Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Part 13
As vve forgiue our debts.
1. Coherence.
THese wordes be a part of the fift petition, for it is put down with a condition. Forgiue vsus, as we forgiue others: and these wordes depend on the former, as the reason thereof, and it is taken from the comparison of the lesse to the greater: thus, if wee, who hauehave but a sparke of merciemercy, doe forgiue others: then doe thou, who art the fountaine of merciemercy, forgiue vsus: but we forgiue others, therefore, do thou forgiue vsus. Thus Luk. 11. 4 hath it, Forgiue vsus our sinnes: for euen we forgiue. The Papists gather a contrarie doctrine: they say, Forgiue vsus as we forgiue, making our forgiuing a cause, for which God is mooued to forgiue vsus. But we are to know, that our forgiuing is no cause, but a sign that God wil forgiue vsus.
2 The meaning.
QVestion. Whether is a man bounde to forgiue all debts. Answer. The word debt, in this place, is not vnderstoode of debt that is ciuill, and comes by lawfull bargaining, but of hurtes and dammages; which ar done vntounto vsus in our bodies, goods, or good name; as for the former ciuil debts a man may exact them, so he doe it with shewing of merciemercy.
2 Question. How may anie man forgiue trespasses, seeing God onlie forgiues sin? Answer. In euerie trespasse which anie do to their neighbours, ther be two offences▪ one to God, another to man. In the first respect it is called a sin, which God onlie forgiues: In the other respect, it is called an injurie or dammage: & so man may forgiue it. When a man is robbed, the law is broken by stealing, and the injurie that is done, is against a man that hath his goods stolne. This injurie, as it is an injurie, a man may forgiue: but as it is a sinne, he can not, but God onlie.
3 Quest. Whether may a man aright pray this petition, and yet sue him at the law, who hath injured him. An. Yea, for a man may in an holie maner sew another for an injury: and as a souldier in lawful warre may kill his enemie, and yet louelove him: so may a man forgiue an injurie, and yet seeke in a Christian maner the remedie: but in doing of this, wee must obserue fiue thinges. 1. We are to tak heed of all priuate revenge and inward hatred, which if we conceiue, wee doe not forgiue. 2. We must take heed of offence, and hauehave care that our doinges bee not scandelous to the Church. 3. Our sutes must be taken in hand to maintaine godly peace: for, if all injuries were put vp, there would bee no ciuill state or gouernment. 4. It must be, that the partie offending may bee chastised, and bee brought to repentance for his fault: for, if many mē were not repressed, they woulde growe worse. 5. Law must bee the last remedie: as Physitions vse desperate remedies, when weaker wil not serue: euen so must we vse law, as the last meanes, when all other faile. The dealing of the worlde in this case, is no example for vsus to follow. For through rage and stomacke they will abide no priuate agreement: and therefore, they vse the law in the first place, so did the Corinthians, but what saith Paule 1. Cor. 6. 7. It is vtterlie a fault among. But if the Lawe bee vsed aright, a Christian may sue at Law, and louelove the partie sued; for there is difference betweene dealing against a man before a Magistrate, and the dealing of one priuat man with another. For priuate dealing is commonlie reuenge, and therefore vnlawfull.
3. The Vse.
THE vse of this clause is verie profitable, for it shewes vsus a liuelie signe, whereby our consciences may bee assured of the pardon of our sinnes. Indeed, manie vse these wordes long and often, yet finde no assurance of pardon, and the cause is, because they hauehave no desire of Gods merciemercy, nor willingnes to forgiue men, which if they had, then the forgiuenes of their sinnes should hereby be sealed vntounto them. Wherefore, if any wold be perswaded of Gods merciemercy in this point, let them discend into their owne soules, and search them narrowlie, if they can finde their heartes as readie to forgiue, as they are readie to desire forgiuenes at Gods hand, then they may assure themselues of Gods merciemercy in Christ, as we are taught by our Sauiour Christ, Mat. 5. 7. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtaine merciemercy. Consider these comparisons. A man walking vnderunder a wal in a cold sunnie day, is heated of the wall, which first receiued heat from the Sunne. So he that sheweth merciemercy to others, hath first receiued merciemercy from God. Also; take a peece of waxe, and put to a seale, it leaueth an impression or marke like it selfe in the waxe: which, when a man lookes on, he doth certainlie know that ther hath bin a seale, the print whereof is left behind. Euen so it is in eueryevery one, that hath readinesse to forgiue others: by it a Christian may easilie know, that God hath sealed to him the forgiuenesse of his sinnes, euen in his heart: Therefore, let men looke into their hearts, whether they hauehave any affection to forgiue others, for that is; as it were, the print in their harts, of Gods mercy toward thē.
Manie there are, which pray for pardon at Gods hande, but they cannot brooke it, that they should forgiue their neighbours. Herevpon come these sayinges, I may forgiue him, but I will not forget him: He may come in my Paternoster, but hee shall not come in my Creed. Behold, the deuils logicke, which makes malice to bee charitie. Blinde people play with the Lords prayer, as the flie doeth with the candle till she bee burnt: for the more they pray these words, the more they call for vengeance against thēselues. Iam. 2. 13