Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Treatise · Part 13
As we forgiue them that trespasse against us.
Now the condition is annexed in the next clause. As wee forgiue &c. Not that wee can forgiue sinnes, because no man can satisfie for sinne which is directly against God, and a breach of his righteous law: therefore we can never satisfie Gods infinite justice. The meaning therefore is; That wee put away malice and revenge against that man that hath wronged us. [As] is a speech of qualitie, and not of quantitie: for wee may not looke to forgiue in that measure that God doth, but the meaning is, that we must forgiue truely, as God forgiues perfectly: and though the flesh will hauehave about oftner then we would, yet we must labor and pray that we may be forgiven, as we desire forgiuenesse. Whence we learne for our instruction this observation.
That they onelyonly can be assured of the remission of their sinnes, and come to God for pardon of them, Observa. that can from their hearts forgiue others.
Math. 6. 14. He there sets downe both: if we forgiue others their wrongs, God will forgiue us our sinnes; and he that cannot bring his heart to this, cannot be assured that he shall be forgiven; as he shewes, that it is not sufficient to giuegiveMath. 28. good words, but except we forgiue from our hearts, we must looke for our portion with hypocrites: but if we forgiue, we may be assured we shall be forgiven.
Because, then its certaine there is a worke of Reason 1 grace in us, for our flesh is froward and if God had not wrought upon us, we should giuegive place to wrath and to the devill: therefore if we can forgiue, its an evident signe, that we hauehave arraigned our sinnes, judged our selues, and taken downe our pride.
Secondly, Its a sure fruit of faith, for faith 2. Galath.worketh by louelove, and a greater token of louelove there cannot be, then to forgiue and pray for our enemies, and desire their good.
Further, This is a signe we hauehave the holy Ghost, 3. 1 Iohn.because louelove is a fruit of it, to louelove men as they are the creatures of God, though otherwise sinfull.
To reproue those woefull miserable persons, Ʋse 1 that would hauehave God forgiue them, and yet they will not forgiue others: How can these be fit for the Sacrament in this case I pray you? or fit to say the Lords prayer? They would be ashamed not to pray in a quarter of a yeere, and yet in truth if they say it till they hauehave forgiuen, they doe but call for vengeance upon themselues: and when they pray in wrath, they doe but call for wrath.
Oh, but the injurie is great. Object.
Nay your heart is great, for Paul and Christ Answ. suffered more wrong then you hauehave done, and yet they prayed for their enemies: and so did Steven, though they ranne upon him withoutActs 7. any judiciall proceeding: and in truth the more mad men are, the more need had we to pray for them and pittie them, as we will men that in a frenzie utter foolish speeches: and desire the Lord that he would convert them, which if he doe not, we need not care to pay them home, for they shall be payed home enough in hell.
For singular comfort, seeing this petition is tied with such a bond, therfore whosoever can say, with a true heart, I forgiue, this may bee his comfort, the God of heaven hath said, that hee will forgiue him: And therefor, in Luke, it is said, for even wee forgiue our debters. An argument from the lesse to the greater. As if hee should say, if we that hauehave but a little mercy, and hauehave made no promise, can yet forgiue, then doe thou, which art the God of mercy, and hast giuen us thy Promise, thy Covenant, and thy Oath to forgiue, doe thou forgiue meeThe excellent comfort of forgiving others. much more, and if I forgiue, (though I hauehave no satisfaction) then doe thou forgiue much more, which art fully satisfied in Iesus Christ: and this should maruellously strengthen our soules, when wee can forgiue wrongs, wee may urge God with his justice, and it stands him upon it to forgiue us. Its not a good argument, Lord forgiue me, for I hauehave giuen to the poore: or I hauehave walked in my calling: for a man may doe that and yet goe to hell: but this is a good argument, Lord I hauehave forgiuen others, so forgiue me: But if wee find any stubbornnesse in our flesh, this may, as indeed it is a thing, that goes marvellous sore against our nature, yet let us not bee discouraged, but use these medicines.
First remember all that thou hast done against Meanes to bring our selues to forgiue others, with our hearts.God, if any one owe us, an hundreth pence wee owe God tenne thousand talents: if then wee hauehave committed great sinnes against the great God, and would hauehave pardon, and find compassion1. Our debts to God. at his hands to wash us from all our transgressions; why should not wee remit small injuries offered us by earthen vessells, such as ourselues are; that is our reason why wee cannot forgiue as we should, because we consider not of this, which if wee did, would much tame us.
Our ill dealings against men, which is expressed2. Our ill dealing with men Eccles. in Ecclesiastes, where hee saith that men should not regard every thing which is told them of their servants.
But, who ever had such injuries offered them? Object.
Why, thine owne heart tells thee, that thou Answ. hast done much ill to others by craftie bargaining, and cosening &c. But here is a purgation to bring you to repentance for your passions; to consider how injurious you hauehave beene to others.
But many will say, I doe not remember it. Object.
But chuse whether you will or not, if you doe Answ. not you shall feele the smart of it at length.
To meditate that no wrongs come but by3. Meditations when injuries come. Gods just appointment, which made David to endure Shemei with such mildnesse: he was a King, and the other a base fellow, he reviled him, and would cast dust in his face, but, who can tell whether God bad Shemei curse me? (sayth1 Sam. David:) and that also made Iob to endure all quietly; his servants were killed, his goods spoyled, and that not a little, seven thousand sheepe, and three thousand Camels, and fiue hundred yoake of oxen, &c. would not this bring a man into a passion and distemper? Not a whit (if he be wise) Iob knew that it was the just decree of God, he would hauehave it so: and if he should buckle with God, he was sure to hauehave the worst: And therefore hee sits downe quietly and sayth, The Lord hath given and the Lord Iob. 1.hath taken, blessed be the name of the Lord. This also made Christ so patient, when he suffered most unworthy wrongs, to be betrayed of his owne Apostle, and condemned by the high Priest, (who pretended to be pillers of the Church) to be delivered to the heathen, and hanged on a tree, &c. betweene two theeues as a Traitor, yet he puts up all with this, Shall I not drinke of Math.the cup which my Father hath provided for mee? He did not looke to Iudas, nor to the false Iewes, but unto God: so that when men storme and fret it is for want of consideration of these things, for that they are purblind, and cannot looke to God a farre off, but to men that are neere. Which shall suffice for the handling of this fifth Petition.
Wee heard before what we were to aske in the former Petition, namely that God would forgiue us our sinnes, and impute unto us the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ. Now in the next Petition, we pray for sanctification, wherein we are taught.
First, What to pray against, viz. That God would not lead us into temptation: that he would not suffer us to be overcome by sinne and Sathan, nor punish our inward corruptions by giving us to fall into grosse crimes, but either keepe us from temptation, or giuegive us victorie in temptation.
Secondly, To pray for the meanes whereby wee may be kept from falling into temptation, viz. the Lord would deliver us from the evill of temptation; and preserue us so, that sinne and Sathan may not hauehave dominion over us.