Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A81376
|
Certaine observations concerning the duty of love, and of the contrary evill, vncharitablenesse. VVritten by Thomas Devenish.
|
Devenish, Thomas.
|
1642
(1642)
|
Wing D1213; Thomason E142_21; ESTC R8292
|
21,289
|
34
|
poore fig-tree was curst because it was ba ren so likewise Christ arraignes men at the last day because they have not done good Matth. 25. Now this good must be done to body soule estate and that freely not having respect to our selves as in the 1 Cor. 13. Many will doe good because they looke for the like againe this is not love Math. 5.46 For if yee love them that love you what reward shall you have doe not the Publicans the same Thus then we may see what men are that have not love like Ishmael Gen. 16.12 Wild men their hand against every man and every mans hand against them or like that Judge spoken of Luke 18.2 Hee feared not God nor reverenced man such mens love if wee may so call it never over-looks their owne doores just like Nabal 1 Sam. 25.11 Shall I then take my bread and my water and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers and give it to them whom I know not whence they be It 's worth your paines to read the former part of the Chapter whereby you shall see a perfect character of such a person especially in the 10. verse our love should extend farther as wee see Hebr. 13.2 3. Be not forgetfull to entertaine strangers c. we know not what our own condition may be we may see what hath beene the condition of Gods Saints Hebr. 11.37 They were stoned they were hewen asunder they were tempted they were slaine with the sword they wandered up and downe in sheeps skins and Goates skins being destitute afflicted and tormented Sure the Nabals of the world will have no acquaintance with these poore soules but suppose we acknowledge all this as indeed who can deny it yet there is more to be done we must love our enemies and doe them good as wee are commanded Exod. 23.4 But who is this Whom may wee take for an enemy not every one that doth us a discourtesie as David to Mephibosheth he did him an ill turne but could not be accounted his enemy for he loved him but hee is an enemy that of set purpose doth a man wrong causelesly and continues therein Saul hated David that gave him no cause 1 Sam. 28.2 such an enemy ought to be beloved of us it is Gods commandement Mat 5.44 But I say unto you love your enemies c. Prov. 25.21 If hee that hateth thee be hungry give him bread to eate and if he be thirsty give him water to drinke a man that loves not his enemy doth more hurt to himselfe then his enemy can doe to him for hee hurts his owne soule as wee may see Matth. 6.15 But if yee forgive not men their trespasses no more will your Father forgive your trespasses also Col. 3.13 we have many encouragements to this dutie God himselfe glories in this as a most excellent thing Mic. 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that taketh away iniquitie and passeth by the transgression c. Prov. 16.32 Another motive is we cannot serve God or performe our dutie without it as Math. 5.24 We must leave our offering c. So in prayer wee mocke God if wee pray not without wrath wee desire him to plague us neither can we come to the Lords Table 1 Cor. 5.8 So likewise for receiving the Word James 1.21 Besides if we doe not forgive our sinnes lye upon our owne score Math. 6.15 and 18.27 So likewise there shall be no mercy to him that sheweth no mercy Iames 2.13 Besides this is the most equall thing in the world for the vilest person would have God forgive him as in Deut. 29.19 This reason cuts off many objections that men usually make against this truth As shall I stoope to him if I should doe so I should encourage him 3. It 's not the the first time 4. Lowe him no love 5. I have often told him his fault 6. I have deserved better at his hands 7. I should be accounted a coward c. 8. He will not sue or speake to me 9. This is a singular thing and divers like this true Gods children must doe singular things Math. 5.47 Wee know what example Christ gave at his death hee forgave them so did Stephen Acts 7. Now there are foure excellent properties in forgiving wrongs and injuries as First It must be done speedily let not the San go down upon our wrath for then twenty to one but it will rise upon our wrath Secondly it must be done constantly that is alwayes every offence Math. 18.22 Wee know we are bound to pray continually and we must not lift up our hands in wrath we must not be overcome of evill but let patience have her perfect worke Iames 1.4 And let Patience have her perfect worke that shee may be entire lacking nothing Thirdly we ought to forgive truly so we desire at the hands of God Mat. 35.18 1 Iohn 3.18 Fourthly it must be done willingly not by constraint there is no duty accepted by God but such as is willingly performed Gal. 4.15 But if I should doe all this my enemy will thinke I am guilty at his perill if hee will doe so abuse his neighbours patience if this be so that we must love our enemies there is no doubt but we must love our friends and those are of three sorts By nature grace and choyce That by nature the heathen will teach us and wee may see how they are condemned that are without naturall affection Rom. 1.30 1 Tim 3.3 Now this duty is not performed onely in the things of this life but also in that of the better life wee see an example of this in Cornelius Acts 10.24 He called together his kinsmen and speciall friends so Iohn 1.41 42. One brother brought another to Christ Next is the love of our friends by grace hee that loves shall be sure not to lose his reward Math. 10.41 42. Hee that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet c. so 2 Iohn 1.2 we have the example of Christ for this 1 Thes 4.9.10 So the Prophet David Psal 16.3 Also God is well pleased with this and takes it as done unto himselfe Matth. 25.45 Yee have done it to me Next thing to draw our love they are worthy of our love and are said to partake of the divine nature 1 Pet. 1.4 Againe they are best able to require our love they can go to God for us Job 42.8 My servant Job shall pray for you c. The next is our friends by choyce as Ionathan loved David 1 Sam. 18.1.2 So also Paul loved Philemon The ground of this love should be our love to God and that Image of God in them Now there are divers things wherein this love is to be shewed as first in imparting to them what ever we know may be for their good as our Saviour Christ teacheth by his example Iohn 15.15 Next we must keepe our friends from hurt all we can as Ionathan did to David 1 Sam. 19.2 It 's a