Those that live in this world must expect to have injuries done them,
affronts given them, and trouble wrongfully created them, for we dwell
among briers. Now here we are told what to do when we have wrong done
us. 1. We must not avenge ourselves, no, nor so much as think of
revenge, or design it: "Say not thou, no, not in thy heart, I will
recompense evil for evil. Do not please thyself with the thought that
some time or other thou shalt have an opportunity of being quits with
him. Do not wish revenge, or hope for it, much less resolve upon it,
no, not when the injury is fresh and the resentment of it most deep.
Never say that thou wilt do a thing which thou canst not in faith pray
to God to assist thee in, and that thou canst not do in mediating
revenge." 2. We must refer ourselves to God, and leave it to him to
plead our cause, to maintain our right, and reckon with those that do
us wrong in such a way and manner as he thinks fit and in his own due
time: "Wait on the Lord, and attend his pleasure, acquiesce in his
will, and he does not say that he will punish him that has injured thee
(instead of desiring that thou must forgive him and pray for him), but
he will save thee, and that is enough. He will protect thee, so that
thy passing by one injury shall not (as is commonly feared) expose thee
to another; nay, he will recompense good to thee, to balance thy
trouble and encourage thy patience," as David hoped, when Shimei cursed
him, 2 Sam. xvi. 12.