6. When two scriptures seem to contradict one another, they may sometimes be reconciled, by considering the same thing absolutely in one place, and comparatively in the other: thus, in many scriptures, we are commanded to extend that love to every one in their several relations, which is due; and yet our Saviour says, Luke xiv. 26. _If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren and sisters, he cannot be my disciple_: this is to be understood comparatively, that is, our love to the creature ought to bear no proportion to that which is due to God. 7. Scriptures that seem to contradict one another, often speak of different persons, or persons of different characters: thus it is said, Luke vi. 36. _Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful_; or, _Judge not, that ye be not judged_, Matt. vii. 2. This respects persons in a private capacity, and therefore doth not contradict those other scriptures that are applied to magistrates in the execution of public justice; to such it is said, Deut. xix. 21. _Thine eye shall not pity, but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot._ 8. Two contrary assertions may be both true in differing respects; thus our Saviour says in one place, _The poor ye have always with you, but me ye have not always_, Matt. xxvi. 11. and in another, _Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world_, chap. xxviii. 20. these are both true, one respecting Christ’s bodily presence, as man, in which respect he is not now with us; the other his spiritual and powerful influences, whereby he is always present with his people as God.