CHAPTER XXX – 13. Revengeful passions to be denied
therefore either God or they must be denied. For when God is for holiness, and they against it: when they are for sinful pleasures and gain, and God against it, both cannot be pleased; and therefore one of them must be denied, God or they.
CHAPTER XXX
Revengeful Passions to be Denied 13. ANOTHER part of self-denial consisteth in the denying of revengeful passions, that provoke us against those that have done us wrong, or that we judge to be our enemies. It is the common saying of such persons as are disposed to this sin, that 'revenge is sweet:' it easeth the minds of malicious persons to have their will upon their adversaries, and to see them at their feet. Nothing of all his honours and prosperity could satisfy Haman till he was revenged of Mordecai.
As a burning, festering, boil, or imposthume, is eased by opening and vent, so is a boiling passionate mind, when by railing speeches, or revengeful actions, it venteth itself against them that they hate. But in this also self must be denied by all that will be Christ's disciples, for he forgiveth none but those that can heartily forgive another: and that we may know that this is a part of self-denial of great necessity, he hath put it into our prayers, and will not have us so much as ask for forgiveness ourselves, if we cannot forgive: that we may know, that seeing it is not to be asked for on lower terms, it is not to be hoped for. The forgiving grace of God in Christ, doth so melt and overcome the hearts of all true Christians, that it disposeth them in their measure to imitate him in forgiving: and they cannot find in their heart to take another by the throat for a hundred pence, when their Lord hath forgiven them ten thousand talents: Matt. 18:24. 28.
The grace that is most gloriously manifested in the Gospel, must needs make the deepest impression on the soul, and consequently conform the soul into its image: and doubtless this is love, and compassion, and forgiving mercy; and therefore he that cannot love his enemy, bless them that curse him, and pray for them that hate and persecute him, and return good for evil, can be no child of God;
Matt. 5:44–46. It is an inhuman oblivion of our own condition, for a man to seek revenge of another for a trifle (for it can be no greater, as it is against such simple worms as we), when so many and heinous sins have been forgiven us. Doth God remit to us the everlasting torments, and shall we inflict on another the venom of our private spleen? I know the furious Bedlams, and malicious wretches, do take all this but for unsatisfactory talk, and it is not words that will serve their turns to repair their honour, and ease their devilish rancorous minds. Flesh and blood, say they, cannot endure it. Answ. And therefore, "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor corruption inherit incorruption; 1 Cor. 15:50. Grace can do more than flesh and blood; and if you cannot forgive, you cannot be forgiven. If it be so hard for you to forbear, yea, to love an enemy, it shall be as hard to you to be saved, and escape the portion of the enemies of God; and if the word of God's command be but wind with you; the word of his promise shall be as ineffectual to your salvation, as the word of his precept and persuasion was ineffectual to your conversion and obedience. As "God is love," so his sanctified ones are turned into love: love is their new nature, and love is not of a revengeful disposition. Love is the divine nature in us, and malice provoking to revenge is the devilish nature; and a believer is more afraid of the anger of God, than to take his sword of revenge out of his hand. He hath learned, "Avenge not yourselves, but give place to