Difference between revisions of "Ten Directions to get sincere Love to Christ"
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Ten Directions to get sincere Love to Christ, showing the way of Love to him.
1. Clearly understand, and be thoroughly convinced of your lost estate, and miserable condition! Conviction, sight, and sense of sin, and of our lost estate thereby—usually go before the setting of the heart and love upon Jesus Christ. This is true, though God does not deal with all sinners, in all circumstances, alike, in working and begetting in them consent and love unto his Son. In divers people the measure of conviction is different. Some God deals with more gently—and with some more roughly. Some he melts like wax—and some he hews like knotty wood. Some he carries by the gates of Hell, to the door of Heaven—and some he brings to Christ, and leads to Heaven with lesser terrors.
To gain your love to Christ, he expressly threatens a damnation that is so great, that it cannot be fully expressed. God lets the sinner know, that he must love Christ supremely—or be damned eternally. He lets in such light into the mind, that the soul sees there is no way to escape the darkness of Hell—than by consenting to love Christ, who came from Heaven.
Christ presses hard upon the conscience of the sinner, whom he woos for his love, saying, "Poor sinner! Do you mean to be damned—rather than to have me for your Savior? Do you mean to go to Hell with your lusts—than to Heaven with me? What will you do? Shall I have your love—or not? Will you at last consent—or will you still refuse? I tell you plainly, if I and you part—Hell and you must meet! I have been wooing long, and waiting long—but now it is come to a closing point, and it is time for you to come to a resolution. This is the case: Deny my suit—and God will damn your soul! If you do not listen to me—you shall howl in Hell. If I leave you—then God will leave you, and mercy will leave you—and all misery will come upon you. Poor sinner! Consider the outcome of your final refusal of me, and of denying your love to me!"
A. If you do not sincerely love Christ—you will be cast into PAINS of greatest extremity! And how will you bear it? If God does but touch you with his finger—you sigh and sob, you cry and roar, and cannot rest. O how will you rest, when God shall lay on blows with his almighty arm? If pain in your head, or sickness at your heart, or gnawings in your stomach, make you cry out like a distracted man—then what will you do to bear the wrath of God in a place prepared on purpose to show his indignation against Christ-refusing sinners? When the sorest affliction in this life is but as the pricking of a pin compared to the piercing of a sword—if compared to the torments of the damned?
B. If you do not sincerely love Christ—you will be joined to MISERY for an endless eternity! And had you rather bear pains, extreme and eternal too—than love me, who would deliver you from them? Does not a small affliction make one day or night seem long—and much more if it is heavy? Then in the night you ask: "Is it not yet day?" You count the clock, you number the hours, and think that time passes slowly on. "Would it were but break of day—that I might rise!" But all the time between the creation and the dissolution of the world—is but a moment to eternity; where there is no striking of clocks, no counting of hours, no returns of night and day—but always night, and never day; never shall be break of day.
A million years shall pass—and never the less to come. Nay, nothing past, and nothing to come—and yet more to come than is already past; an everlasting today! Now there is hope—and yet you will not give me your love and heart. Then there will be no hope—and that will ever break your heart! Besides,
C. If you do not sincerely love Christ—you will be joined to UNIVERSAL misery for an endless eternity! Misery all over—and no part free! Here, if you are pained in your head—then your heart may not be sick. Or you may be pained in several parts—yet not in all. But then you will be tormented all over!
Your understanding will torment you, when you shall know the God, the Heaven, the happiness you have lost—and all for lack of love to Christ. You shall clearly understand the eternal misery which you have found.
Your memory will increase the vexation of your heart, in calling to mind your opportunities upon earth, how mercy entreated you, how grace wooed you, how God called, how the Spirit strived, and patience long waited for your love—and yet you would not love Christ.
Your conscience will sting and gnaw you saying, "Did not I tell you this would be the end of your refusals? Did not I forewarn you? Did not I say it would be your wisest, only way, to hearken to Christ, and to set your love upon him? But you would not—you did not hearken to my voice, nor to the voice of Christ entreating of you for your love!"
At the resurrection, your body will be the sharer of punishment with your soul —and all your senses will be tormented with afflicting objects:
your ears will be tormented in hearing doleful lamentations;
your eyes will be tormented in seeing a cursed crew of damned creatures;
your smell will be tormented with the stench of burning brimstone;
your taste will be tormented in continual drinking of the cup of wrath, full of dregs, without any mixture of mercy;
your touch will be tormented in feeling the fire burning, but never consuming you!
It was a wonder to Moses, that the bush burned—and was not consumed. And these brambles shall burn in Hell, and not be consumed, which will be a greater wonder.
"Now tell me, poor sinner!" says Christ, "What is your answer? Had you rather endure all this—than love me? Had you rather love the world and your present pleasures—and hereafter lie in these extreme, eternal, and universal pains—than love me, and be delivered from them? One of these must be—be wise therefore in your choice."
As Christ takes this course to gain your love—so you must join in with Christ by serious consideration for your own conviction, that you may give your love to him. Urge yourself, and work it on your heart—that you are under the curse and threatenings of God, which are true, terrible, intolerable, and eternal! You are the man who are threatened by God with the sorest punishments, plagues, and judgments in the life to come! You are the man whom both law and gospel will condemn, if you finally deny your love to Christ. Think seriously with yourself, that you are under the wrath of God . . .
which is great wrath, Jeremiah 21.5 ;
whole treasuries of it, Romans 2.5 ;
abiding wrath, John 3:36 ;
tearing and destroying wrath, Amos 1.11 Psalm 50.22 ; Ezekiel 43.8 ;
intolerable wrath, Nahum 1.6 ;
the wrath to come —ever coming, Matthew 3:7 ;
and eternal wrath, Revelation 14.10-11.
Endeavor to get your heart affected, that while you do not love Christ—you have . . .
no title to Heaven,
no real hope of Heaven,
no promise of Heaven,
no pledge, no plea, no interest, no warrant to expect Heaven!
Remember that Hell is your due—and eternal torments are your desert! Hell is appointed for your lodging—your eternal dwelling place. The place is prepared, the fire is kindled, devils are waiting, and all Hell is anxious to meet you at your coming there! Oh think what Hell really is—and that you are every moment in danger going there forever! It is a hot, long, large, dark, deep, a restless, and remediless Hell. When you have got a sight and sense of your sin, and that you are lost in yourself—then,
2. Consider that there is no help for you in any mere creature among all the creation of God . None such can . . .
prevent your damnation,
or set you in God's favor,
or bring you to his kingdom.
If you look upwards— angels neither can nor will help you.
If you look downwards— devils neither can nor will help you.
If you look round about you— all creatures say: "There is no help in us, for wrath must be pacified, and that cannot be until justice is satisfied. And how shall any mere finite creature satisfy infinite offended justice?"
Tears, prayers, reformation, cannot satisfy God, so that as all other creatures cannot give relief to you—so you yourself can not help yourself! Then,
3. By serious thoughts dwell upon your own mortality, and on the consideration of judgment, Heaven, and Hell. Ponder upon the certainty and the nearness of approaching death! You might die this year! You might die this week, this day, this hour! Say, "Oh what will become of me then? Where shall I be then? What shall I do then? Nay, what shall I suffer then? I am under the curse—and death at my back! God is angry with me—and death is at my heels! I have no title to Heaven, no reason to hope for it—and yet I do not know how soon death might come to me! I am in danger of Hell—and might drop into it any day in the week, any hour in the day! Oh, woeful case that I am in! Wrath is over my head—and Hell is under my feet! Wrath is ready to fall upon me—and I am in danger of falling into Hell! I never thought that my heart, for lack of love to Christ, was so bad! I never thought that my danger was so great, my soul was so black—and myself was so near to Hell torments! Woe is me, that all my life I have loved loathsome sin! I have loved a monster—even sin, which is . . .
a provocation to the majesty of God,
a contradiction to the will of God,
an opposition to the nature of God,
a rejection of the Son of God,
a vexation to the Spirit of God,
and damnation to my own soul!
Surely this love was blind.
Oh! Will God bear such slightings of his Son?
Will God bear such abusings of his grace?
Will God bear such despising of his mercy?
Woe is me! Can I be saved without a Savior? Oh, what shall I do? Where can I obtain help? By whom may I be saved? Oh, in this distress that I am in, if I could but hear of one who could, and would, relieve and save me—of one who could take off the curse, and make me blessed—of one who could turn away God's wrath, and reconcile me to him—of one who would save me from Hell, and bring me to Heaven—then . . ."
What then, distressed soul? "Oh then, I would love Christ. Yes, I would love him with all my heart, with all my soul. Love him! Did I know such a one, his very name would be precious unto my soul—it would be engraved on my heart, and I could never love such a one enough!"
Say you so, sinner? I will tell you that there is one, and but one, who can, and who is full, and fit, and free, to help you, and to save and support you, in this distress that you are in.
"O good sir, what is his name—that I may apply myself unto him, and place all my love upon him?"
His name is the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus Christ!
"O blessed Lord! O sweetest Jesus! O loving lovely Christ! Lord Jesus Christ! Methinks the sound of his name is . . .
melody to my ears,
honey to my taste,
light unto my eyes,
a sweet perfume of precious ointment,
balm to my wounded conscience,
a reviving cordial to my sinking spirit, to my fainting soul!
I love to have his name in my mouth, and upon my tongue. The Lord Jesus Christ will help me—the Lord Jesus Christ will save me—if I love him; if I love him who is Lord, and Jesus, and Christ. Oh, if the very hearing of his name has given me this hope—then gladly I would know more of him. For surely the more I know of him—the more my love will be set upon him. O that some would tell me more what he is, and what I may do that I may love him!"
4. Get the knowledge of Christ, what he is, and what he will be to you—and dwell on those thoughts, until you find your heart to glow, to burn, to flame in love to him! And to this purpose consider,
1. His name , Lord, Jesus, and Christ.
2. His relation to God—yet given for man.
3. His own excellencies —and undertaking for you.
4. His affection —and what he will be to you.
5. His benefits that he will confer upon you.
1. The consideration of his name has much in it to attract and draw your love! For he is,
(1.) Lord. Even Lord of lords, and King of kings, the blessed and only potentate! 1 Timothy 6.15. He is Lord by virtue of creation —he gave you your being, brought you out of nothing, and made you a man. He gave you understanding, will, and affections. Now will you love your father and your mother—and not love your Maker? He is Lord by right of redemption; when you were in your sin worse than nothing, in bondage to Satan and sin—
he bought you with his own blood, Acts 20.28 ,
by giving his soul for yours, Isaiah 53.10 ,
his life for yours, Matthew 20.28 ,
himself for you, 1 Timothy 2.6.
Let the thought, how dearly he paid for your good—draw your love to him.
He is Lord by universal jurisdiction, given by the Father: "All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth!" Matthew 28.18. "The Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son. And has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man!" John 5.22,27. "As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him," <a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2017.2">John 17.2. "For this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived—that he might be Lord both of the dead and living," Romans 14.9. </a>
<a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2017.2">
Behold, there is no Lord like this, who has power to judge and execute, to condemn and save. This should beget both fear and love to him.
(2.) Jesus. A gracious name, a Savior . "You shall call his name Jesus , for he shall save his people from their sins," Matthew 1.21. His very name tells you what you might expect by him. Jesus!
</a>
<a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2017.2">Jesus! It is a glorious name: "Therefore God has highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name—that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow," Philippians 2.9-10 </a>—all be subject unto him.
Jesus! It is a precious name! Song of Songs 1.3. This name is a sweet perfume, more than all precious ointments.
Jesus! a miraculous name. In this name . . .
the lame have been made to walk,
the blind have been made to see,
the deaf have been made to hear,
the guilty are justified,
the polluted are cleansed,
the aliens are reconciled,
and sinners are saved!
(3.) Christ—Anointed. "God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows!" Psalm 45.7. "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings," Isaiah 61.1. If he has
been anointed to be a Savior to lost sinners—then should not this be an attractive of your love?
2. To gain your love to Christ, consider him in his relation to the Father, who yet gave him for you. All beings have some relation to God, but none are nearer to him than Christ, who is God's own Son, and that in a sense beyond all angels who are the sons of God by creation, Job 38.7 ; and believers , who are the sons of God by adoption, John 1.12; Galatians 3.26.
But Christ is the son of God by eternal generation, Psalm 2.7. Christ, God's only begotten Son. God had but one only begotten Son—and yet this only begotten Son was given for you!
Oh, where is your love? Is not this enough to kindle it in your hearts? Christ was God's dear Son, his very darling, his daily delight, Proverbs 8.30 , the Son of his love, Colossians 1.13. And shall he not be the object of your highest love? Behold, the Son of his love was given—and came for the children of wrath. And is not he to be beloved on that account, and for that very reason?
Do men love the sons of princes—and will not you love the Son of God? Do you love your own children, your own sons and daughters—and will you not love the Son of God? He did not say, "Father, since I am your Son—why should I suffer and die for your enemies? Father, I am your only Son, and you have not another in Heaven or earth as I am—why then should I be crowned with thorns, that sinners might have a crown of glory?"
But this only Son died for rebels. The Son of God's bosom, lay in the bosom of the earth. Dear Savior! You are worthy of every man's bosom-love.
3. To attract and draw your love—consider how wonderful Christ is in himself, and in his undertakings for you , and then love him with wonderful love! If you then will not love him—it would be most astonishing. "His name shall be called Wonderful ," Isaiah 9.6.
(1.) Christ is wonderful in his conception and BIRTH. "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel—God with us!" Isaiah 7.14. "The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you; therefore also that holy One who shall be born of you, shall be called the Son of God!" Luke 1.35. Behold, Mary a mother —and yet a virgin . Wonderful! Mary who bore Jesus was a sinner—and yet Jesus born of her was without sin or spot. All this is wonderful!
(2.) Christ is wonderful in his PERSON. He was fully man—and yet he was fully God. He was God—and yet he was man! 1 Timothy 3.16. This is wonderful!
(3.) Christ is wonderful in his WORKS and operations. He healed the sick without medicines!
He opened the eyes of a man born blind!
He cast out devils with a word!
He calmed the raging sea!
All this is wonderful!
(4.) Christ is wonderful in his DEATH and SUFFERINGS. "And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life!" Matthew 27.50-52. And before, verse 45. "From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour." All this is wonderful!
(5.) Christ is wonderful in his RESURRECTION. John 10.18. The dead were raised by him, and he being dead was raised by himself. All this is wonderful!
(6.) Christ is wonderful in his ASCENSION. Acts 1.9-11. The disciples stood gazing and looking and wondering at his going up to Heaven.
Now, this wonderful Jesus was . . .
born in such a wonderful manner,
lived doing wonders,
died with wonders,
rose by a wonder, and
wonderfully ascended into glory—and all this for the sake and salvation of lost sinners!
If you will not love him—then will it not be the wonder of angels, of devils, and all the creation of God? Might not angels wonder at you, and devils wonder at you, and the saints at his coming wonder at you? Behold, so many of you as will not love this wonderful Jesus—you shall be the wonder of world at the last day!
(7.) Nay—yet more! He was the Ancient of Days from all eternity —and yet he became a babe for you! John 8.58 and 17.5, Proverbs 8.22, 31
(8.) He was clothed with majesty —and yet for your sakes subjected himself to greatest ignominy! Hebrews 1.3, Isaiah 1.6.
(9.) He was eminent for beauty above all men —and yet for you his countenance was marred more than any man's! Psalm 45.2, Isaiah 52.14.
(10.) He was mighty in power! By his word he . . .
commanded devils,
stilled the sea,
supported the world—
yet for sinners he died like a weak man.
(11.) He was perfect in holiness , without spot or deceit—and yet standing in your place, he was greatly accused of blasphemy.
(12.) He was full of wisdom —yet he was derided and laughed to scorn for you. Colossians 2.3.
(13.) He is Judge of all the world —and yet for you he was condemned at the bar of men, to take away your sins, and, if you would love him, to prevent your being condemned at the bar of God.
All this is most wonderful—and yet that such a wonderful person so wonderfully condescended, and after all this should not be beloved by you—will be and is an astonishing shame.
4. To draw your love to Christ, consider what he will be to you —for relation produces affection. The love of Christ to you—should beget love in you to Christ. What will he be to you—if you will love him supremely?
He will be your Bridegroom and your Husband —the richest match that can be offered or motioned to you!
He will be your Shepherd , and gather your soul to his fold, and save you from the destroying wolf!
He will be your Redeemer —by price to buy you out of the hands of revenging justice, and by power to rescue you out of the jaws of the roaring lion!
He will be your Priest and Substitute—to pay your sin-debt, and reconcile you to God!
He will be your Advocate to plead your cause against Satan your accuser, and will continually appear before the Father for you! 1 John 2.1.
He will be your King and Captain —to conquer your enemies, and trample them under his feet!
Is there nothing in all these relations to gain your love, to woo and win your heart to this blessed Jesus? How can you deny him? Can you go out of this place this day, and not give him your love? O say, "This is he whom I will love!"
5. Moreover, let this powerfully draw your love to Christ—what BENEFITS you may have by him , in respect of deliverance from evil. He would then deliver you . . .
from the guilt and power of sin, Matthew 1.21 ;
from the tyranny of Satan, Luke 11.22; Hebrews 2:14 ;
from the curse of the law, Galatians 4:4 ;
from the wrath to come, 1 Thessalonians 1.10. Romans 5.10; and from the sting of death and damnation of Hell! 1 Corinthians 15.54-56.
In respect of the acquisition of good—he will . . .
reconcile you to God,
bring you into the adoption of children,
purge your heart,
justify your person,
procure audience of your prayers,
stand by you at death,
and save you forever!
Now poor sinner! What do you think of this Lord Jesus Christ—who makes a motion for your affection? Tell me, as before God—would not your love be better bestowed upon this Christ, than upon the world and sin? You dare not say otherwise with your mouth. O say so also sincerely in your heart, and give it him as you say—and I have my end of preaching this lovely Jesus to you, and Christ will have the end of his dying for you, and you will have that good by hearing, which was not in your heart to aim at when you came within these doors.
You came here as a hater of Christ—but you can go away as a lover of Christ! You came here with a heart cleaving in love to the world and sin—but you can return with the love of sin turned out, and with the love of Christ entered into your heart. This will make you say, "Oh blessed change! How much is this new love to Christ—better than my old to sin and the world! Oh blessed word, that it ever sounded in my ears—and God brought it to my heart! Oh blessed day! The day of days! The best day I ever had! This day shall be recorded by me, for this day Christ and I were eternally united in love! Some come to a sermon, and by their wandering eyes and roving hearts fall in love with a creature. But I came, I confess I know not why nor how—and God has been in mercy pleased to change my heart and love, which is the best change I ever made—for this is the sweetest love I ever found!"
But it may be that this is not yet the happy case of some others; therefore to such I add,
5. When you have got this knowledge of Christ—willingly entertain him, and heartily receive him as offered in the gospel, and resign yourself to him. And when he possesses you, and you possess him—love will arise in your heart to him. Faith is the root—and love is the flower that grows upon it. Faith thus implanted, will quickly work by love, Galatians 5.6. When by faith he is your Christ, and your Lord and Savior—he will certainly be the beloved of your soul.
The foundation of love is laid in the relation to the person who is the object of love. You love that which is your own, because it is your own—your children, your wife, your husband, above all others. And you will love Christ, when once by faith he is your own, "I am my beloved's—and my beloved is mine!" Song of Songs 2:16. Then all other things, which now are highly valued by you, will be accounted as dross: "Yes, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord!" Philippians 3:8.
6. Pray much to God to work this love in your hearts to Christ. It is the fruit of the Spirit, and wrought by him. It is your duty—but it is God's gift. It is by your act—but it is God's work: "Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ," Ephesians 6.23. Not only peace is from God, who is the God of peace, and faith from him the worker of it—but love is from God, who is the God of love. Love to Christ must be had from God and Christ—or you will never have it. For this the apostle prayed for others: "May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the steadfastness of Christ," 2 Thessalonians 3.5. And you may be the more encouraged to ask for this, because such a petition is pleasing to God—that you beg for a heart to love his Son, rather than for riches, and honors, and length of life in this world, as in that of Solomon's, in asking for wisdom! 1 Kings 3.9, 10. And in your praying be earnest for love to Christ, more than for your life. For love to him will be unto you everlasting life. Take that promise and turn it into a prayer , and then most likely to be effectual: "And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live!" Deuteronomy 30.6.
7. Improve the principle of self-love to the promoting of love to Jesus Christ. Say, Do not I love myself? Have I not so much love to my own soul, as to wish it well forever? Would I have myself miserable and accursed forever? If I am sick —do not I love myself so far as to desire health? If I am in pain —do not I love myself so far as to desire ease? If I am in poverty —do not I love myself so far as to seek supply? And is there any way for me to procure good, everlasting good—but by Jesus Christ?
I might love myself, to please myself in sinful delights, to destroy myself, and damn myself—without loving Christ. But such self-love at last will prove self-hatred; and is that the best love I have for myself? Surely, if I do not love Christ, I hate myself!
8. Make use of the sense of natural and friendly love, to raise in you love to Jesus Christ.
You have some experience of the sweetness and delight there is in loving a friend—Oh then, what will be the delight of love to Christ! You feel what it is to love your parents, to love your children, your wife, your husband—if you meet with troubles, love makes them light. Is there so much sweetness in the love of a creature—and will there not be much more in the love of the Savior? If the streams are so sweet—then is not the fountain much more? I have found comfort and pleasure in the love of relations—I will now try what is to be found in love to Christ the Lord.
9. Improve the vanity and vexation of the creature, and all your disappointments and afflictions—to raise and promote in you the love of Christ. You have let out your love upon the world—how has it proved? What has it afforded you? Have you not found it to be a wearisome empty world—a world of care, and grief and pain? You have looked for ease—and behold trouble! You have looked for contentment—and behold vexation! You have looked for satisfaction—and behold emptiness! Is this poor world to be loved more than Christ? Is not its sweetness, sour? Is not its mirth, sorrow? Is not its riches, poor? Oh then I must love Christ—or have nothing to love but vanity and deceit!
When this love is not wrought by the Word —God might effect it by the rod . When you are deaf to all instructions—God can open your ear and heart by some affliction, and shake you over the grave, if thereby he might shake the love of the world and sin out of your heart! By threatening you by sickness, that you shall be no longer room in the world—make room for the love of Christ in your heart. By threatening to separate your soul and body—he might part your soul and the love of sin. By some sickness he brings you to the brink of the grave—and bids you look where you must shortly lodge! Then he brings you to the borders of Hell—and bids you look where you must lie forever, if you will not hearken to his Son. He lays you on your weary bed, and shows you a sight of the eternal world, and your nearness to it—and threatens a divorce of soul and body, that you may be willing that your sin might be divorced from your soul, that your soul might love and be married to his Son!
Many have had such good experience, that they can say, "This was healthful sickness to me! The view of death—was the means of love and life!
If I had not been sick in body—I would not have been well in soul!
If God had not shown me death—I would never have seen life.
If I had not been filled with these fears —I would have passed my days without hope!
If I had not been brought into these straits —I would never have been set at liberty!
If I had not been poor —I would never have been rich.
If I had not been empty —I would never have been filled.
If I had not been driven to feed on husks—I would never have been feasted in my Father's house!
If I had not found bitterness in the love of the creature—I would never have never tasted the sweetness of the love of Christ!"
10. Improve all the mercies you receive from God—and look upon them as love-tokens sent to gain your love. Love-tokens often take our love—and such silent gifts are very rhetorical. The clothes upon your back, your food and drink, your bed, your health, your ease from pain—bespeak the love of your heart for Christ. By sin you have deserved that . . .
no food should be put into your mouth;
sleep should depart from your eyes;
your bed should be filled with thorns;
your body should be filled with diseases;
your conscience should be filled with horror;
your heart should be filled with fears;
your soul should be filled with sorrows;
your life should be filled with bitterness!
But Christ has bought good things for you by his blood, and has given them to you from his bounty. And by all these he pleads with you—that you would not deny your love to him, who is so kind to you. Nay, that . . .
your very being on God's earth,
your breathing in his air,
your body is above ground,
your soul on this side of Hell,
you are not silent among the dead,
you are not crying out among the damned—
all of this is a great love-token indeed!
For justice would have cut you down long ago! Sin , these twenty, forty, sixty years—has cried to Heaven that you may be sent to Hell. Devils have long desired the day of your death—hoping it will prove the day of your damnation!
But this has been Christ's love to you, to beg for you longer time, even time unto this day. But for how much longer he might ask on your behalf, is more than is known to you or me, or any man.
And is not the love of Christ, the cause of all this good to you? And should not your love to Christ, be the fruit and return of all this good from Christ to you? As the goodness and long-suffering of God should lead us to repentance for sin—so also to love unto his Son.
Does not the kindness of one man shown to another—beget love from him who receives it, to him who confers it? And shall not the kindness God for Christ's sake shown to you, far surpassing the kindness of men—allure and draw your love to him?
Do you ask, "What shall I return to Christ, who died to satisfy God's justice, to make salvation possible to me?" I answer, "Love!" And what, for the offers of mercy, and the offers of grace—made to me? I answer, "Love!" And what must I return for his patient bearing with me, that I am not dead and damned? I answer, "Love, love, love!" And what must I return to Christ for my hopes of Heaven, or eternal happiness? Or if I have not well-grounded actual hope, that yet I am not past hope—but live in hope, that by the use of means I may have a living hope of an incorruptible crown? I answer still, "Love!—sincere love, sincere and hearty love!" So love—and then hope. Love strongly—and then your hope will be lively. Love him thus—and then in the next and last use, I will tell you what comfort and joy this love may bring into your heart.