100 FALLING SHORT OF HEAVEN. " I hate himutterly, and abhor him in all respects, because he haft not true holiness :" but I will look upon him, and consider whether there may not be some accomplishment in him, some moral virtue,- some valuable talent, some natural or acquired ex- cellency ; andI will not neglect to pay due esteem to every de- serving quality, wheresoever I find it. It is a piece of honour due to God our Creator, to observe the various signatures of his wisdom, that he has impressed, upon his creatures, and the over- flowingtreasuresof hisgoodness, Whichhe 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 I believe to be in a stateof sin and death, and have no present hope of his salva- tion. How could holy parents fulfil their duties of affection to their wicked children ? orpious children pay due respect to sin- ful parents ? How could a believer fulfil the law of loveto an un- believingbrother, or a dearer relative, if we ought to admit of no love to persons that are in a state of enmity to God ? How can ire be followers of God as dear children, if we are not kind tothe unthankful, and to theevil; Lukevi. 37. To those who have nothing of serious religion in them ; Gal.. vi. 10. " As we have opportunity, let us do good, to all men, especially to them who areofthe household of faith. As God has a peculiar love for his own chiklren, for those whoare renewed, and sanctified, and formed into his likeness; so ought we to love all the saintswith a peculiar kind ofaffection, and take special delight in them, we should expressa love of in- timate fellowship unto them ; a lore of divine friendship, of spi- ritual pleasure, and hearty communion; rejoicing together with them in God our common Father, in Christ Jesus oar common Head, and in the hope of our common Salvation ; and we should ever he ready, in the firstplace, to assist and support them, and supply their wants according to the calls of providence.; But sinners also must have some share in our love. 3d Remark. How different is the spécial love of God, from the natural love of man ! God seeth not as man seeth ; he ap- points not persons to eternal life, because of some agreeable ac- complishments which they possess in this life. Jesus Christ himself, considered as God, did not bestow his special and saving love upon that young Israelite, whom, as man, he could not help loving. So Samuel was sent to chime a king for the Jews, among the sons of Jesse ; 1 Sam. xvi. 6. When he sawEliab appear, he looked onhim, andsaid, " Surely theLord's anointed is before him ; but the Lord said to Samuel,ver.. 7. Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him." Old Jesse, it may be, was ready to look upon
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