PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

Re1Je11gc. 179
I say this~ and you can hardly feign to yourself an
instance of more impious and unIlatural arrogance.
The point is to habituate ourselves to these reflections,
till they rise up of their o\vn accortl when they
are wanted, that is, instantly upon the receipt of an
injury or affront, and with such force and colouring,
as both to mitigate the paroxisms of our anger at the
time, and at length to produce an alteration in the
temper ~D.d disposition itself.
CHAPTER VIII.
RE\7ENGE.
r\LL pain occasioned to another in conse.
quence of an offence, or injury received from him,
farther than what is calculated to procure repar,l, ..
rion, or promote the just ends of punishment, is so
nluch revenge.
There can be no difficulty i,n knowing when we
occasion pain to anoth~r; nor much in distinguish4
ing \vhether we do so, with a view only to the ends
of punishment, or from revenge; for- in the one
case \ve proceed with ;reluctance, in the other with
Jlleasure.
It is highly probable from the light of nature, that
a passion, which seeks its gratification immediately
and expressly in giving pain, is disagreeal>le to the
benevolent will and counsels of the Creator.
Other
passions and pleasures may, and often do, produce
paill to some OIle; but the.n pain is not, as it is
here, the object of the passion, and the direct cause
of th~ pleasure. This probability is converted into
ct;rt:unty, ;f we give credit to the authority which
dlct~itcd the several passages I)f the Christian scrip ..
tures that condemn revenge, or, what is the same
thing, which enjoin forgiveness.