Enemies, Prayer and Imprecation

No. 221

It was not a thing allowed of under the old testament, nor approved of by the old testament saints, to hate personal enemies, to wish ill to them, to wish for revenge, or to pray for their hurt; except it was as prophets, and as speaking in the name of the Lord. So that there is no inconsistence between the religion of the old testament and new in this respect. The apostle Paul himself doth thus imprecate vengeance on his enemies. 2 Timothy 4:14 "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works." Revenge or a desire of it was forbidden by the Law of Moses, Leviticus 19:18. Yea, there love of our enemy is implicitly commanded: for he that we are to love as ourselves, is the same that we are there forbidden to avenge ourselves upon, which is doubtless our enemy, or he that injures us. And doing good to enemies is required by the Law of Moses. Exodus 23:4–5, "If thou meet this enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shall surely bring it back to him again. If thou seest the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him." - WJE 18:141

NOTECARDS

None

TERMS & REFERENCES

Term Set A: enemy enemies

Term Set B: pray prayer hate imprecate imprecation

Max Distance Between Terms = 6

Reference List A/B

WJEO 4:257 - The Great Awakening
WJEO 7:193 - The Life of David Brainerd
WJEO 7:483 - The Life of David Brainerd
WJEO 9:114 - A History of the Work of Redemption
WJEO 9:193 - A History of the Work of Redemption
WJEO 10:394 - Sermons and Discourses, 1720-1723
WJEO 10:455 - Sermons and Discourses, 1720-1723
WJEO 11:280 - Typological Writings
WJEO 12:321 - Ecclesiastical Writings
WJEO 12:439 - Ecclesiastical Writings
WJEO 12:445 - Ecclesiastical Writings
WJEO 13:416 - The "Miscellanies," a-500
WJEO 14:421 - Sermons and Discourses, 1723-1729
WJEO 16:284 - Letters and Personal Writings
WJEO 17:397 - Sermons and Discourses, 1730-1733
WJEO 18:141 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:173 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:174 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:479 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 19:569 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 23:584 - The "Miscellanies," 1153-1360
WJEO 24:263 - The "Blank Bible"
WJEO 24:501 - The "Blank Bible"
WJEO 25:141 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:546 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758

Reference List B/A

WJEO 7:193 - The Life of David Brainerd
WJEO 8:210 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 14:123 - Sermons and Discourses, 1723-1729
WJEO 15:103 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 15:199 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 17:315 - Sermons and Discourses, 1730-1733
WJEO 18:141 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:173 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:174 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:175 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 24:501 - The "Blank Bible"
WJEO 24:902 - The "Blank Bible"