21. He renders the greatest good for the greatest evil
Another singular action of a sanctified Christian, is, To render the greatest good for the greatest evil.
Mariners look for a storm at sea, when the waters begin to utter a murmuring noise. Theodosius the emperor, being urged to execute one who had reviled him, answered, 'So far from gratifying your wish; were it in my power, if he were dead, I would raise him to life again; rather than, being alive, to put him to death.'
He makes a good market of bad commodities, who with kindnesses overcomes injuries. For a man to conquer another's person, and be captivated by his own passions, is but to lose the palace of a prince to gain the cottage of a peasant. A spark of fire falling in the ocean, expires immediately: but dropping upon combustibles, burns furiously. God has bound every believer in gospel cords to his good behaviour.
A carnal man may love his friends, but it is a Christian man that loves his enemies. But I say unto you, love your enemies; bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you. He calls to patience, who is patience itself; and he that gives the precept, enforces it by his own example. It is unnatural to hate them that love us: and it is supernatural to love them that hate us. A sinner can do much evil, but he can suffer none; a saint can suffer much evil, but he will do none.
THE NONBUCH PROFESSOR
He that takes up fire to throw at his adversaries, is in great danger of burning his own fingers. A gun ill charged, instead of hitting the mark, does but recoil on him that discharges it. He who glories in wounding others, will finally wound himself. If injuries be our enemies' weapons, forgiveness should be ours. How many have had their blood seen, because they would not have their backs seen. Men's actions towards others, are generally excused by others' actions towards them. There is a two-fold frenzy; that of the head, which deprives men of prudence; and that of the heart, which deprives them of their patience. To forget an injury, is more than nature can promise; but to forgive it, is what grace can perform. Patience affords us a shield to defend ourselves; but innocence denies us a sword to offend others. If ever you hope that your charity should live after you, then let resentment die before you.
It is written in the law of Mahomet, that God made angels of light, and devils of flame. Sure I am, that they are of hellish constitutions, who play off the fire-works of contention. Be ye angry, and sin not. Anger should not be a burning coal from Satan's furnace; but a blazing coal from God's altar. It should resemble fire in straw; which is as easily quenched, as suddenly kindled. He that would be angry and not sin, must be angry at nothing but sin. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath, neither give place to the devil. He that carries passions to bed with him, will find the devil creep between the sheets: and why should we give place to him, who crowds in so fast himself?
O man, shall thy life be mortal, and thy wrath immortal? Should we not give place to an offending brother, rather than to a designing murderer? How many are there who profess to forgive, but cannot forget, an injury! Such are like persons who sweep the chamber, but leave the dust behind the door. Whenever we grant our offending brethren a discharge, our hearts also should set their hands to the acquittance.
We should not only break the teeth of malice by forgiveness, but pluck out its sting by forgetfulness. To store our memories with a sense of injuries, is to fill that chest with rusty iron, which was made for refined gold. The pot of malice should not stand upon the fire till it boils over. Christian, can you expect better treatment in the world, than he who was better than the world?
When Aristides, the Athenian general, sat to arbitrate a difference between two persons, one of them said, 'This fellow accused thee at such a time.' To whom Aristides answered, 'I sit, not to hear what he has done against me, but against thee.' How should a Christian shine, if an heathen give such light! If therefore thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Not the coals of vengeance to consume him, but the coals of kindness to soften him.
Jesus was an intercessor both in his life and death; his dying breath was praying breath, and that not only for his sorrowful disciples, but for his enraged murderers also. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Thus he gave them the best wine for the bitterest gall. The Lord Jesus spreads a large table every day, and the major part who feed thereat are his enemies. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The Lord Jesus can both tame the most cruel beast, and quench the most raging lust.
None but a patient Christ can make us patient Christians. As our passions were the cause of his, so his passion is the cure of ours. Reader, if you cannot forgive others, God will not forgive you. You have his own authority for this: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses. In vain do we ask God to be pacified to us, while we live at variance with others. How can we expect to have pounds remitted to us, if peace are not remitted by us?
I have read of a person who imbued his hands in his own blood, because they were too short to reach his enemy's. Poor revenge! How repugnant was this to the apostolic advice: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath. This was the conduct of dying Stephen: And he kneeled down and prayed with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Could living men do worse to a dying man, or a dying man pray better for living men?
To do evil for good, is human corruption; to do good for good, is civil retribution; but to do good for evil, is Christian perfection. Though this be not the grace of nature, yet it is the nature of grace.
When Shimei cursed David in his distress, Abishai was for an immediate retaliation. Shall I take off the head of this dead dog; for why should he curse my Lord the King? What was David's answer? So let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. He was so far from taking off his head, that he does not even attempt to shut his mouth. The shoulders of charity are able to carry the burden of injury, without either being moved with violence, or removed from patience.
Though God suffer not his people to sin in avenging their enemies, yet he suffers not the sin of their enemies to go unavenged. Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. 'Anger resteth in the bosom of fools.' Where there is the most indignation, there is the least discretion. No men do more readily brook insults from others, than such as have learned to despise themselves. Make not an enemy of your friend, by returning evil for good; but make a friend of your enemy, by returning him good for evil.
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