Thirdly, They may be said (in a degree) to hate right, who though they have some love to it, yet love it in a less degree then they should, or less then they ought; a lower or lesser degree of love, is a kind of hatred in Scripture language: The Law of Moses saith (Deut. 21.15, 16, 17.) If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children; both the beloved and the hated, and if the first born son be hers that was hated; then it shall be when he maketh his son inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved first-born before the son of the hated, &c. But what doth he mean by the wife that is hated? Surely the wife that is not so much loved; though he loved both truly, yet not loving both in the same degree, he is said to hate one of them: so I conceive that Scripture is to be understood (Luke 14.26.) where Christ gives the rule concerning Disciple-ship; If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my Disciple: When Christ layeth this charge upon his Disciples, to hate wife, and children, &c. would he have his Disciples turn their hatred upon those relations? the rule of the Word forbids that: So then, his meaning is only this, if in case of following me, a man find any stop or hindrance by these, he must not let out his love so to wife, and children, &c. as to hinder his coming to, or following of me. Every man must take ⟨p. 613⟩off so much love from these dearest worldly enjoyments, as hinders men in following Christ; and he who through grace is enabled to do so, is in a true and clear Gospel sense said to hate them. That which we can leave for Christ, we hate in comparison of that love which we bear to Christ. Thus in the Text and Point, they may be said to hate the right, who bear not a due proportion of love unto it; not to love righteousness with highest & warmest affections, is a degree of hatred. Some love the right, but they love it lightly, they love it less then riches and gain; and and therefore for self-gain they turn aside from, and forsake the right. Some will speak fair for Justice, till the offer of private advantage either put out their eyes, or stop their mouths; he that loves not to do right to others more then to enrich himself, will quickly wrong others to enrich himself:
Thirdly, They may be said (in a degree) to hate right, who though they have some love to it, yet love it in a less degree then they should, or less then they ought; a lower or lesser degree of love, is a kinde of hatred in Scripture language: The Law of Moses saith (Deut. 21.15, 16, 17.) If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children; both the beloved and the hated, and if the first born son be hers that was hated; then it shall be when he maketh his son inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved first-born before the son of the hated, &c. But what doth he mean by the wife that is hated? Surely the wife that is not so much loved; though he loved both truly, yet not loving both in the same degree, he is said to hate one of them: so I conceive that Scripture is to be understood (Luke 14.26.) where Christ gives the rule concerning Disciple-ship; If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my Disciple: When Christ layeth this charge upon his Disciples, to hate wife, and children, &c. would he have his Disciples turn their hatred upon those relations? the rule of the Word forbids that: So then, his meaning is only this, if in case of following me, a man finde any stop or hindrance by these, he must not let out his love so to wife, and children, &c. as to hinder his coming to, or following of me. Every man must take ⟨p. 613⟩off so much love from these dearest worldly enjoyments, as hinders men in following Christ; and he who through grace is enabled to do so, is in a true and clear Gospel sence said to hate them. That which we can leave for Christ, we hate in comparison of that love which we bear to Christ. Thus in the Text and Point, they may be said to hate the right, who bear not a due proportion of love unto it; not to love righteousness with highest & warmest affections, is a degree of hatred. Some love the right, but they love it lightly, they love it less then riches and gain; and and therefore for self-gain they turn aside from, and forsake the right. Some will speak fair for Justice, till the offer of private advantage either put out their eyes, or stop their mouths; he that loves not to do right to others more then to enrich himself, will quickly wrong others to enrich himself:
