Twenty-eighth Day — Love of Our Enemies
1. So essential is charity to the Christian religion, that we are obliged to love even our enemies; Christ hath given the commandment, and set the example. God orders it, and shall we find it hard to obey? A God forgives his very executioners, and shall we refuse to pardon a brother?
2. “He that will not forgive, shall not be forgiven.” God will not pardon us, but on the condition that we pardon others. If we seek revenge, we call down God’s anger upon us. We must either love our enemies, or hate ourselves.
3. It should seem that two Christians who hate each other, are not really professors of the same religion; for how can they approach the same altar, eat the same food, believe the same heaven, and hope to be together eternally? Mutual hatred is allowed but to devils: it belongs to them alone. There is not a more formal sign of reprobation, than that of refusing to pardon an enemy; and a soul in such a disposition may be looked on as marked for hell.
Examine your heart at the sight of the crucifix; and if you feel a hatred for any person, take sentiments of charity from the wounds of Jesus.
“He that hates his brother is a murderer.”
1 John, iii. 15.
“You a Christian, and yet desire to be revenged! But Christ hath not yet taken vengeance.”
St. Augustine.