(1.) Malice and Ill-will which prompteth us to speak falsely of others, so to make them odious, or do them wrong or hurt. Now to hate our Brother in our Heart, is no way consistent with that Goodness and Charity which the impression of the Love of Christ should beget in us. The Apostle saith, 1 Pet. 4. 8. Above all things have fervent Charity among your selves, for Charity shall cover a multitude of Sins. If nothing but Love and fervent Love will restrain us, surely where hatred is allowed, Men care not what they think or speak, or do against others. Now as there is a Brotherly Love due to our Fellow Saints, so there is a Love due to all Men. 2 Pet. 1. 7. I am to hate no Man but to seek their good. There is a twofold Hatred, the Hatred of Offence and Abomination, and the Hatred of Enmity. The Hatred of Offence which is opposite to the Love of Complacency, may be justified as to the Wicked. Prov. 29. 27. An unjust Man is an Abomination to the Just, and he that is upright in the way, is an Abomination to the Wicked. But then we should first and most abominate our selves for Sin, this very hatred and abhorrence should begin at Home, and we should be most odious to our selves for Sin, for we know more Sin by our selves, than we can do by an other. But for the other Hatred, the Hatred of Enmity, which ⟨p. 179⟩is opposite to the Love of Benevolences, that should be quite banished out of the Heart of a Christian. And it is not enough for God's People to keep themselves free from Hatred and Malice against one another, but against all Men. Tit. 3. 2. Put them in mind to speak evil of no Man, to be no Brawlers, but gentle, showing all Meekness to all Men: For we our selves were sometimes disobedient, &c. If this old Hatred were gone, a multitude of Offences would be covered.
(1.) Malice and Ill-will which prompteth us to speak falsly of others, so to make them odious, or do them wrong or hurt. Now to hate our Brother in our Heart, is no way consistent with that Goodness and Charity which the impression of the Love of Christ should beget in us. The Apostle saith, 1 Pet. 4. 8. Above all things have fervent Charity among your selves, for Charity shall cover a multitude of Sins. If nothing but Love and servent Love will restrain us, surely where hatred is allowed, Men care not what they think or speak, or do against others. Now as there is a Brotherly Love due to our Fellow Saints, so there is a Love due to all Men. 2 Pet. 1. 7. I am to hate no Man but to seek their good. There is a twofold Hatred, the Hatred of Offence and Abomination, and the Hatred of Enmity. The Hatred of Offence which is opposite to the Love of Complacency, may be justified as to the Wicked. Prov. 29. 27. An unjust Man is an Abomination to the Iust, and he that is upright in the way, is an Abomination to the Wicked. But then we should first and most abominate our selves for Sin, this very hatred and abhorrence should begin at Home, and we should be most odious to our selves for Sin, for we know more Sin by our selves, than we can do by an other. But for the other Hatred, the Hatred of Enmity, which ⟨p. 179⟩is opposite to the Love of Benevolences, that should be quite banished out of the Heart of a Christian. And it is not enough for God's People to keep themselves free from Hatred and Malice against one another, but against all Men. Tit. 3. 2. Put them in mind to speak evil of no Man, to be no Brawlers, but gentle, shewing all Meekness to all Men: For we our selves were sometimes disobedient, &c. If this old Hatred were gone, a multitude of Offences would be covered.
