Gods Three Arrows, Section 3
§ 3. Of inveterate hatred.
THe implacable hatred of the Amalakites giveth evidence, Malicia ſi … ſi ue ſi. Hier Cōment in Eccleſ … qui propoſi…o …. Chryſ. Deminic. 22. poſt Pentecoſt.that
Inveterate hatred is hardly ſatisfied. It endeth not with a mans life, but is oft propagated to poſterity. Amalek received it from his grand-father Eſau and propagated it to his poſterity. The forementioned inſtances give abundant proof hereof. The like may be exemplified in the other branch of Eſaus poſterity, the Edomites; and in the Iſhmaelites and Hagarens, the of ſpring of Hagar, Abrahams concubine: Pſal. 83. 6, 7. Ier. 48. 27.—49. 1. Ezek. 25. 3, &c Am. 1. 11, 13. Obad 10. Zeph. 2. 8, 9.and in the Moabites and Ammonites, the progenie of Lot. The Prophets are full of expoſtulations and exclamations againſt all theſe, for their bitter hatred againſt Iſrael, manifeſted by all the occaſions that they could take of doing any miſchiefe unto them. Though there was a nearer propinquity betwixt all theſe and the Iewes, then betwixt them and other nations, yet their hatred was more againſt the Iewes then againſt any other nation; ſo as they were ready to joyne with others againſt the Iewes, and when by others the Iewes had beene overthrowne and captivated, they would inſult. How implacable and inſatiable was the hatred of the Prieſts, Scribes, Phariſies, and other Iewes againſt Chriſt and his Apoſtles? To omit the many inſtances that for proofe hereof might be gathered out of the hiſtories of the Evangeliſts, of the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul beareth this witneſſe againſt them, They killed the Lord Ieſus, and 1 Theſ. 2. 15.their owne Prophets, and have perſecuted us, &c. Eccleſiaſticall hiſtories give inſtances of like hatred and malice of others in ſucceeding ages. And we in our age have found wofull experience of as much in the hatred of Papiſts and others againſt us.
Wrathfull and revengefull affections, whereof malice and Malice of an increaſing nature.hatred are not the leaſt, are of a ſpreading and increaſing nature: like fire, the longer it continueth (eſpecially having matter to work upon) the further it ſpreadeth it ſelfe, and the hotter it waxeth. But the fore-named affections can never want fuell. Goodneſſe it ſelfe, by reaſon of the malignant diſpoſition of ſuch as are malicious, becomes fuell to Semper contra virtutem inſanit malicia. Chryſ. in Gen. 6. Hom 23. The power of Sathan. and depth of corruption in naturall men.the fire of malice and hatred. Theſe fiery affections therefore may fitly and juſtly be added to the number of thoſe things that are never ſatisfied, nor will ſay, It is enough. (Pro. 30. 15.) Eſpecially againſt truth and vertue is malice alwaies mad.
Both the power which the God of this world hath over the men of this world, and alſo the deep rooting that corruption hath taken in the hearts of naturall men, is hereby Quid longius à voluntate diu inâ quam malicia? Planè chaos magnum inter nos & illam firmatum eſt in hac parte: cumſemper eum delectet praeſtare beneficia, & ingra'is no bis è contra ſuggerat affectio crudel ſſima & innoxijs velle nocere. Bern. in Quadrag. Serm. 6.manifeſted. That which ſo farre ſpreadeth it ſelfe, which ſo long continueth, which is ſo unſatiable, as we heard malice and hatred to be, muſt needs have faſt and deep rooting. And the fire which is ever and anon flaming forth, muſt needs be blowne up by ſome means or other. Now the Devill is he, that is ready at all turnes, where he obſerveth fire to be, to blow it up. And, where he is ſuffered ſo inceſſantly to incenſe the fire of malice, what can we els thinke but that he there beareth a great ſway; yea that he hath the whole rule? A matter of much humiliation. For what is more contrary to the Divine nature? Surely in this reſpect there is a great gulfe betwixt it and us. For where he is alwaies delighted in doing good, on the contrary, the pernicious affection of malice doth worke in us a deſire to do wrong even to ſuch as are harmleſſe.
How wiſe and circumſpect ought we to be, that are of Others malice muſt make us the more warythe Church of God, ſo long as we live in this world, that we give not unneceſſary advantages to ſuch malicious perſons, whoſe wrath is implacable, whoſe hatred is unſatiable? So long as there are Iſraelites in the world, there wilbe Amalakites. So long as there are people that profeſſe the name of the true God, there wilbe malicious enemies that for their profeſſion ſake will worke them all the miſchiefe that poſſibly they can. As there is a direct contrariety betwixt truth and errour, ſo there is an imbred antipathy betwixt profeſſours and maintainers of the one and the other (as is betwixt the wolfe and the lambe) by reaſon of that malicious and miſchievous diſpoſition that is in enemies of the truth. The neareſt bonds of nature are in this caſe little or nothing regarded. For, the brother will betray the brother to Mat. 10. 21.death: and the father the ſonne: and the children will riſe against the parents, and cauſe them to die.
Among other reaſons of this immortall fewde againſt worſhippers of the true God, and profeſſours of the true Religion, this is one of the chiefe, that Truth is a light, that diſcovereth the evils that lie hid in darkneſſe. Now the nearer that ſuch as are of the light are to ſuch as live in darkneſſe, the more conſpicuouſly are their evill deeds diſcovered: which makes them the more fret and fume.
What wonder is it, if the like fall out in our daies? Before our daies it was ſo: and after our daies it is like to be ſo, Papiſts to Proteſtants are as Amalakites to Iſraelites. We ſee therefore that no propinquity of country, kindred, neighbour-hood, or the like, can reſtraine their malice, but they are ready to take all advantages they can againſt us. Their profeſſion being palpable Antichristianiſme, this their malice againſt us is an evidence that our Religion is true, and Orthodoxe Chriſtianity: which may miniſter unto us no ſmall comfort againſt their bitter hatred of us.