Forgiveness

FORGIVENESS.

To forgive a man in any circumstances costs us nothing. Say that he has defrauded me, injured my reputation, attempted my life; and suppose such an enemy in my power, what does it cost me to forgive him? Let us see: — To reduce him to poverty, would make me no richer; to destroy his peace, would not restore my own; to hurt him, would not heal me; or to cast a blot on his reputation, would restore no lustre to my name; to take his life, saying, "nothing smells so sweet as the dead body of an enemy," would not insure me against the stroke of death, nor lengthen my life by a single hour.

It is a happy memory that remembers kindness and forgets offenses. It is far more noble to conquer one's passion, than to crush a foe; and sweeter than gratified revenge, are his feelings, who, when his enemy hungers, feeds him; when he thirsts, gives him drink. In so doing, man exhibits somewhat of the nature, and tastes something of the happiness, of God.