Chapter XIV.
Of reconciliation with our brother.
And
because we often spurn the
brethren who are injured and saddened, and despise them, and say that
they were not hurt by any fault of ours, the Healer of souls, who knows
all secrets, wishing utterly to eradicate all opportunities of anger
from our hearts, not only commands us to forgive if we have been
wronged, and to be reconciled with our brothers, and keep no
recollection of wrong or injuries against them, but He also gives a
similar charge, that in case we are aware that they have anything
against us, whether justly or unjustly, we should leave our gift, that
is, postpone our prayers, and hasten first to offer satisfaction to
them; and so when our brother’s cure is first effected, we may
bring the offering of our prayers without blemish. For the common Lord
of all does not care so much for our homage as to lose in one what He
gains in another, through displeasure being allowed to reign in us. For
in any one’s loss He suffers some loss, who desires and looks for
the salvation of all His servants in one and the same way. And
therefore our prayer will lose its effect, if our brother has anything
against us, just as much as if we were cherishing feelings of
bitterness against him in a swelling and wrathful spirit.