To passe by the offences of our Brethren. [ 1152]
DAvid was deaf to the railings of his enemies,* 1.1 and as a dumb man, in whose mouth were no reproofs. Socrates,* 1.2 when he was abused in a Comedy, laugh∣ed at it;* 1.3 when Polyargus, not able to bear such an indignity, went and hanged himself.* 1.4* 1.5 Augustus sleighted the Satyrs and bitter invectives, which the Pasquills of that time invented against him; and when the Senate would have further in∣formed him of them,* 1.6 he would not hear them. Thus, the manlier any man is, the milder and readier he is to passe by an offence, as not knowing of it, or not troubled at it; an argument, that there is much of God in him, (if he do it from a right principle) who bears with our infirmities, and forgives our trespasses, beseeching us to be reconciled.* 1.7 When any provoke us, we use to say, We will be eeven with him; but there is a way, whereby we may not onely be even, but above him, and that is, forgive him. We must see and not see, wink at small faults especially. Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit vivere, may with some grains of allowance passe current, He that cannot dissemble, is not fit to live.