Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v9

CC.S (:hali.31. An Expolidion taca rho Book of J o a. Vcrf.29. the plot of Pf. w n against the Jewes was difcovcred and defea- ted, andHaman, who hated them, hanged ; The text faith, That trr CirieofS.üufl,.tn rej+yred; that is, the Jewcs in SÁUfha» rejoy- ctd, ;hoy load light andgladnes and joy and h:nour ; and it was a good day, aday of fealting quite throe+g7 all theProvir,ces,upon the account of the fall of their enemies. Further, faith not Solo- mon ( Pro. r . t o.) W'aen the laic:-ea' perifh there is (hoeing ; that is, (hooting for Joy ; How then can it be.concluded uinfull to re- joyce at the fall or deitrudion of an Enemy, or of thoft who ;hate us. For anfwer to this ob'eaion, we mutt diflinguifb; Firft, of E. nemies; .Secondly, of Joy. Enemies are oftwo forts ; eyther private, or publick, eyther enemies to a man, or( as i may fay) enemies to mankind, etc. daily to a fort ofmankind. Againe , Some are not only publick, but refolved and incor- rigible enemies, they arc fixt in their wrath and hatred , in their plottingsand dcfignings againtt the peace and profperitie of the people ofGod. Nowwhen we rffirme, that 'tis finfull to rejoyce at the deftruaionof thole that hate us, or ofour ensmies,we are cfpeciaily tounderfland it of private and per tonal enemies , and not ofthe enemies of our publick peace, or of Sion; profperitie. And yet we may exceed in our reo}cings even at their deftruai on, we mull therefore diftinguifh, as about enemies, fo about Joy. Fill then, there is a joymeerly at the mifehiefe fallen upon our enemies. Secondly, There is a joy, becaufeby their fr.11 tome good or benefit redounds to thepublick, as namely, Freedome from civil bondage and bloody perfecutionfor conscience fake,the tree pot- tage of theGofpel, and the pure admini$rations of woriip. It is L.Cveaire pie not lawful! to rejoyce at the dettruaionof the greaten or worn ru nq; islet, ur publick Enemies, as it is a milchiele ro them,but as it is a good to n'a 3'nktra rba others, and as their cutting off, curs themoff from an opportuni- iraieuint; a re to doe mifchiefe. With there limitations, we may without rot rwéna lvi. eet er rurfum e breachof charity,both be grieved,at the profperitie, and re oyce u,gle;i.: fire at the ruine of an Adverfary; Or when. Cod rai'.eth up Inftru- snoidJc colpa ments to pull downe cruel oppreffors, or pulls them downehmI- ros co.esrijler. .felfe, if we grieveat their mifery, and only rej,_)yce in and bleffe Gre God

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