Charity and its fruits - Edwards - V - Lecture IV concluded

Required reading
Charity and its fruits by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Lecture IV (Charity disposes us meekly to bear the injuries received from others).

My summary
Today we conclude Edwards' teaching that love disposes us meekly to bear the injuries received from others.

Last week we saw that he had three main points (and we dealt with the first and second):
(i) the various kinds of injuries that we may receive from others;
(ii) what is meant by meekly bearing such injuries;
(iii) how love will dispose us to do this.

This week we see his third point that love disposes us to meekly bear such injuries from others.  Edwards shows this in reference to:
(i) love to God and the Lord Jesus Christ;
(ii) love to our neighbours.

Having made his three main points, Edwards makes some concluding remarks:
(i) consider the example that Christ has set us;
(ii) if we are not disposed meekly to bear injuries we are not fitted to live in the world, for in it we must expect to meet with many injuries from men;
(iii) in this way we shall be most above injuries;
(iv) the spirit of Christian long-suffering and of meekness in bearing injuries is a mark of true greatness of soul;
(v) the spirit of Christian long-suffering and meekness is commended to us by the example of the saints;
(vi) this is the way to be rewarded with the exercise of the divine long-suffering toward us.

Then the chapter closes with some answers to common objections.

What grabbed me
I really liked the answers to objections, particularly the first one: 'Objection 1. Some may be ready to say, that the injuries they receive from men are intolerable; that the one who has injured them has been so unreasonable in what he has said or done, and it is so unjust and injurious and unjustifiable, and the like, that it is more than flesh and blood can bear ; that they are treated with so much injustice that it is enough to provoke a stone : or that they are treated with such contempt, that they are actually trampled on, and they cannot but resent it. But in answer to this objection, I would ask a few questions.

And, First, Do you think the injuries you have received from your fellow-man, are more than you have offered to God ? Has your enemy been more base, more unreasonable, more ungrateful, than you have to the High and Holy One ? Have his offences been more heinous or aggravated, or more in number, than yours have been against your creator, benefactor, and redeemer ? Have they been more provoking, and exasperating, than your sinful conduct has been to Him who is the author of all our mercies, and to whom you are under the highest obligations?'

You think your injuries are unbearable, but consider how much God has borne your injuries toward him!

Next week's reading
Read Lecture V (Charity disposes us to do good).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.