Thomas Watson · 28 of 36

The Fifth Petition in the Lord's Prayer · Part 6

(3) Lay up a stock of faith. ‘If thy brother trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.’ Luke 17: 3, 4. The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith,’ as if they had said, ‘We can never do this without a great deal of faith; Lord, increase our faith.’ Believe God has pardoned you, and you will pardon others; only faith can throw dust upon injuries, and bury them in the grave of forgetfulness.

(4) Think how thou hast sometimes wronged others; and may it not be just with God that the same measure you mete to others should be measured to you again? Hast thou not wronged others, if not in their goods, yet in their name? If thou hast not borne false witness against them, yet perhaps thou hast spoken falsely of them; the consideration of which may make Christians bury injuries in silence.

(5) Get humble hearts. A proud man thinks it a disgrace to put up with an injury. What causes so many duels and murders but pride? ‘Be clothed with humility.’ 1 Pet 5: 5. He who is low in his own eyes will not be troubled much though others lay him low; he knows there is a day coming when there shall be a resurrection of names as well as bodies, and God will avenge him of his adversaries. ‘And shall not God avenge his own elect?’ Luke 18: 7. The humble soul leaves all his wrongs to God to requite, who has said, ‘Vengeance is mine.’ Rom 12: 19.

Use 3. For comfort. Such as forgive, God will forgive them. You have a good argument to plead with God for forgiveness. Lo, I am willing to forgive him who makes me no satisfaction, and wilt not thou forgive me who hast received satisfaction in Christ my surety?