Abhor Abhorring Cleave Cleaving Cling Deceit Dissimulation Evil Fast Fixed Genuine Hate Haters Hold Horror Hypocrisy Love Minds Perfectly Regard Sincere Unfeigned
12:9 {6} [Let] love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
(6) Now he comes to the duties of the second table of the ten commandments, which he derives from charity, which is as it were the fountain of them all. And he defines Christian charity as sincerity, hatred of evil, earnest study of good things, good affection to help our neighbour, and whose final goal is the glory of God.
12:9 [Let] love be without dissimulation. Not a deceitful profession of love, but genuine; not like that of Judas to Christ (Mt 26:48), or Joab to Amasa (2Sa 20:9,10): a kiss and a stab.
Abhor that which is evil. Evil must be repulsive to the saint; good, on the other hand, attractive.
12:9 Having spoken of faith and its fruit, Rom 12:3, and c., he comes now to love. The ninth, tenth, and eleventh verse s refer to chapter the seventh; the twelfth verse to chapter the eighth; the thirteenth verse , of communicating to the saints, whether Jews or gentiles, to chapter the ninth, and c. Part of the sixteenth verse is repeated from Rom 11:25. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good - Both inwardly and outwardly, whatever ill - will or danger may follow.
12:9-16 The professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments. Depending on Divine grace, they must detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and useful. We must not only do that which is good, but we must cleave to it. All our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, love. This denotes the love of parents to their children; which is more tender and natural than any other; unforced, unconstrained. And love to God and man, with zeal for the gospel, will make the wise Christian diligent in all his wordly business, and in gaining superior skill. God must be served with the spirit, under the influences of the Holy Spirit. He is honoured by our hope and trust in him, especially when we rejoice in that hope. He is served, not only by working for him, but by sitting still quietly, when he calls us to suffer. Patience for God's sake, is true piety. Those that rejoice in hope, are likely to be patient in tribulation. We should not be cold in the duty of prayer, nor soon weary of it. Not only must there be kindness to friends and brethren, but Christians must not harbour anger against enemies. It is but mock love, which rests in words of kindness, while our brethren need real supplies, and it is in our power to furnish them. Be ready to entertain those who do good: as there is occasion, we must welcome strangers. Bless, and curse not. It means thorough good will; not, bless them when at prayer, and curse them at other times; but bless them always, and curse not at all. True Christian love will make us take part in the sorrows and joys of each other. Labour as much as you can to agree in the same spiritual truths; and when you come short of that, yet agree in affection. Look upon worldly pomp and dignity with holy contempt. Do not mind it; be not in love with it. Be reconciled to the place God in his providence puts you in, whatever it be. Nothing is below us, but sin. We shall never find in our hearts to condescend to others, while we indulge conceit of ourselves; therefore that must be mortified.
Abhor Abhorring Cleave Cleaving Cling Deceit Dissimulation Evil Fast Fixed Genuine Good Hate Haters Hold Horror Hypocrisy Love Minds Perfectly Regard Right Sincere Unfeigned
Abhor Abhorring Cleave Cleaving Cling Deceit Dissimulation Evil Fast Fixed Genuine Good Hate Haters Hold Horror Hypocrisy Love Minds Perfectly Regard Right Sincere Unfeigned
