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

ISo
Litigation.
met, being suppressed, nothing appears to a COUrt ot
ju,tice, but the actual rencounter. And if a person
be slain when Cictuaily fighting with his adversary,
the law deems his death nothing more than manslaughter.
CHAPTER x.
I.ITIGATION.
"IF it be possible live peaceably with all men ;)"
which precept contains an indirect confession that thi~
is not always possible.
rl-he instances- in tl-.e fifth chapter of St. 1\Iatthew
are rather to be 11nderstood as proverbi.al methods of
describing the general duties of forgiveness and benevolence,
and the temper which VIe ought to airn at
acquiring, than as directions to be ~'ccifical1y observed
t)r' of themselves, bf and great importance to be
observed. The first of these is," if thine enemy
!31nite ~he~ on thy rig~t
c.hpek, turn to him the other
also ;" yet, when one of the officers struck Jesus with
the p11m of his hand, we find Jesus rebuking him
for the outrage with becoming indignation: "If I have
spoken e\1il, bear witness of the evil; but if \vell,
why smitest thou me?" (John xviii. 22.) It may
be obser~ likewise, that the several examples are
drawn from in~t2.nce~ of small and tolerable injuries.
A rule which forbade all opposition to injury, or
defence aganist it, could have no other effect, than
to put the good in subjection to the bad, and deliver
one half of mankind to the depredation of·
the other half: which must be the case, so long as
~ome considered thenlselves as bound by such a rule,
.,' Whoso' ,ytT shan smitethee on thy right cheek, turn to him the othe~
also; and if iiny man will suc thee at the law, and take a\vay thy roat, let
bim have thy cloak also; aDd wb~soev~r shall compel the to go a mile, g(l
With him tWainlf'~