Iudgment there will be no manner of excuse left for us Pompey the Great Pompey was not more renown'd for being Mr. of 3. parts of the World then for this as Pater culus doth witness that he was constant to his friends easily entreated to forgive when he was offended and most ready to accept of any satisfaction that was offered when Augustus the Emperour pardon'd Cinna who plotted his death he bespoke him in these words O Cinna once againe J will give thee thy life First I gave it thee as an enemy but now as to a traytor and parricide and forthwith he also-conferrd upon him the Consulship See now the event of this his Goodness by this means he tyed Cinna to him fast in a bond of friendship so that when he dyed he made him his Heire Phocion the Emperour Phocion a most Innocent man being condemnd to die when the Sergeant came to him and presented a poysoned Cup to drink his Kins-men and acquaintance askd him what message they should carry from him to his Son My will and command is said he that my Son bury this Cup in oblivion which the Athenians have now forced me to drink To these may be added the example of Julius Caesar Jul. C. who is reported by Historians never to have forgot any thing but Injuries But which of us in this case either will seeme or will really be guilty of forgetfulness The benefits we receive we write in the Dust which is blown away with every blast but our ill turns in Marble which is lasting and durable these we never forget No man will give place to Anger and self Revenge although God urge â—im with his command to it God â—id ever severely punish this desire of Revenge and hath said expresly â—n his word Revenge is mine I will repay it when I think it sit Deut. 32. Notwithstanding this Edict from