An exhortatory instruction to a speedy resolution of repentance and contempt of the vanities of this transitory life. By Samson Lennard.

CHAP. II. That no work that a man doth, be it neuer so good, can bee ac∣ceptable vnto God, so long as he is not in charity with his neigh∣bour.

FOrasmuch as all sins are extinguished and blotted out by subsequent good works, proceeding out of a true and liuely faith, the sin of discord must bee verie great, which if it be not vtter∣ly extinct, it suffereth no good worke to follow it. For it is written: If thou bring thy gist vnto the altar, and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leaue there thine offer∣ing

before the altar, and goe thy way: first be reconciled to thy brother, & then come and offer thy gift. Iudge then how great an euill discord is, for which that must bee vn∣done, by which sinnes are re∣leased; the gift of an vnchari∣table man is not receiued, his praiers are not heard, for God loueth more the loue & agreement of men, than his owne honour. O the admi∣rable goodnesse and mercie of our God, and his vnspeak∣able loue towards men! he re∣suseth his own honor, for our charity one towards another. If two be at enmity one with the other, no man can bee a faithfull friend to them both, and therefore God will not be a friend, no not to the faith∣full,

so long as they be in ha∣tred one towards another, so long as they professe Christ, and yet are enemies. God to the end he might impose vp∣on thee a greater necessity of reconciliation, did not say, If thou haue anie thing against thy brother (for to a man that is willing, it is a matter of no difficultie to forgiue an other) but he said, If thy bro∣ther hath any thing against thee; go with a willing heart and a good conscience, and an humble submission vnto him, though he bee farre di∣stant from thee; or if thou canst not come where hee is, in thy heart bee reconciled vnto him, that when thou commest in his presence with thy loue thou maist make a∣mends

for the wrong thou hast done him, which to a furious man that thinketh he hath iust cause to be angry, is a matter very difficult. But thy brother hath nothing a∣gainst thee, but thou bearest an intestine hatred against thy brother, which thou maist easily pardon, and bee reconciled if thou wilt. And yet thou presumest with this hatred and malice, not only to offer thy praiers vnto God, but to come to the Communion of the body and blood of thy Sauiour Christ Iesus; and that milde Lambe, that peace maker, that louer of peace, thou presumest to ••eceine into thy cruell and bloody heart, boiling with hatred & malice against thy

brother. This thy hatred makes thee vnworthy that corporalll bread that thou ea∣teft, and doest thou presume to eat the bread of Angels? It cannot bee well with thee if thou wickedly receiue that which is good. Thou canst not haue life in thy self, when the receiuing of life bringeth death. Loue (saith the Lord) your enemies, blesse them that curse you, doe good to them that hate you, pray for them which hurt you and persecute you. Whom then canst thou hate, when thou art commanded to be good to thy enemies? And yet thou hatest thy neighbour, that art forbid to hate a stran∣ger; and thou persecutest thy brother, being commanded

to doe good to thy enemie. Thou art enioyned to praie for him, and darest thou to pray vnto God against him? Canst thou call thy selfe a Christian, and yet not keepe the preceps of Christ?

Neither is it sufficient for thee to make vp the heape of thy punishment, by trangres∣sing the commandement of Christ, but thou praiest vnto him to doe so too. God com∣mandeth thee to loue thine e∣nemy, and thou praiest vnto him to kill thine enemie; and whilest thou so praiest, thou fightest with thy praiers a∣gainst God, who comman∣deth thee to forgiue whatsoe∣uer thou hast against thy e∣nemie. When ye shall stand, saith he, and pray, forgiue if

ye haue anie thing against a∣ny man; but thou callest vpon God to do quite contrarie to his owne rule; but so farre is he from doing that that thou requirest, that he turneth the malicious darts of thy pro∣phane mouth against thy selfe, and that mischiefe that thou wishest to another light∣eth vpon thine owne head. He liues yet, whom thou cur∣sest, and thou that cursest art alreadie made guiltie of his death, because since thou canst not kill him with thy sword, thou killest him with thy praiers. If thou laie not a∣side thy anger against thine enemie, at that instant when thou beggest mercie at Gods hands, but euen then remem∣brest thy grudge, when is

there hope thou wilt be mer∣cifull? So long as thou nou∣rishest this rancor in thy bo∣some, no praier, no work shal doe thee any good, but eue∣rie houre, yea euery minute of an houre thou addest sinne vnto sinne, whilest thou re∣membrest thy wrongs, and forgiuest not thy neighbour, but purposest to reuenge. If euery one that is angrie with his brother be guilty of iudg∣ment; how much more shalt thou be guiltie, which conti∣nuest a deadly hatred against him? If it be not lawfull to be angry with thy brother, or to say vnto him Raca, or fool, much lesse to nourish hatred in thy heart against him.

Wherfore (deare brother) let not the Sunne goe downe

vpon thy wrath; and lest of a mote thou make a beame, and thy soule a man-slaier, as speedily as thou canst be re∣conciled to thy brother and pardon his wrongs. Yea pray for thy enemie that pursueth thee, and slandereth thee, that either God wil turne his hart, or rightly defend thee, and preserue thee, euer wishing his saluation, whose iniquities thou doest detest, that thou maiest be the sonne of the fa∣ther which is in heauen.

Notes

• Mat. 5.25.
• Mat. 5.44.
• Mark. 11.
• Ephes 4.