a. Be not overcome of Evil, but overcome Evil with Good. In forgiving Injuries. b. Put on (as the Elect of God, holy and beloved) Bowels of Mercies, Kindness, Meeknefs, Longfuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another; if any Man have a Quarrel against any even as Chrift forgave you, fo ́alfo do ye. c. Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another; even as God, for Christ's fake, hath forgiven you. d. Dearly beloved, avenge not your selves, but rather give place unto Wrath: For it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, faith the Lord, e. Recompence to no Man Evil for Evil: but ever follow that which is good, both among your felves, and unto all Men. f. Say not thou, I will recompenfe Evil; I will do fo to him, as he hath done to me; I will render to the Man according to his Work: but wait on the Lord, and he fhall fave thee. g. Charity is not eafily provoked; Charity suffereth long, and is kind; Charity beareth all things, endureth all things, (a) Rom. 12. 21: (g) i Cor. 13, 4, (b) Col. 3. 12, 13. 5, 7. a. The a. The Discretion of a Man deferreth his Anger; and it is his Glory to pass over a Tranfgreffion. b. If thy Brother trefpafs against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him: And, if he trespass against thee feven times in a Day, and seven times in a Day turn again to thee, faying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him. c. If thy Brother shall trefpafs against thee, go, and tell him his Fault between thee and him alone; if he fhall hear thee, thou haft gained thy Brother: But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the Mouth of two or three Witneffes, every Word may be established: and, if he fball neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church: but, if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man, and a Publican. d. If ye forgive Men their Trefpaffes, your Heavenly Father will alfo forgive you: But, if ye forgive not Men their Trefpaffes, neither will your Father forgive your Trefpaffes. (b) Luk. 17. 3, 4. (a) Prov. 19. 11. Mercy Mercy and Compaffion. a. Thus fpeaketh the Lord of Hofts, saying, fhew Mercy and Compaffions, every Man to his Brother. b. Be ye all of one Mind, having Compaffion one of another; love as Brethren; be pitiful; be courteous. c. Be ye merciful, as your Father alfo is merciful. d. Bear ye one another's Burthens, and fo fulfil the Law of Chrift. e. Comfort the Feeble-minded, fupport the Weak, be patient towards all Men; with Longfuffering; forbearing one another in Love. f. We, that are strong, ought to bear the Infirmities of the Weak, and not to please our felves. g. Pure Religion is this, to visit the Fatherlefs, and Widows, in their Affliction. b. Remember them that are in Bonds, as bound with them; and them which fuffer Adverfity, as being your felves alfo in the Body. i. Deliver the spoiled, out of the Hand of the Oppreffor. (a) Zech. 7, 9. I (b) 1 Pet. 3. 8. a. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto Death, and thofe that are ready to be flain; if thou fayeft, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he, that pondereth the Heart, confider it? And, fhall not he render to every Man, according to his Works? b. Thou shalt not vex a Stranger; nor afflict any Widow, or Fatherlefs Child. c. Thou shalt not curfe the Deaf, nor put a Stumbling-block before the Blind. d. Bleffed are the Merciful, for they fhall obtain Mercy: But he shall have Judgment, without Mercy, that hath fhewed no Mercy. e. The merciful Man doth good unto his own Soul; but he that is cruel, troubleth his own Flesh: and he that is glad at Calamities, fhall not be unpunished. f. Wo to them that are at ease in Sion, and are not grieved for the Affliction of Jofeph. Particularly to the Pcor. g. If there be among you a poor Man, of one of thy Brethren, thou fhalt not harden thy Heart, nor shut thine Hand from thy poor Brother: But thou Thalt open thine Hand wide unto him, and fhalt furely lend him fufficient for his Need, in that which he wanteth: Thou shalt (4) Prov. 24. II, 12. (b) Ex. 22. 21, 22. (d) Mat. 5. 7. Jam. 2, 13. Prov. 17. 5. (f) Am. 6. 1, 6, furely furely give him, and thine Heart shall not be grieved, when thou giveft unto him; because, that for this thing, the Lord thy God shall blefs thee in all thy Works; and in all that thou putteft thine Hand unto. a. Deal thy Bread to the Hungry, and bring the Poor, that are caft out, to thy House; when thou feeft the Naked, cover him ; and hide not thy felf from thine own Flesh: Then fhall thy Light break forth as the Morning, and thine Health fhall fpring forth speedily. b. Charge them that are rich in this World, that they do good, that they be rich in good Works; ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in ftore, for themselves, a good Foundation, against the time to come. c. Give Alms of fuch things as ye have; and behold, all things are clean unto you. d. Make to your felves Friends of the Mammon of Unrighteousness; that when ye fail,they may receive you into everlasting Habitations. e. When thou makest a Feast, call the Poor, the Maimed, the Lame, and the Blind; for they cannot recompence thee; but thou shalt be recompenfed at the Refurrection of the Juft. f. Thou shalt not glean thy Field, nor thy Vineyard; thou shalt leave them to the Poor, and Stranger. Deut. 15. 10. (a) If. 58. 7, 8. (b) 1 Tim. 6. 17, 18, 19. (c) Luk. 11. 41. (d) Luk. 16. 9. (f) Lev. 19. 10, 9, 10. (e) Luk. 14. 13, 14. |