The Fourth Plea

Methinks I could be content with God's hand (says one) so far as I see the hand of God in a thing I can be content: But when men deal so unreasonably and unjustly with me I know not how to bear it; I can bear it that I should be in God's hands, but not in the hands of men: My friends or acquaintance when they deal so unrighteously with me, Oh, this goes very hard unto me, that I know not how to bear it from men.

For the taking away of this reasoning, first, though they be men that bring this cross upon you, yet they are God's instruments, God has a hand in it, and they can go no further than God would have them go. This was that that quieted David when Shimei cursed him, (said he) God has a hand in it, though Shimei be a base wicked man yet I look beyond him to God. So, is there any of your friends that deal injuriously with you, and cross with you, look up to God and see that man but as an instrument in God's hands.

Secondly, if this be your trouble that men do so wrong you, you are rather to turn your hearts to pity them than to murmur or be discontented. For the truth is, if you be wronged by other men, you have the better of it, for it is better to bear wrong than to do wrong a great deal; if they wrong you your heart cannot submit, you are in a better condition than they, because it is better to bear than do wrong. I remember it is said of Socrates that being very patient when wrong was done to him, they asked him how he came to be so; said he, If I meet with a man in the street that is a diseased man, shall I be vexed and fretted with him because he is diseased? Those that wrong me I look upon them as diseased men and therefore pity them.

Thirdly, though you meet with hard dealings from men, yet you meet with nothing but kind, good, and righteous dealings from God. When you meet with unrighteous dealings from them, set one against the other. And that is for the answer to the fourth plea.

Someone says: "I think I could be content with God's hand — as far as I can see God's hand in something, I can accept it. But when people deal with me so unreasonably and unjustly, I do not know how to bear it. I can accept being in God's hands, but not in the hands of men. When my friends or acquaintances treat me with such injustice — that is what is so hard to bear."

To remove this reasoning: first, though it is people who have brought this cross upon you, they are God's instruments. God has a hand in it, and they can go no further than God permits. This is what quieted David when Shimei cursed him. David said, in effect: God has a hand in this — though Shimei is a wicked man, I look beyond him to God. So, if anyone is dealing with you in a hurtful or difficult way, look past them to God and see that person as an instrument in God's hand.

Second, if your trouble is that people are wronging you, the right response is to pity them rather than to murmur or be discontented. The truth is: if you are wronged by others, you have the better of it — for it is far better to suffer wrong than to do wrong. If they wrong you and you cannot bring yourself to submit, you are still in a better condition than they are, because it is better to bear wrong than to inflict it. Socrates was known for his patience when wronged. When asked how he managed it, he said: "If I meet someone in the street who is sick, would I be vexed and irritated with him for being sick? Those who wrong me I look upon as sick people — and so I pity them."

Third, though you encounter harsh dealings from men, you meet nothing but kind, good, and righteous dealings from God. When you experience unjust treatment from others, set one against the other. That is the answer to the fourth plea.