"What manner of card is this?" will some say: "Why, what have I to do
with my neighbour's or brother's malice?" As Cain said, "Have I the
keeping of my brother? or shall I answer for him and for his faults? This
were no reason--As for myself, I thank God I owe no man malice nor
displeasure: if others owe me any, at their own peril be it. Let every
man answer for himself!" Nay, sir, not so, as you may understand by this
card; for it saith, "If thy neighbour hath anything, any malice against
thee, through thine occasion, lay even down (saith Christ) thine
oblation: pray not to me; do no good deeds for me; but go first unto thy
neighbour, and bring him again unto my flock, which hath forsaken the
same through thy naughty words, mocks, scorns, or disdainous countenance,
and so forth; and then come and offer thine oblation; then do thy
devotion; then do thy alms-deeds; then pray, if thou wilt have me hear
thee."
"O good Lord! this is a hard reckoning, that I must go and seek him out
that is offended with me, before I pray or do any good deed. I cannot go
unto him. Peradventure he is a hundred miles from me, beyond the seas;
or else I cannot tell where: if he were here nigh, I would with all my
heart go unto him.
Pages:
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40