Philadelphia, or, a treatise of brotherly-love Shewing, that we must love all men: love the wicked in general: love our enemies: that the godly must especially love another: and the reasons of each particular love. The manner of our mutual love; the dignity, necessity, excellenc, and usefulness of brotherly-love. That the want of love, where love is due, is hatred, shewed in divers particulars. The greatness of the sin of malice and hatred; with the reasons why wicked men hate the saints: together with cautions against those sins that break the bond of love. Many weighty questions discussed, and divers cases cleared. By William Gearing, minister of the word.

SECT. II.

Quest. Here it may be demanded; Seeing special love is due to the Saints next to Christ, because they make one body with him; am I bound to love godly men that are not my kin∣dred, above my wicked kindred; whether I am to love a godly stranger before a wicked Wife or Child?

Resp. 1. There is a double Love: Amor ap∣probationis & complacentiae; Amor optationis vel desiderii: a love of approbation and complacen∣cy; a love of wishing or desire. I may love a Stranger that is godly with the love of delight and approbation, for his graces shining in him, more than I do those that are neer to me that are wicked. Thus Jonathan did love godly Da∣vid more than he did wicked Saul that was his Father: but with the love of desire and wish of the Salvation of my VVife and Children, and Kindred, wishing them grace and glory; here∣in I may shew more love to my wicked VVife, Husband, and Children, than to godly Stran∣gers.

It is true, in regard of wishing Salvation, I am to love a godly Stranger and my Kindred alike, but in regard of the earnest desire of Sal∣vation, I may more earnestly desire the Salvati∣on of my Wife than theirs. Thus Abraham did earnestly desire the Salvation of wicked Ishmael. Oh that Ishmael might live in thy sight!

2. That Christian love is not measured by carnal effects, but being spiritual love, it is most shewn in Spiritual things, as in holy cleaving of hearts together, in mutual prayers, in mutual comforting, in mutual delighting in one ano∣thers gifts and graces; in mutual exhortation of one another to love and good works. With this love I may love a godly Stranger more than any of my nearest Kindred that are not godly, when as my natural affection may be stronger to my wicked Kindred than to godly Strangers, as in providing for them the things of this Life. I must nourish my Wife and Children, when as I may suffer Saints to perish with fa∣mine, if I have not sufficient means to relieve both: but if I have sufficient means for both, then must I feed an hungry Saint, and cloath a naked Lazarus.

Quest. But what if some of my Kinred are godly, but poor; others are wicked, but rich: some of my Children are godly, but are not so witty and handsom, and so industrious for the world as others of my Children that

are wicked; What shall I do in this dase?

Resp. I answer, Thy godly Kinred, be they never so poor, and yet in an equal relation with thy rich Kinred that are wicked, are to have thy special Love. And if thou dost not shew more Love to such, thou dost not love Grace but Riches: so likewise for Children, Jacob loved Joseph more than all his other Sons, be∣cause more godly: Wo to that Father that shall dishearten a godly Child, and give more encou∣ragement unto, and be more fond over a rio∣tous Prodigal, a scoffing Ishmael. What is this but for a man to love sin in his Child more than godliness; the Image of the Devil more than the Image of God? It is true, that where there are more relations of Kinred, Neighbourhood, Co-heirship of Grace, and the like, there Love admitteth of multiplication and encrease, but this draweth not the Lover from God, who is the Author of those Rela∣tions, and the Rule of Love also. Carnal Lo∣vers first please their fancy, and then their affe∣ction must act, let the object be what it will: to them godly or ungodly are much at one: they make no difference between the houshold of Faith, and the fraternity of evil men: al∣though God make a difference between Jacob and Esau, yet they will make none: they re∣semble those Sons of God, that seeing the Daughters of men to be fair, took them Wives

of all they liked best for their Beauty, without respect to their goodness. Many a Parent con∣siders not, what Child is best deserving, but most pleasing; and usually those Children please them best, that do least please God.