Philadelphia, Treatise · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
II SEeing this Commandment of Love was from the beginning, it ſhould teach us, That no injuries which men have done, or can do againſt us, ſhould make us think our ſelves diſcharged from the duty of Love towards them. This Law of Love, pleadeth preſcription againſt all ſuch wrongs and injuries whatſoever. It was before them, and it is to take take place before them, and againſt them all. The Law of Love which is ſo ancient, even from the beginning, ſhould cauſe us to walk in Love, and to do the offices of Love, above all thoſe new injuries which men have done us, or may do us. Theſe ſhould not prevail ſo to draw us to Malice and Hatred, or to extinguiſh Love in us, as that ſhould to beget and encreaſe Love.
The Apoſtle diſputing about the Law and the Goſpel in the Epiſtle to the Galathians, ſaith, That the Law, as it was publiſhed by Moſes, being four hundred years after the Promiſe of the Goſpel given to Abraham, could not diſanul that Promiſe, and make it of none effect: much leſs can any injuries diſanul this law of Love, which is many thouſand years more ancient than any injury which we have received: therefore ſtill this ancient Law ſtandeth in force, and bindeth us to love even thoſe who do moſt of all wrong and provoke us. Is it not then a moſt unchriſtian thing, when men cannot lay down old enmities, nor purge out old grudges, nor forgive old injuries? Are any ſo old as this moſt ancient law of Love, which is from the beginning? There is a wicked hereditary enmity between ſome Families and Kinreds, which deſcendeth from father to ſon, &c. and they will not give it over, becauſe it is ſo ancient: What if it were Five hundred years old? yet this law of Love, which is above Five thouſand years old, ſince the delivery of it to Mankind, ſhould prevail ſo far with us, as to make us forget them, and to walk in Love.
III. The Antiquity of this law of Love, ſhould cauſe us to conſider of that great Day of the Lord, which ſhall be in the end of Time, even at the end of the world; when all the breaches of this law (not being blotted out by repentance) that have been from the beginning, are now, and ſhall be to the end of the world, ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting vengeance. Oh the innumerable Tranſgreſſions againſt this law in all ages, which then ſhall be called to account, and brought to the Barr of the higheſt Tribunal, even before the judgment Seat of Chriſt! Oh the horrible murthers, maſſacres, cruelties, oppreſſions, extortions, thefts, rapes, perſecutions, tyrannies of Princes and States, malitious plots and practiſes, contentious courſes, wrongs, injuries; and (among the reſt) thoſe bloody Wars, and deſtroying of Nations with fire and ſword; which, if they be not lawfully undertaken, and lawfully mannaged, are to be accounted among the moſt notorious breaches of this royal and moſt ancient Law: and beſide theſe, all fraudulent and unjuſt dealings; together with other things of like nature.
What mighty numbers of notorious Offenders, ſhall then be arraigned and endited for the breach of this ancient Law, which was from the beginning? What numberleſs Catalogues, and huge Bills of Offences againſt this Law, ſhall then be brought to Tryal? The thought of this, might make mens hearts to ſhake, and their knees to ſmite together, as Belſhazzar's did: If we conſider, That as he ſaw an hand miraculouſly writing his Doom upon the wall; ſo the hand of God hath written, and doth write all theſe Offences in the Tables of men's Conſciences, where they ſhall ſtand recorded until the laſt day; unleſs in thoſe, who have waſhed out this Hand-writing, by the Blood of Chriſt ſprinkled by Faith, joyned with unfeigned Repentance, and Reformation of Heart and Life.
How ſhould we bewail the fearful Tranſgreſſions againſt this moſt ancient and ſacred Law, committed now among our ſelves, to whom the Goſpel of Love and Peace is preached; in which Goſpel, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Prince of Peace, hath eſpecially, as in his laſt Teſtament bequeathed Peace, and commended Love unto us; I ſay in this Teſtament ſealed with his own moſt precious blood, which he ſhed in Love towards us, to make Peace between God and us, That ſo we might be at peace among our ſelves.