This was _Davids affection_ (_Psalme 16_.) when he look't upon _Gods children_ as the excellent of the _Earth_, and placed all his _delight_ in them: Thus _Jonathan_ though he lost his _Fathers love_ for _Davids_, though he was to loose a _Kingdom_ by _David_, yet he loves him as his own _Soul_. Thus _Ruth_ so loved that holy woman _Naomi_, that although she were growne poor, a widow, and now in a tedious _travel_ from _Moab_ to _Israel_, and _Naomi_ did also intreat _her_ and her _sister_ to goe back, and _Orpah_ her sister was already returned to her kindred and her _Gods_, yet such was the flame of her holy _affection_, that she intreats _Naomi_ not to intreat her: Intreat me not to leave thee, for whether thou goest I will goe, where thou dyest I will dye, and there will I be buried: thy _God_ shall be my _God_, &c. [Sidenote: Worldly men may in a kind love Gods people.] _Object._ May not _wicked persons_ favour, love, and respect _Gods children_? Did not _Saul_ greatly respect _Samuel_; and for a while _Herod_, _John_ the _Baptist_? Did not _Michol_ love King _David_, as well as did her brother _Jonathan_? yea did not _David_ finde wonderfull favour in the eyes of a _Philistian Achaz_? _I answer_, The _nature_ and the grounds of the love of _naturall persons_ to _Gods children_ must be rightly distinguished: _Gods children_ themselves may and ought to love each other, and others also, according to any _naturall_ and _civill Relation_; yet onely _Gods children_ can love _Gods children_ for the _grace_ and _spirit_ of _God_, which they see and finde in each other. [Sidenote: But Gods children can only love each other with a spirituall love.] Thus as two _Candles_ or _Torches_ they spiritually close and embrace each other with heavenly affection, being of one common _heavenly nature_ together. Thus _Countrey-men_ meeting in strange and forraign _nations_ presently know each other by their _language, &c._ Thus _Brethren_ rejoyce to finde each other in _strange_ places, and to know themselves the sons of one _Father_ and _Mother_. Thus _Fellow-souldiers_ which stick close each to other in _life_ and _death_, yea, although _routed_, _disordered_ and _flying_, if possible they can discerne and know each other. [Sidenote: Gods children may possibly be unkind and cruel each to other.] _Object._ But did not holy _David_ (who was a man strong in _grace_) did not he lay _plots_ for the _life_ of an holy man, noble and faithfull _Uriah_? Did not _Asah_ that holy King of _Judah_, practice false _Imprisoning_, in committing the man of _God_ to prison, and that onely for his _faithfulnesse_ in reproving him from _God_? _I answer_, This shews that both _David_ and _Asah_ at this time were very sick, and _David_ upon his _recovery_ laments his _weaknesse_ and _wickednesse_ and _Blood-guiltinesse_, _Psal. 51_, [Sidenote: Gods people in case may be sharp each to other, so was _David_ sharply reprov'd by _Nathan_.]