Baxter - BJ1441 B3 1673

t88 Motive 5· Motive6. Mo1ive7. ' MotiveS. MoliVtl/• Mot.iO• Dire/l. I• Direll. z. Dire/l. 3• Dire/l. 4• (afes about, and :DireE!ions for, Lo1Ji11g and doi11g Good to Enemies. Mot. 5• We do more againfi our[elves than any En<my or Devils, and yet we love oor {elvt! : why then Chould we not love another who doth lefs againll us. Mol. 6. All that is of God and is good mufi be loved : But there may be much of God and much natural and moral good in fame enemies of ours. Mot. 7· To Love,an enemy fignifieth a mind that is_ i'"!1parti~1, and loveth purely on Gods account, and for Goodnefs fake : But the contrary Lheweth a lelfi(h mmd, that loveth only on his own ac– count. MOt. s. If you love only thofe that love you, you do no more than the worfi man in.the world may do: But Chrifiians mufi do more than others. Ma~. 5· 47• or clfe they mufi expect no more than other!. Mot. 9· Loving and doing good to enemies is the way to win them and to fave them. If there be any fpark ot true humanity left in them, they will love you when they perceive indeed that you love them. ·A man can hardly conrinuc: long to hate him whom he perceiveth unfeignedly to love him. And rhis will draw him to love Religion for your fake, when he difcerneth the huitSof it. · }•1ot. If he be implacable, it will put you into a condition fit for God to own you in, and to judge you accordingly to your innocency. Thcfc two together contain the fenfe of heaping coalr of fire on bU head: that is, q. d. If he be not implacable,you wiU mell and win him : and if he be implacable, yeu wiU engage Go~ inyour cemfe, wb1 btft ~nowetb when and how torevenge. ' Tit. 3· 'DireE!io11s for Lo'lling and doiuggoodto Enemies, DirtCf. I· MA~ 110 man your enemy, {o farMyou can avoid it: For though You may pretend to Love him when he is your enemy, you have done contrary to Love in ma}<ing him your enemy: t'or thereby he is deprived of his own Love to you : And if his Charity be his befi corn– mod ity, then he that rohbeth him (though he be never fo culpable himlelf) hath done that which be1ongeth to the worfi of enemies : It is a thoufand times greater hurt and lofs to him, to lofc his own Lo\l'e to others, than to lofe anothers love to him : And therefore to make him hate you ; is more injurious or hurtful to him, than to hate him. Direct. 2. Tal{,e not thofe foryour enemier tb11t are not; and believe not any one to be your enemy, tiU cogent evidence amftrain you : Take heed therefore of ill fufpicious and ungroundcd ccnfures ; except defenfively fo far only as to fecure your felves or others, from a polliblc hurt. Direct. 3. Be not defiroru or inquifitive to ltnow what men thin/t or fay of you ( unlcfs in fame fpe– cial cafe where your duty or fafc::ry requireth it: ) For if they fay well of you, it is a temptation to pride, and if they fay ill of you, it may abate your loveand tend to enmity : E,clc(. 7• 2 1 • .AJ{o take nu heed to au word! that are [pok._en, left thoH hear thy{ervant cur{e thee : For ofl-timtl alfo thy own hurt l;_noweth, that thou 1hy [elf liket~>ifi haft cu,fed (or fpoken evil of) otherr. lt js llrange ro fee how the folly of men is pleafed with their own temptations ? 2Cor. 11. ::.o. DireCt 4· Frown away tboft jiRttcrcrs and whi{pererr, who would a}!gra:;ate other men1 enmity 10 you, or injurifl againft you l and think to pleafe you by rel~ing.you nccdldly of other mens wrongs. While they feem to fhew thcmfdves enemies to your cncrntes, mdeed they fhew themfdves enemies confcqucntly to your ftlvcs: For it is your defimd:ion that they endeavour, in the dethuCtion ofyour Love: Prov. 16. 28. If a whiJPerer [eparate chief friend,, much more may he abate your love to enemies: Let him therefore be entertained as hcdefcrveth. Direl/. 5· Dirc/l. 6. Dirt/J. 7· Dirr/l.S. Diietf. 5· Study and fearch and heark,.en after all the good which if inyour en~mie1. For nothing will be the object of your Love,but fame difcerned good. Hearken not to them that would extenuate and hide the good that is in them. ·· Direct. 6. Confider much how capableyour enemy ( and God1 Enemy) is of being better. And for ought you know God may make him much betcer than your fclves! Remember Pau/1 cafe : And when fuch a one is converted, forethink how pcnirent and humble, how thankful and holy, how uk– ful and fe~viceable he may be> And love him as he is cap1ble of becoming fo lovely to God and man. Direct. 7• Hide not your /we to )'OUr enemiu, and let not your minds be fatisficd that you are Confciour that you love them: But ma~ifejt it to them by all jufl: and prudent means : For eJfe you are fo uncharirable as to ltave them in their enmity, and not to do your part to cure it. If you could help them againfi hunger and nakednefsand will not, how can you truly fay you love them ? And if you could help them againfi malice and uncharitablenefs and will not, how can you think but this is worfe > If they lzncw that you love them unfeignedly as you'l fay you do, it's two to one but they would abate thdr enmity. Dird{. 8. Beuot unntccffurily flrange to yourmemiu; but be a1 familiar with them ar weUyou can. Fo,r difiance and Hrangcncts chcri(h [ufpicious and talfe reports, and enmity: And convcrfc in kind fa.. miliarity, harh a wonderful power ro nconcile. DireCt. 9· Abhor above ~u enemio., that pride of htart, which {corneth toftoop to otbrf'l for love and ptacc. It is a Dovili01 langu•t;<, to !ay, Shall I fioop or clowch to fuch a tellow? I fcorn to be fo bafe. Humility

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