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Learn hence, That every Christian should not only take heed that he be not overcome of evil; but also labour and endeavour what in him lieth to overcome evil with good.
Question What are we to understand here by evil?
Answer Any unkind or injurious dealings from others, any mischief or ill turn which our neighbour has done us.
Question What is it to be overcome of evil?
Answer 1. When we dwell in our thoughts too much, too often, and too long, upon the injuries and unkindnesses we have met with. This is, as if a man that was to take down a bitter pill should be continually chomping of it, and rolling it under his tongue.
2. We are overcome of evil, when we are brought over to commit the same evil, by studying to make spiteful returns by way of revenge for the injuries we have received.
Question Wherein consists the duty and excellency of overcoming evil with good?
Answer It renders us like to God, who does good to us daily, though we do evil against him continually, hereby we imitate God in one of the choicest perfections of his divine nature; hereby we overcome ourselves; hereby we overcome our enemies; and make them become our friends.
Question How should we overcome evil with good?
Answer By doing good for evil, by returning courtesies for injuries, speaking well of others, although they speak hardly, yea, very ill of us.