pulled off his hat to one whom hee met which man vnciuilely passed by and left Socrates vnsaluted whereupon one said vnto Socrates Why are you not angry with that vnmannerly companion To whom Socrates replyed If I had met one with a crooked backe and which had a body more deformed then my selfe should I be angry with him To whom the other answered No truely and then much lesse haue I cause to be displeased with one that hath a vvorse minde then I said the the Philosopher Euen so to make some application to vs Christians Hath thy neighbour done thee iniurie Surely this proceedeth out of his Soules infirmitie and therefore be not offended because he hath a worse Soule then thy selfe for indeede in stead of hurting him againe thou hast more neede to pitty him and to pray for him I but thou wilt peraduenture say The offences are not small and ordinary but great and haynous such as flesh and bloud cannot endure 1 Cor. 15.50 Alas beloued Flesh and bloud shall neuer enter into the Kingdome of Heauen but he which is borne of water and the Spirit and know thus much that the greatest iniuries offered vnto thee are not comparable to the least sinne thou committest against GOD for the greater the obiect offended the greater is the sinne committed Offer to kill an ordinary man and not effect it thou hast but a small punishment but offer to kill the King and thou art punished in the highest degree thus you see how one and the selfe-same sinne is greater and lesser in regard of the obiect offended now then almighty God being infinite and eternall the least sinne against him deserueth infinite and eternall punishment How then canst thou hope for pardon from God for thy great sins against him when thou wilt not forgiue thy neighbour his small sinnes against thee in comparison Mat. 18.25 as our Sauiour setteth forth at large in the Parable of the vnthankfull Seruant who hauing to himselfe forgiuen tenne thousand Talents would not forgiue his fellow-seruant one hundred pence this Master is God this Seruant to vvhom tenne thousand Talents are remitted is euery Christian which hath his sins washed away in the bloud of Christ these hundred pence of the fellow-seruant are those small sinnes which one brother offereth to another A Talent was then two hundred pounds then what difference is betwixt twenty hundred thousand pounds and one hundred pence so much difference and more is there betweene our sinnes to GOD and our Brothers to vs. O then for shame good Christian speake not of the greatnesse of thy wrongs but rather pray so much more earnestly to God and say with our Sauiour Luke 22.34 Father forgiue them they know not what they doe And with the blessed Martyr Saint Steuen cry Acts 7.60 O Lord lay not their sinnes vnto their charge Imitate Almighty God who is quicke to shew mercy as wee see in the Prodigall Sonne Luke 15.20 to vvhom hee ranne forth speedily and with all haste embraced him but God is slow to anger and reuenge for when hee came to punish Adam in Paradise hee came not running Genes 3.8 but walking and that not in the heate of the day but in the coole of the euening euen so be thou swift to forgiue thine enemie Let not the Sunne goe downe vpon thy wrath Ephes 4.26 but be slow to anger and reuenge for hee which is angry with his Brother vnaduisedly Mat. 5.22 shall be culpable of Iudgement I but thou wilt yet say I can be contented to liue in peace to forgiue great wrongs but I am often wronged and still iniured I can neuer liue in quiet Know thus much my beloued Iames 3.2 Psal 19.12 that not in one or two things but in many things wee all sinne against God and who is hee which knoweth all his iniquities Ibid. Had not euery one neede to pray with Dauid Lord clense me from my secret sinnes Luke 11.4 Doth not our Sauiour teach vs daily to pray Forgiue vs our trespasses And also daily to practise forgiuenesse to our brother sinne he not seauen times Mat. 18.22 but seauenty times seauen times in one day Consult not therefore with flesh and bloud but submit thy selfe to Gods Law which telleth thee that the greatest Commandement is to loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy minde and that the second is like vnto this Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Wherefore be not a Christian in shew but in deedes imitate thy Sauiour Iesus who doth not onely not hate his enemies but bestoweth many benefits vpon them as his Sunne shineth vpon the iust and vniust his raine falleth vpon the good and bad so do not onely not reuenge thee on thy enemie but loue him doe him good and pray for him and reason good for if GOD the Creator spareth his Creature much more must thou spare thy Fellow-Creature if GOD the Lord of all doe forgiue his Seruants then must thou forgiue thy Fellow-seruants Wherefore embrace loue with all men If thine enemy be hungry feede him Rom. 12.22 if hee be thirsty giue him drinke if hee be naked clothe him for in so doing thou shalt heape coales of fire vpon his head that is saith Saint Augustine De doct Christ lib. 3. cap. 16. thou shalt stirre vp in thine enemie the burning zeale and sorrow of Repentance causing him to grieue that hee hath offended that man vvho is so ready to succour and to relieue his vvants and miseries To conclude this first point Psal 34.14 Rom. 12.18 Seeke peace and ensue it if it be possible as much as in you is haue peace with all men For as Saint Iohn saith hee which hateth his Brother is a murderer 1 Epist 3.15 and wee know no murderer hath eternall life abiding in him But as the same Apostle saith let vs loue one another 1 Epist 4.7 for loue commeth of God and euery one which loueth is borne of God and knoweth God And so I passe vnto the obiect whom wee must loue namely our Neighbour Thou shalt loue thy Neighbour Difficile est humanam animam nihil amare saith Saint Hierome It is hard that the Soule of man should loue nothing for Nihili est qui nihil amat saith Plautus Hee is to be esteemed as nothing which loueth nothing especially seeing there are so many obiects for to loue In which respect it is obserued that there is no one word in the Greeke tongue which receiueth so many Compositions as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Loue. There is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is The drunkards loue The Leachers loue Ambitious loue Pleasures loue c. But of all other obiects of loue Saint Augustine doth reckon vp foure as most principall De doct Christ lib. 1. cap. 23.
guide the blinde man thus they went on well and quietly vntill the lame man had espied an Oyster then they fell at dissention to whom it did belong the lame man challenged it because he espyed it out the blinde man sayd it was his because his legs did fetch it to be short in the end they determined to be iudged by the next man they met this man being a Lawyer made an equall distribution hee gaue each of them a shell and kept the meate to himselfe and euen so goe on in suites and iarres at last ye vvill find the Lawyer to be like the Butlers boxe at Christmas whosoeuer is a looser that is a gainer Wee which liue in this latter age of the vvorld haue beene long time the schollers of Saint Paul and Saint Peter but vvee could neuer yet take foorth our lesson so farre foorth as Saint Iames or Saint Iohn wee haue learned of Saint Paul to beleeue well but not of Saint of Iames to bring forth good workes which are the fruits of faith vvee haue learned of Saint Peter to feede Christs flocke and the people to be fed of the shepheard but neither shepheard nor sheepe Minister nor people haue learned of Saint Iohn to loue one another who as himselfe was the beloued of Christ so are his Epistles filled with words of loue and drops of fatherly affection as Babes little Babes Children little children Beloued deerely beloued We reade of countries and Ilands which doe not nourish any vile or poyson some creatures but neuer can we reade of a common-wealth wherein liued men whose hearts were voyde of enuy hatred and malice Actes 2.3 In the Actes of the Apostles there is mention made of clouen tongues but neuer can we finde any clouen hearts hearts diuided in sunder wherefore as euer so especially now in these last dayes had we need to exhort to loue for as the vvorld waxeth old so men in the world waxe old and as the bodies of old men goe stooping downeward so the soules of men in this age goe groueling to earthly possessions not minding heauenly inheritances and as the bodies in olde age vvaxe cold and want the heate of nature so the soules of men in this age waxe cold and want the heate of charitie therefore if euer then now had this lesson of Loue need to be enforced not particularly to Ministers onely least then Lay-men say quod supra nos nihil ad nos that is vvhat is aboue vs pertaineth not to vs nor to the Lay-men onely least the Clergy say id populus curet that is let Lay-men Loue let vs disagree but it is generally to be enforced vnto all of what sort or condition soeuer he be Read the Scripture you shall find how often loue is commanded now no man wil often demaund that thing which is not pleasing vnto him therefore we must loue one another because loue is so pleasing vnto GOD as appeareth by Gods often requiring loue of vs the Wife which loueth her husband will fit her selfe to his humour she will do that which he delighteth in We the Church are the spouse of Christ hee is our husband therefore if we truely loue him we must entertaine hearty loue one with another which is most pleasing vnto God Psal 133. for loue is likened vnto precious oyntment which powred foorth maketh a svveet sauour ouer all the roome so is loue a sweet smelling sacrifice in the nostrils of God 1 Cor. 14.33 hee calling himselfe the God of Loue saying also that hee hateth him which rayseth vp contentions among brethren but in Ecclesiasticus Chap. 25. Three things reioyce mee Prou. 6.19 and by them am I beautified before God and men the vnitie of brethren the loue of neighbours a man and wife that agree together This is seene in that Dauid a man after Gods owne heart must not builde an house to God and why because his hands had beene embrued with blood 3 Reg. 5. but Salomon his sonne a king vvhich raigned in peace was commanded to builde a Temple to God And IESVS CHRIST vvhich was borne into the world to make peace betweene God and man was borne vnder Augustus Caesar at that time when the vvhole vvorld was at peace therefore seeke peace and ensue it follow after loue pray with Saint Bernard on the Canticles Domine pacem volo pacem cupio nihil amplius O Lord I desire peace I seeke peace and nothing else Wherefore doth thy brother offend thee put it vp refer him to God who will reuenge thee Veterem iniuriam ferendo vitabis nouam By suffering an olde iniury thou shalt eschew a new wrong as wee see in a brawling Curre if hee barke at thee and thou ride on and not regard it the dogge will be quiet but if thou offer to chide him to strike at him or to hurt him then hee flyeth at thee more furiously then at the beginning A coale of fire let alone will out and dye of it selfe but blow it and it will burne afresh and as hot as before so wrongs and iniuries let alone will in time dye and be forgotten but if they be repeated and often rehearsed they will increase I but thou wilt say for my owne part I can be contented to liue in peace but my neighbour is alwayes beginning with mee and offering me wrong first what should I doe in such a case Tread on a worme and it will trune againe To this I answere Know what the Heathen Orator saith Nulla laus est ibi esse integrum vbi nemo est qui aut velit aut conetur corrumpere It is no commendations to be an honest man when thou canst not tell how to be dishonest for example What credit is it for a man to say he neuer did commit adultery when as hee neuer came into company where Women were What glory is it for a man to be neuer drunken and neuer be in place where hee can drinke wine or strong Beere but onely water So what commendation is it to liue in loue peace when as no neighbour thou hast doth offer thee any wrong or iniury Wherefore hee which offereth thee wrong giueth thee occasion of patience not of anger and reuenge so that euery one should say of him which offereth wrong as Dauid said of the cursing of Shimei Suffer him to curse 2 Sam. 16. for the Lord hath bidden him it may be the Lord will looke on mine affliction and doe me good for his cursing this day so put vp wrong referre all to God Saint Cyprian saith well Quid gloriae est illis facere quod fecit Iudas quid ignominiae est nobis pati quod passus est Christus What glory is it for a man to offer wrong Iudas did the like to Christ and what shame is it for vs to suffer wrong for Christs sake who before hath endured much more for our sakes Socrates the wise Philosopher walking in the streetes
est referre quam inferre iniuriam saith Lactantius It is no lesse euill to requite a wrong then to offer a wrong for hee which reuengeth wrong doth imitate him of whom hee receiued iniurie now in that he imitateth another in that which is bad hee can by no meanes himselfe proue good Serm. de Ira. Saint Basil goeth further affirming that hee which reuengeth wrong is worse then hee which beginneth wrong for that which another man offereth vnto thee is good or bad if good why then art thou angry with him I but it vvas bad is it so why then dost thou seeke to offer and requite that to thy neighbour which thine owne conscience telleth thee is bad and vvhich thou thy selfe condemnest for sinne in thy brother If a man see his enemy sicke of the Plague soares will he to reuenge himselfe of his enemy striue to haue the plague in his body also euery one will esteeme such a man a mad man or a foole Are we then wise for our bodies and foolish for our soules He beloued which offereth thee iniurie hath filled his soule with sinne insomuch as without Gods grace and his repentance hee cannot be saued now then for thee to seeke to repay this wrong is to fill thy soule likewise with sinne and to make it abhominable in the sight of God This then condemneth most specially our priuate duels vpon euery small punctilio of Honour to challenge the field consider with thy selfe in reason setting Gods Word aside are we not all in the Kingdome members of the body politicke the King being the Head now hee which dareth fight with the Kings friend dareth fight with the Kings enemie then what vvrong is here to the whole Kingdome for a priuate wrong offered vnto me I shall bereaue my country of him which in the front of an Army may kill a Generall and so by that meanes may saue the life and liberty of the King and Kingdome Exod. 23.5 In Gods Law it is written if thy enemies beast doe fall into a ditch thou shalt helpe him out Is so great loue to be shewed to my enemies Beast O how much then ought I to loue the person of mine enemie who is created after Gods owne Image and for whom CHRIST IESVS dyed and shed his precious bloud Fourthly the honourable members in the body doe not despise the meaner nor can they for the head cannot say to the foote I haue no neede of thee Euen so great men must not despise meane men neyther can we liue without one another See how God doth not giue to euery nation euery commoditie because men should traffique one to another and distance of place and language should not separate our loue See likewise in euery nation how euery man hath not euery Art some are Taylors some Masons some Husbandmen some Merchants and this to teach vs loue because wee all stand in need one of another It is noted as a great plague in Israell 1 Sam. 13.19 that there was not one Smith left among them this seemeth but a base Trade yet so necessary a member to the body politicke as the Common-wealth cannot stand without it The Lyon entangeld in nets had neede of the little Mouse to gnaw the threds in sunder before hee could get loose therefore let not the greatest and richest men despise the poore and meane men for they stand in neede of the meanest if for nothing else yet to pray for them It is well noted by Primasius that the rich man is like the Elme-tree the poore man is like the Vine-tree the Elme vnder-proppeth the Vine and so causeth it to stand and beare fruit which otherwise would fall and wither the Vine againe ouer-shadoweth the Elme and causeth it to be greene and flourishing vvhich otherwise would perish and decay Euen so the rich men by their almes vphold the poore who otherwise would starue and the poore men againe ouer-shadow the rich men with their prayers to God whereby they doe the better flourish in this world and liue for euer in the world to come See this to be verified in rich Onesephorus 2 Tim. 1.16 who relieued poore Paul in prison and Saint Paul againe desired God to be mercifull to Onesephorus there is a blessing in this life and further he prayed God grant hee may finde fauour in that day there is a prayer for the life to come Fiftly one member in the body doth endanger it selfe for another as let one strike at the head with a naked sword and the hand will aduenture cutting off to defend the head Euen so must wee runne into danger for the good one of another and most especially we must die for our head if occasion serue because before our head hath dyed for vs. To giue of our abundance to the poore is pleasing vnto Almightie God but to spare out of our owne necessities is farre more acceptable vnto God as wee see the poore Widowes mite was of greater value in the sight of GOD Luke 11.3.4 then the greater gifts of richer persons so at all times to helpe one another is charitable but to helpe others vvith hazard of our selues and vvith preiudice of our owne estates is farre more acceptable to GOD and pleasing vnto man Sixtly one member in the body receiueth not anothers foode but sendeth it to the other parts of the body so the rich man must not eate vp the poore man but rather he must communicate to his necessities neyther must the poore man steale from the rich but follow rather his labour and depend vpon Gods prouidence for necessary it is for a good stomacke to haue hunger and appetite vnto meate which ariseth of watery humours which doe gnaw vpon the splene secondly the stomacke must haue iudgement and discretion to chuse such meate which doth best agree with the stomacke and refuse the contrary which iudgement ariseth of foure muscles comming from the Head thirdly there must be strength and vigor to be able to digest the meate which it receiueth least otherwise it turne into raw crudities and so breede diseases in the body which heate and vigour ariseth of motions and spirits which are sent from the heart all these are necessary yet none sufficient vnlesse there be communion and dispersion of the foode to send the nourishment to the other parts of the body which is done by the bloud thorow the veines In like manner necessary it is for a Christian man to haue faith Heb. 11.6 for without faith it is impossible to please God In like manner necessary it is for a christian man to giue almes and to pray to God to be patient in aduersity c. but our faith profiteth nothing vnlesse it worketh by Loue neyther is any other vertue acceptable in the sight of GOD vnlesse it be begunne continued and ended in Loue therefore the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 13. If I haue all things and yet want loue it profiteth mee nothing the