598 Chap.3 z, An Expofition upon the 'Book oaf J o a. Verf.z9, the rule ofContreries;As ifbecaufe we mot love our neighbour, therefore we might hate our enemies; and poffibly they were mifld to that Interpretation, by thofe charges which the chit- drenof lfrael receaved, to rooteout the old Inhabitants of the Land ofCanaan, the 7ehvfiret, the Perefitea, &c. Whence they drew downe this falfe conçlufion,as ifthey might here all forts of Enemies, even private perfonall enemies. But though the Lawof Loving our Enemies bè,in fpeciall,aGofpel Law both publifhed and prattifed by Chrift in a more cleare and excellent way then . ever before ; yet the Law of loving an enemy (as to the matter and fubliance ofit) was from the beginning, as will appeare fur- ther in the profecution of this point, therefore that was not the Realon. The crue reafon why 7,6 did not expreffe the Integrityof his fpirit in this matter, by laying, be didgood to bra enemies, but by fag ing, bedid not re joyce at their drilmetliona was, Becaufenot to rejo3ce at the delructionof an enemy, doth (hew a verygreat degree oflove and goodnes to them,yea in fome cafes it isall that love which weare to fhew,and all the good we are bound to doe to an enemy ; For though we are to loveEnemies, yet we muff not give ont all our love to them. There is a love ofpizie, and there is a love ofdelight ; A love of Complacencie, and a loveof Compafft.,n. The love which we are togive out to enemies,is a love ofpitieandcompaffi , not a love of Complacencie and delight ; For no man isbound to take his enemy into his bofome, and to give him an opportunity to ruine him , nor is any man bound fo to doe good to his enemy, as toenable him todoe him hurt. So that, Not to rejoyce at the deftrudion of an enemy may carrie the full fence ofthe Law, commanding us to love our enemies. Againe, I anfwer, That,often through the (hews and endows, ofpretended love anddoing good toan enemy, the heart of man is deceaved. For while he faith he loves his enemy, he doth only fay fo. And whereas fome thinke they love an enemy becaufe they doe not a&ually attempt to revenge themfelves upon him, or to rake away his life ; this alto may fall fhort ofany the feat degree of love to him:but not to rejoyceat the deftru&ionof an enemy,is a convincing argument of love to him & lignifies much more then mealy toabflaine from hurting ordeftroying him.So that, both the fincerity and the ftrength ofour love to an enemy rF
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=