OF UNITY IN RELIGION 9 



rod, do damn and send to hell for ever those facts and 

 opinions tending to the support of the same ; as huh 

 been already in good part done. Surely in counsels con- 

 cerning religion, that counsel of the apostle would be 

 prefixed, Ira hominis non implet justitiam Dei. And it was 

 a notable observation of a wise father, and no less in- 

 genuously confessed ; ' that those which held and persuaded 

 pressure of consciences, were commonly interessed therein 

 themselves for their own ends/ 



IV 

 OF REVENGE 



REVENGE is a kind of wild justice; which the more man's 

 nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out. 

 For as for the first wrong, it doth but offend the law ; 

 but the revenge of that wrong putteth the law out of office. 

 Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but even with his 

 enemy ; but in passing it over, he is superior ; for it is a 

 prince's part to pardon. And Solomon, I am sure, saith, 

 * It is the glory of a man to pass by an offence.' That 

 which is past is gone, and irrevocable ; and wise men have 

 enough to do with things present and to come ; therefore 

 they do but trifle with themselves, that labour in past 

 matters. There is no man doth a wrong for the wrong's 

 sake ; but thereby to purchase himself profit, or pleasure, 

 or honour, or the like. Therefore why should I be angry 

 with a man for loving himself better than me ? And if any 

 man should do wrong merely out of ill-nature, why, yet it 

 is but like the thorn or briar, which prick and scratch, 

 because they can do no other. The most tolerable sort of 

 revenge is for those wrongs which there is no law to 

 remedy ; but then let a man take heed the revenge be such 

 as there is no law to punish ; else a man's enemy is still 

 before hand, and it is two for one. Some, when they take 

 revenge, are desirous the party should know whence it 

 cometh. This the more generous. For the delight 



