On Mercy

It is or ought to be, while we do live,
Our Prayers to be forgiv'n, as we forgive;
Yet I do fear that most of us offend
This way too oft, what e'er we do pretend.

For I have known some Men so full of rage,
When a flight injury did them engage,
That neither sleep nor food could do them good,
While their unlawful Vengeance was withstood.

Others there are more mild, will only try
Whether they can subdue their Enemy;
And if that fail, they will not then refuse
To take submission, 'cause they cannot chuse.

And some will seem as if they did not see,
Nor understood a down-right Injury,
But will fierce Malice in their hearts retain,
Until they can return it back again.

And some do highest wrongs receive, and bear
Them patiently with smiles, because they dare
No other do, unless to make it worse,
In private they do whisper out a Curse.

Some too there be so cautious and so wise,
All offer'd wrongs do seemingly despise,
But their whole lives will study how they may
Return the injury the safest way.

And some will make their adversary know
His errour and their power, and then will show
Such Mercy, as himself may boast, and be
(If rightly understood) an injury.

And some so sweet and gentle are, they still
Remit all injuries to God, who will
(They hope) in his good time the quarrel take,
And of their Foes some sad example make.

Too few there be who rightly understand
The weight and scope of this so great command,
This prime Christian Duty, so much admir'd
By heathens, and so much to be desir'd.

Some good men there are, who know Mercy is
God's highest Attribute, and they in this
Come near unto his own Divinity,
When freely they forgive an injury.

We should do good for evil, love and pray
For those bad men that wrong us ev'ry day
In friends or fortune, life, or our good name,
'Tis our Religion to forgive the same.

Lord, turn the hearts, and open wide the eyes
Of those mistaken men (our enemies)
Who wrong themeselves, and let them timely see
How much they anger thee, and hurt not me.