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Quest. HOw must our Love be extended to the enemies of God, of his Church, his, Truth, his Saints? For even to these we must manifest some Love, in praying for them.
Resp. In answer hereunto, I desire you to consider these things:
1. Pray that God would put hooks into the Nostrils of these Leviathans, that they might not always make havock of the Church of God; that God would frustrate the malitious designs of mighty Nim••ods, and bring their enterprizes
to nought. Thus David prayed, that God would turn the Wisdom of Achitophel into foolish∣ness.
2. Pray that God would open their eyes, that they may see their own madness in kick∣ing against the pricks, and that all their plots, counsels, malice against the Church will un∣doubtedly turn to their own destruction with∣••ut re••••••••ance. How did St. Stephen's prayer ••••ke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 St. Paul, who was one of his per∣••••••utors from a Blasphemer and a Persecutor, ••od made him a great Instrument of his Glo∣ry, and a choice vessel of his mercy. But yet when wicked men openly and wilfully mani∣fest their hatred and malice against God, we must be friends to none that are enemies to God. Thus David saith unto God, Do not I hate them that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred, I count them mine enemies. Psal. 139 27.22. I hate none but Gods enemies, those I count mine enemies. I am not troubled at him that wrongeth my person or good name, but at him that blasphemeth my God, and per∣secuteth his Truth, and his Saints for the name of Christ; these do I count my enemies. I have have hated the congregation of evil doers, and will not sit with wicked, Psal. 26.5. He would not so much as sit with them, because he hated them. As friendship with the world is enmi∣ty
with God, so to contract friendship with the wicked, is to joyn with Gods enemies, and to cause him to turn enemy to him that so doth. See what a sharp check was given to Jehoshaphar for joyning in friendship with two wicked Kings, as Ahab and Jehoram, 2 Chron. 12.2. Shouldst thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from the Lord. David did set light by the hatred of the world, but yet strived stoutly for the maintenance of Gods Glory, insomuch that he would undertake open war against all the Enemies of God. Hence sprang all those fear∣ful curses and imprecations that David in many Psalms doth wish against the wicked for their enmity against God, and hatred of him. Read Psal. 109. and see how David there doth curse Judas, and all the enemies of the Gospel.
These imprecations against Gods enemies are uttered sometimes.
1. Per modum pronuntiationis, non per modum optionis, by way of prediction, what will be∣fall them. As for instance; Let them O Lord be confounded, and put to shame. This is not so much to wish their confusion, as a predi∣ction that they shall be confounded, and put to shame.
Sometimes when the destruction of the e∣nemies of God is wished or desired, desiderium optantis ad justitiam punientis, non ad poenam re∣fertur:
the wish is directed to Gods Glory, not so much desiring the misery and punishment of the wicked enemies. So Psal. 58.10.11. The Righteous shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance, be shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked; so that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the Righteous; verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth. Gods Glory manifested in the de∣struction of the wicked, is matter of rejoy∣cing to the Saints, not simply their destru∣ction.
3. It is ad remotionem culpae, non ad destructio∣nem peccantis, that Sin might be removed, not that the Sinner should be destroyed.
Quest. But how are godly men said to hate, and how may they hate wicked men?
Resp. 1. We must hate their sins, not their persons, all their sins as well as one sin, and in all wicked men as well as in one wicked man.
2. We must hate them as they are Gods ene∣mies; not as they are our own particular ene∣mies. David did humble himself for his own enemies; but as for the enemies of God and his Church, them he hated with a perfect hatred.
3. Our hatred must be with hope and desire of their conversion, and not with despair. And in this there is more Love shewn than hatred; we must hate them as Gods enemies, yet not plot their evil in any thing, but pray for their good,
and do them all the good we can, as occasion serveth; Grace only can do this. Here see the excellency of Grace, it makes a man truly to hate sin in all, and yet to love all likewise.