Love is due to all

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It is allowed even by those who do not pay this great debt, that love is due to all mankind: the royal law, You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; James 2:8), carrying its own evidence to all who hear it. And that, not according to the miserable construction put upon it by the zealots of old times, you shall love your neighbor, your relation, acquaintance, friend, and hate your enemy (Matthew 5:43). Not so. I say to you, says our Lord: Love your enemies, bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:44), so that you may be the children, may appear so to all mankind, of your Father who is in heaven, who makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45).

1771 text

1. IT is allowed even by those who do not pay this great debt, that love is due to all mankind: the royal law, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, carrying its own evidence to all that hear it. And that, not according to the miserable construction put upon it by the zealots of old times, thou shalt love thy neighbour, thy relation, acquaintance, friend, and hate thine enemy: not so. I say unto you, saith our Lord, love your enemies, bless them that curse you: do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you: that ye may be the children, may appear so to all mankind, of your Father which is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

About this text

Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.

Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.

Catalogue & scope

Sermon 39 in the 1771 Works. 2 Kings 10:15.

This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.