III. Reason of this Duty, or why we are to love our Enemies. 1. They bear the Image of God, Gen.-i. 25. S. Fam. iii. 9. 2. This is the great, the distinguishing Duty which Christ commands and requires of his Difciples, S. Joh. xv. 12, 17. and xiii. 34, 35. 3. We must love all Men, Rom. xii. 18, and their Hating us fhould not make us fin, Rom. xii. 17. 4. Nothing will hinder the right Performance of our Duty fo much, as the Boiling of Hatred in our Breafts, S. Jam. i. 20. 5. No Duty is accepted, till we be reconcil'd, S. Matt. V. 23, 24. 6. He that hates Men, hates God, 1 Joh. iv: 20. and our Love of Enemies will be a good Sign. of our Love to God, I S. Joh. iv. 12. 7. Love is the Fulfilling of the Law, Rom. xiii. 8, 9. 8. We must answer for our Hatred of others hereafter, S. Matt. xviii. 3. USES. Hence we may learn, 1. The Excellency of the Gofpel above all other Laws, as being all for Peace, Rom. xii. 18. 2. That there is nothing in this World that Men fhould hate but Sin only, Pfal. xcvii. 10. ci. 3. cxix. 113. 3. The Greatnefs of their Sin, who foon fall out with others, and will not be reconcil'd, S. Jam. ii. 13. And for Motives to enforce the Practite of this Duty, we may confider, i. That 1. That God loved us when Enemies, Rom. v. 8, 10. 1 Joh. iv. 11, 2. We cannot expect that God fhould pardon our Sins, unless we pardon others, S. Matt. vi. 14, 15. 3. Chrift our Saviour hath fet us an Example hereof, which we are indifpenfably bound to follow, S. Luk. xxiii. 34. Coloff. iii. 13. 4. This was alfo the Practice of the Saints, as of David, 1 Sam. xxvi. 21. 2 Sam. i. 23. ii. 5, 6. 5,6. and of the first Martyr, S. Stephen, A&t. vii. 60. S. MATT. V. 48. Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect. W HAT is the Meaning of thefe Words? 1. Negatively. 1. Not that we can be perfect from Sin: As appears, 1. From Scripture, Rom. iii. 9. v.12. S. Jani. iii. 2. 1 S. Joh. i. 8. Pfal. cxliii. 2. 2. From Reason. 1. We are all born in Sin, Pfal. li. 5. Ephef. ii. 3. Μὴ διαται ἄνθρωπο καθαρές ευρηθέναι ἀπὸ ῥύπο, μηδὲ ἐὰν μίᾳ ἡμέρᾳ ἡ Ἡ χρήσεως αυτό. Bafil. 2. In that our Graces are all imperfect. Peccatum eft, vel cùm non eft charitas, vel cum minor eft quam debet. S. Aug. 3. From the Fathers. Mór jas ávaμáçτnt☺ i róz☺. Clem. Alex. Nemo fine peccato, negare hoc facrilegum eft. S. Ambrof. 2. Nor that we can be equal to God in any thing. For all his Properties are, 1. Effential and Neceflary, or of Himself, Jehovah 2. Eternal, Exod. iii. 14. Vid. Serm. 1. in Vol. II. of this Author's Sermons. And therefore, 3. Independent. 4. Infinite, Pfal. cxlvii. 5. 5. Without Imperfection, Deut. xxxii. 4. USE USE. Hence learn, 1. To abhor yourfelves, who in Comparison of Him, are next to nothing, Job xlii. 5,6. 2. To admire and reverence God, Rom. xi. 33. II. Pofitively. 1. That it is our Duty to be like unto God in his communicable Properties, 1 S. Pet. i. 15, 16. 1. In Knowledge, Coloff. iii. 10. 1. Of God's Nature, S. Joh. xvii. 3. 2. His Word, S. Joh. v. 39. Coloff. i. 9. Joshua i. 8. Pfal. i. 2. 3. His Works, Job xxxvii. 14. S. Matt. vi. 28. Pfal. viii. 3. 2. In Love, 1. To God, S. Matt. xxii. 37. 2. To Men, S. Matt. V. 44, 45• 3. In Juftice, Deut. xxxii. 4. 4. In Mercy, Exod. xxxiv. 7. S. Luk. vi. 36. 1. By Forgiving those that injure us, S. Matt. vi. 14, 15. 2. Pitying their Adverfities, Hof. xi. 8; Ifa. Ixiii. 9. 3. Relieving their Neceflities, S. Matt. v. 45. 5. In our Defires, Pfal. lxxiii. 25. 6. In our Joys, Phil. iv. 4. 7. In our Aims and Intentions, Prov. xvi. 4. 2. That we fhould endeavour and labour after this Perfection, Phil. iii. 12, 14. Hebr. vi. 1. And this we are obliged and bound to do, upon these two Accounts. 1. Because we were made in the Image of God, Gen. i. 27. 2. It is our only Holiness. D 2 USES. 1. Reproof to those who are more like Satan than God, S. Joh. viii. 44. 2. Motive to be like unto God, by confider ing, 1. The Honour, 1 Sam. ii. 30. 3. The Profit of it, 1 Tim. iv. 8. 1. As to God's Favour here, Pfal. v. 12. 2. To his Prefence hereafter, Hebr. xii. 14. S. MATT. |