A37049:1119
A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…
A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience.A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience.
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If it be asked, How can that be? 1. That one should love all men? Should we love them all alike and equally? And 2. ought we to prefer every man to our selves?
To the former we say 1. This Command requireth, as to the object, that we love all men, excluding none from our love, good or bad (while they are within the roll of men, capable to be prayed for) friend or enemy, for we should love them that hate us, and bless them that curse us. 2. As to the main things desired, or the subject matter of our wishes for them, our love should be alike toward all; our love being a willing of good to others, we should desire the greatest good to all men, that is, peace with God, Christ, Heaven, Sanctification, Repentance, &c. that lead to it, there is here no inequality, nor two Heavens, a gre •ter and a lesser to be the subject matter of our wishes and desires. 3. If we consider our love as to the act of loving in the kind of it, it is equal, we being called to love sincerely, cordially, and with the whole heart, perfectly, every man.
If ye ask then, Wherein is there any difference allowed? Answ. If we consider 1. The effects of this Love, they may and ought to be more manifested towards one then another; we are to pray more for one then another; to communicate and to distribute more to one then to another, according to the opportunities we have, and according to the particular relations and callings that God putteth us in; for beside our general relation to all men, we have particular relations to some beyond others; hence may a man do more for his Children, and these of his own house, then for others; so may we pray for some men more and oftener, as their necessity is concerned, and as they may be more useful. 2. In respect of frequency, our Love may and ought to vent it self more frequently towards some then others, and so it differeth from that general Love we owe to all. 3. In respect of sympathy, we are to be more touched with the hurt and hazard of some, and more sensibly desirous of their good then of that of others,