Part 9
He Who Hates Despises The Truth

Remember always whatsoever a man does the hater abominates him, and though a man works the law of the Lord, he praises him not, though a man fears the Lord, and takes pleasure in that which is righteous, he loves him not. The hater despises the truth, he envies him that prospers, he welcomes evil speaking and he loves arrogance, for hatred has blinded his soul. Beware of hatred, for it works lawlessness even against the Lord Himself, for it will not hear the words of His commandments concerning the loving of one’s neighbour, and it he sins against God, and if a brother stumbles, it delights him immediately to proclaim it to all men, and he is anxious that he should be judged for it, and be punished and be put out and if it be a servant he stirs him up against the leaders, and with every affliction he devises against him, even if possible to imprison or put to death. Hatred working with envy also against them that prosper, so long as it hears of or sees their success it always languishes, for as love would quicken even the dead, and would call back them that are condemned to die, so hatred would slay the living, and those that have sinned venially (non mortal sins, pardonable) it would not suffer to live.

The spirit of hatred, works together with Satan through hastiness of spirits in all things to men’s death, but the spirit of love works together with the law of God in long suffering to the salvation of men.

Hatred, therefore, is evil for it constantly mates with lying, speaking against the truth, and it makes small things to be great, and causes the light to be darkness, and calls the sweet bitter, and teaches slander, and kindles wrath, and stirs up war and violence and all covetousness, it fills the heart with evils and devilish poison.

Righteousness casts out hatred, humility destroys envy, he that is just and humble is ashamed to do what is unjust, being reproved not of another, but of his own heart, because he knows the Lord looks on his inclination. He speaks not against a holy man, because the fear of God overcomes hatred, fearing lest he should offend the Lord, he will not do wrong to any man, even in thought. For true repentance after a godly sort destroys ignorance, and drives away the darkness, and enlightens the eyes, and gives knowledge to the soul, and leads the mind to salvation and those things which it has not learnt from man, it knows through repentance.

Put away hatred from your hearts, love one another in deed and in word, and in the inclination of your sole, love one another from the heart, and if a man sins against you, speak peaceably to him, and in your soul hold no guile, and if he repents and confesses, forgive him, but if he denies it, do not get into a passion with him, lest he take to swearing and so sin doubly.

Let not another man hear your secrets when engaged in legal strife, lest he come to hate you and become your enemy, and commit a great sin against you, for often times he addresses you guilefully or busies himself about you with wicked intent and though he deny it and yet have a sense of shame when reproved, give over reproving him, for he who denies may repent so as not again to wrong you, he may also honour you, and fear and be at peace you. If he be shameless and persist in his wrong doing, even so forgive him from the heart, and leave to God the avenging.

Part: 10
Two ways has God given to man