DISCOURSE X.

THE FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES.

SECOND DICOURSE-THE EXCELLENCE AND REASONABLENESS

OF THIS DUTY.

LUKE VI. 37.

Forgive, and you fhall be forgiven.

THE

HE law of forgiveness is oppofed by fome of the frongeft paffions, and the moft dangerous prejudices of the human heart. The vindictive paffions are prone to precipitate themselves on revenge, and imagine a barbarous pleasure in gratifying this cruel propenfity-prejudice is apt to confound patience with pufillanimity, and to fuppofe that mildness of temper is calculated only to forfeit a certain reputation with the world. Pride fears to lofe, by kindness and condefcenfion, that imaginary confequence which it claims for itself. My enemies have offended me. It belongs to

the refpect which I owe myself to make them feel the effects of their temerity. But pride is an inflated monster, ever blind to its own true interefts. More real honor, and more folid happiness will be found from forgiving than avenging injuries.

Having already confidered the requifitions, and the extent of this law, I purpose, in the prefent difcourfe, to illuftrate its excellence, and reasonableness as a principle of conduct-It implies a difpofition generous and noble in itfelf, and fitted to attract respect from the world-It tends to promote our inward tranquillity and peaceAnd, finally, it affimilates man to his Creator, whose most glorious and interesting attribute is mercy. After taking a short review of these feveral topics, I fhall strengthen the general argument to this duty, by pointing out the caufes that moft commonly create diffentions in fociety, and fhewing their infufficiency to juftify the lafting and unchristian refentments which too often grow out of them.

I. In the first place, it implies a disposition generous and noble in itfelf, and fitted to attract respect from the world.

All blind and violent movements of the paffions are unworthy of our.nature. The true glory of a rational mind is to fubmit all its actions to the calm and temperate government of reason. There is a dignity in being able to command our feelings, and our conduct in the most critical fituations, which is calculated equally to engage the efteem of others, and to gain the approbation of our own hearts.-Where indeed, do we find the most vindictive difpofitions? Is it not commonly in those who are most feeble both in body and in mind? But, in proportion as the foul is raised by noble and fublime fentiments, is conscious of a true courage, and can reft upon itself, the lefs is it prone to this base and degrading vice.— The pufillanimous are revengeful as well

as cruel.

Those who admire, without choice, the manners of the world have been pleased to fay that the mildness and forbearance of christian charity is calculated to invite injuries; and, being, in many inftances, contrary to the established maxims of honor, must only lead to difgrace. Let us examine thefe affertions. I do not advocate a weak

ety

good-nature, void of fenfibility and energy of character-but, if prudence, and propriof manners be united to a benevolence of temper ever ready to do good--and a gentleness always cautious of giving offence, rarely will we fee examples of that innate malignity that is difpofed to pursue worth of this kind with injuftice, or to vilify it by infult. Even vicious men look with respect on goodness fupported with dignity. If, here and there, fuch an atrocious fpirit fhould be found, his injuftice will be returned upon his own head by the general indignation of fociety. Befides, religion, in cases of preffing and immediate aggreffion, forbids not the facred rights of felf-defence. And, in every cafe, it permits and requires a good man to place himself under the guardian power of the laws of his country, both for protection, and for reparation. The law is without paffions. And the reparation of wrongs, which is due to the weal of fociety, has nothing in it in common with the revenging of injuries.

With regard to thofe falfe and frivolous maxims of honor, invented in barbarous times, and adopted by frivolous and barba

rous men who rarely have any other claim to merit, more real glory and more public efteem will arife from being fuperior to them, than from complying with them.We fee them daily going into difufe as fociety progresses in refinement. That affectation of meeknefs, indeed, that fprings from pufillanimity is a character that deferves to be defpifed. And much of the reproach that has been poured upon those, who, in the file of the world, have not properly refented injuries, has arifen from their own weak and unequal conduct. Rash enough, perhaps, to give offence, it seems to be a pretended principle that reftrains them from anfwering for it. True picty is unoffending, as well as averfe from contentions. And then, if, on other occafions permitted and approved by religion, as in defending the innocent, in protecting the helpless, in fulfilling a hazardous duty, a proper ardor and firmnefs of mind have been difplayed, no reproach can be incurred for acting on chriftian principles, and being fuperior to an unreasonable cuftom. It was an excellent reply made by a brave officer to one who had challenged him to fingle combat ; You know I am not afraid to die-I an

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