John Trapp on Matthew 6:14

Verse 14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses] Our Saviour resumeth, and inculcateth the fifth petition with a repetition; because upon charity (which is chiefly seen in giving and forgiving) hangeth, after a sort, the restfull successe of all our [illegible: 1 word], 2 Tim. 2. 8. Malice is a leaven that swels the heart, and [illegible: 1 word] the sacrifice, 1 Cor. 5. 7, 8. Out with it therefore, that we [illegible: 1 word] keep the feast or holy day; that we may (as we ought to doe) [non-Latin text not transcribed] keep a constant jubilee, nexus solvendo, & noxas remittende. [illegible: 2 words] [non-Latin text not transcribed] This, [illegible: 1 word] and bloud will not easily yeeld to. But we are not debters to the flesh, we owe it nothing, but the blew eye that S. Paul gave it. When Peter heard that he might not recompense to any [illegible: 1 word] for evil, but must studiously seek his conversion and salvation. Lord, saith he, how oft shall my brother sinne against me, and I forgive him? till seven times, this he thought a mighty deal; a very high pitch of perfection. Our Saviour tells him, till seventy times seven times, that is, infinitly, and without stint: yet hē alludes to Peters seven, and, as it were, alludes it, and his rashnesse in setting bounds to this duty, and prescribing, how oft, to him that was the wiledom of the Father. This is when my brother returneth, and saith, It repents me: [illegible: 1 word]. But what if he doe not? In forgiving an offendour, say Divines, there are three things.Sol. 1. The letting fall all wrath and desire of revenge. 2. A solemn Dikes Worthy Communicant. p. 3. [illegible: 1 word]. profession of forgivenesse. 3. Reacceptance into former familiarity. The first must be done however. For the second, If he say, I repent; I must say; I remit, Luk. 18. To the third, a man is not bound till satisfaction be given. Your heavenly father will also forgive you.] Yet is not our forgiving men, the cause of his forgiving us, but a necessary antecedent. The cause is only the free mercy of God in Christ. He puts away our iniquities for his own sake, Isa. 43. 25. Neverthelesse, forasmuch as he hath [illegible: 1 word] us this promise here, our forgiving others Annot in Luk. 11. 4. (saith learned Beza) seemeth to have the nature of an intervenient [illegible: 1 word], a cause, sine qua non, of his forgiving us.