SEAM. VII.] FALLING SHORT OF HEAVEN. 121 them, as a soldier, and a king, because they appeared publicly against God; for he adds, I am grieved at those that rise up against thee, I count them mine enemies. Besides, these persons were of so abandoned a cha- racter, that they seem to have nothing good in them and he might justly hate them, considered merely as sinners, in the same sense that we must hate ourselves, so far as we are sinful. I might add to all this, that they were cruel and bloody with regard to `men, and they spoke wickedly against God, and were God's pr-o= fessed enemies, ver. 19, and W. After all, it was much more allowable inDavid the Jew in the heat of his zeal, to talk thus, than it can be for us, christians; while we read the words of our Saviour, plat. v. 43, 44, 45. We have heard that it kith been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy: But I say untoyou, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you : that ye may be the children ofyour Father which is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on thegood, andsendeth rain on the just and on the unjust: While we consider also in what a divine manner our Lord Jesus has exemplified his own precept, and has loved many of his enemies, so as to die for them ; and manifested so much natural affection, even for the young sinner in my text, because there were some good qualities found in him. I will not say therefore within myself concerning any man, " I hate him utterly, and abhor him in all respects, because he has not true holiness :" but I will look upon him, and consider whether there may not be some ac-' complishment in him, some moral virtue, some valua-. ble talent, some natural or acquired excellency ; and I will not neglect to pay due esteem to every deserving quality, wheresoever I find it. It is a piece of honour due to God our Creator, to observe the various signa- tures of his wisdom, that he has impressed upon his creatures, and the overflowing treasures of his good- ness, which he has distributed among the-works of his hands. Thus I may very justly love a man, for whom, in the' vulgar sense, I have no charity; that is, such a one as
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