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Duty toward Enemies

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 19, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 8.

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Duty toward Enemies.

By Bene-Berak

"BLESS them that curse you." It is not sufficient that we announce that we have no hatred toward our enemies. We must show this by our conduct. We must return blessing for cursing. This is harder than the first, but is an essential part of the plan for capturing an enemy and making a friend of that enemy.
"Do good to them that hate you," continues the divine Preceptor. This seems to imply something more than mere blessing, which may be done with the lips without full consent of the heart and will. But when we are obliged to part with some good to assist the enemy, the test is a greater one, because it costs us something. There is still another and higher test to come.
"Pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you." A man may say he loves his enemies, and deceive his own heart. He may publicly proclaim blessings on their heads, and still in his heart hate them. He may do both of these things, and add his goods to feed and clothe them, and yet secretly wish they were far away. He may even formally and publicly pray for them, and yet withhold the one essential to reconciliation.
The man, however, who goes to God privately, and in the spirit in which these words were first uttered, and prays for those who despitefully use and persecute him, is not far from the kingdom of Heaven, nor is the object of his prayer far from being accomplished. And now comes the reason why we should do all these things for our enemies, namely, that we may become the children of God. On the common blessings of life, God makes no distinction between his friends and his enemies. His sun shines on all alike. His rains make the wicked man's ground just as fruitful as the good man's. He pursues this course that the wicked may turn from his ways and love him. God can afford to be generous and forgiving. Every good man should strive to be as perfect as the model he professes to follow.—Bene-Berak, in Herald of Truth.