Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

whose conduct he has so much reason to blame, and whose spirit he has
so much cause to abominate. He who avenges himself receives into his
own heart all the evil and disgraceful passions by which his enemy is
rendered both wretched and contemptible. There is the voice of eternal
reason in, "Avenge not yourselves: overcome evil with good;" as well as
the high authority and command of the living God.
Wicked words and sinful actions may be considered as the
overflowings of a heart that is more than full of the spirit of wickedness;
and holy words and righteous deeds may be considered as the
overflowings of a heart that is filled with the Holy Spirit, and running
over with love to God and man.
"Love ye your enemies."—This is the most sublime precept ever
delivered to man: a false religion durst not give a precept of this nature,
because, without supernatural influence, it must be for ever impracticable.
In these words of our blessed Lord we see the tenderness, sincerity,
extent, disinterestedness, pattern, and issue of the love of God, dwelling
in man; a religion which has for its foundation the union of God and man
in the same person, and the death of this august Being for his enemies;
which consists on earth in a reconciliation of the Creator with his
creatures, and which is to subsist in heaven only in the union of the
members with the Head: could such a religion as this ever tolerate hatred
in the soul of man, even to his most inveterate foes?
We are not to suppose that the love of God casts out every kind of fear
from the soul; it only casts out that which has torment. A filial fear is
consistent with the highest degrees of love; and even necessary to the
preservation of that grace. This is properly its guardian; and without this,
love would soon degenerate into listlessness or presumptive boldness.
Nor does it cast out that fear which is so necessary to the preservation
of life; that fear which leads a man to flee from danger lest his life should
be destroyed.