Two days ago I wrote about forgiveness, but this old teaching by Richard Baxter deserves to be heard on this topic, both eloquent and cutting. I have updated the English a little.
Remember first, That whoever has offended you, has offended God by greater injuries, and if God forgive them the greater, why should not you forgive the less? The same fault which they did against you, is a greater crime as against God than against you. And many a hundred more have they committed. It is a small matter to displease such a worm as a human, in comparison of the displeasing of Almighty God; and should not God’s children imitate their heavenly Father? Does God remit the pains of hell, and cannot you hold back your passionate revenge? Let me ask you, whether you desire that God should forgive them their sins or not? (both that and all the rest which they have committed: ) if you say, no, you are devilish and inhuman, who would not have God forgive a sinner; if you say, yes, you condemn, yes, and contradict yourselves, while you say you would have God forgive them, and yet yourselves will not forgive them. (I speak not of necessary correction, but revenge.)
12 responses to “Forgiveness 500 Years Later”
nopew
September 22nd, 2013 at 17:37
Hope it’s not a Bridge Too Far.
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lessonsbyheart
September 22nd, 2013 at 15:40
I’ve already made known which kid “gets” me when I’m old and decrepit. I probably should have waited a bit before making that call. Chances are good that I will end up living under one bridge or another with him. 😉
\o/
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nopew
September 22nd, 2013 at 13:18
The gates of hell cannot stand against the army of the Lord – hurray!
Peace
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nopew
September 22nd, 2013 at 13:17
I like that! Of course, my Mother’s philosophy is interesting as well, she’s going to keep living to bug her kids!
Peace
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lessonsbyheart
September 22nd, 2013 at 11:04
Oh, me too. Blast away, Lord. Let’s clear off the strongholds!
\o/
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lessonsbyheart
September 22nd, 2013 at 11:00
Yeah. I want to tattoo it to my forearm where it is accessible! 😉
\o/
(And it won’t clash with the one I want over my heart which reads: NO CPR – I WILL SUE YOU!)
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nopew
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:42
I assume you refer to William Gurnall. Yes, the Puritans sometimes went overboard the other way and lost the “joy of your salvation” (Ps 51:12), but they still have so much to teach us. Baxter was a fan of Gurnall, as I recall. God as Santa Claus seems to be too prevalent in our modern Western-culture world.
Thanks for visiting,
Peace
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vonhonnauldt
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:15
The Puritan God was certainly much different that the wimpy little, eager-to-please god we serve today. That’s part of the reason the Puritans are pretty much ignored. Well, that and solid, Bible-expounding, three-hour sermons. One of them wrote a 2-volume, 1189 page exposition on 11 verses of Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20!
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nopew
September 22nd, 2013 at 09:45
Thank you for the reblog, especially because this message is a life-changer when lived out!
Peace
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nopew
September 22nd, 2013 at 02:30
Yes, sometimes subtlety needs to stand aside. I have been moved by reading Richard Baxter, and most of it is not warm and fuzzy! Being of the thick-skulled type it takes a cannon, on occasion, to eliminate the bugs in my life.
Peace
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lessonsbyheart
September 22nd, 2013 at 02:24
Reblogged this on Lessons by Heart and commented:
Let Sunday’s re-blogs begin. Do not miss this important exhortation. I re-blogged it so I would have easy access to this much-needed message. \o/
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lessonsbyheart
September 22nd, 2013 at 02:22
Ooh. Ouch. Maybe I don’t like you so good anymore. 😛
Okay, maybe I do. After all, I definitely needed this little kick in the seat. Thanks for your straight-shooting posts. 🙂
\o/
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