Ten Questions
Ten Questions,
by way of conviction, that many, very many, have no sincere Love to Christ. Also, the characteristics of sincere love to him. By the right resolving of these questions—our love might be tried, whether sincere or counterfeit.
Must a man who does not love Christ sincerely, be Anathema , accursed— Maranatha , when Christ shall come? Must he love Christ—or be cursed if he does not? Then, as Christ put the question to Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah—do you love me?" John 21. Just so, put this question to yourself, O my soul! Do you love the Lord Jesus? And when your heart may forwardly return an answer, ask it the second time, O my soul! are you not mistaken? Do you indeed love the Lord Jesus? And because the matter is of everlasting consequence, put the question a third time, and so often, until to this question, O my soul! Do you sincerely love the Lord Jesus? Do you have such proof out of the scripture, as will hold trial, when this shall be in question at the great day of judgment.
But, alas! what great grounds of question are there, that the love of many is but supposed love to Christ—who think they do, who hope they do, but indeed do not! I shall desire them to give a serious answer to the following questions, as trials of the sincerity of their love.
1. Do you love Christ sincerely—and live in willful disobedience to the known commands of Christ? Do you know his will, and willingly every day act contrary to it—and yet pretend to love him? Do you slight his commands—and love his person? Does Christ command you to put your sins to death—and you allow them to live and rule, and yet love him? Does Christ command you to pray continually, and you neglect it continually—and yet have the face to say that you love Christ? Does Christ command you not to swear profanely at all, nor to take God's name in vain—and do you do this often in a day, and yet defy that man who calls into question your love to Christ?
But whatever is your confidence—I declare to your face, that it is a great and soul-damning mistake! For as love and obedience are conjoined in the scripture—so they are never parted in the true and sincere lover of Christ.
Weigh these scriptures, and you will find your pretended love, without obedience, to be so light, that it will be driven away by the evidence of the Word, like chaff before the wind: "And showing mercy unto thousands of those who love me, and keep my commandments!" Exod. 20.6. The same words repeated: "Know therefore that the Lord your God, he is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love him, and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations!" Deuteronomy 5.10. 7.9. "It shall come to pass, if you shall hearken diligently unto my commandments, which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart, and with all your soul," Deuteronomy 11.13. "I beseech you, O Lord God of Heaven, the great and terrible God, that keeps covenant and mercy for those who love him, and observe his commandments," Nehemiah 1.5. "If you love me—keep my commandments. He who has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is," yes, that is the man, "who loves me!" "If a man loves me—he will keep my words—He who loves me not, keeps not my sayings," John 14.15, 21,23, 24.
Do you see how in all these texts, obedience is joined with love? If love goes before—obedience follows after. The obedience is a proof of the love.
Then the man among you, who is not openly profane, but of a moral conduct, and moreover a professor, will say as Saul did to Samuel, "Blessed are you of the Lord; I have performed the commandment of the Lord!" 1 Samuel 15.13. But Samuel replied, "What does this bleating of the sheep in my ears mean—and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" verse 16.
So you say, We love the Lord. How do you prove it? Why, we have performed the commandments of the Lord. Have you really? What does the neglect of prayer in your families mean then? What does your idling away the Lord's day, or polluting it by worldly discourse mean then? What does this mean—the allowed dead praying, and dull performances, not striven against, nor lamented for? But if you would not deceive yourself, mind that the obedience which proves sincerity of love to Christ must be:
1. Obedience, which is a proof of love, must be UNIVERSAL—all the commandments of God . Our obedience must include those commandments which are more hard—as well as those that are more easy. Those commandments which cross and condemn your best-beloved sin—as well as those you could more easily and readily part with. Those commands which respect the inward man—as well as the outward man; and enjoin the manner as well as the matter of your duties. "Then I shall not be ashamed, when I have respect to all your commandments!" Psalm 119.6
Universal in regard of the subject, that your obedience is done with the whole heart: "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul!" Deuteronomy 10.12.
2. Obedience, which is a proof of love, must be CHEERFUL —for love obeys with delight. It is not a burden to pray—but a pleasure. Hard duties become easy to love—and the time seems not long nor tedious. As Jacob, for the love of Rachel: "And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed unto him but as one day—for the love he had unto her!" Genesis 29.20. Seven years to love, seem but as one day. Seven years of duty to Christ, seem to pass away sooner, and with more delight—than one day spent in flesh-displeasing duties, where there is no love to take off the tediousness of it to the flesh.
On the other hand, one day in a holy duty, to one who lacks love—seems as seven days, if not as seven years!
3. Such obedience must be the CHOICEST. Sincere lovers of Christ will serve him with the best they have, and in the best manner they can. Love thinks nothing too good for God and Christ—else it is but deceitful and pretended love: "You say, 'What a burden!' and you sniff at it contemptuously! When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices—should I accept them from your hands?—says the LORD." Malachi 1:13
You bring prayers—but they are sleepy prayers. You pray, but with your minds roving—because of the prevailing habitual love you have unto the world. Could sincere love find no better service, give no better duties—than such for which a man is a deceiver, and accursed? "Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations!" verse 14.
It is strange, then, that it should be no more dreadful among people who pretend to love him—that they are not afraid to bring and offer such duties to him as so much provoke him, and are so greatly displeasing to him; who give him only words, when they have (a male in their flock) a heart in their breast to give him!
4. Such obedience as is a proof of love, must be PERSEVERING to the end , expressed not by stepping into God's ways—but by walking in them. One who does not love Christ, might step into a good way—but he who loves walks therein: "You must love the LORD your God and obey all his requirements, decrees, regulations, and commands!" Deuteronomy 11:1. "If you shall keep all these commandments to do them, which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to walk ever in his ways," Deuteronomy 19.9.
Such then as have made great shows of love to Christ, and now are revolted, and have forsaken his holy commandments. By this we might judge what kind of love it was to Christ, that they once made profession of; and more, by their partial, irksome, and scrap obedience—might be convinced, that their love to Christ is unsound, and only supposed love.
2. Do you love Christ—while you maintain the love of sin in your heart? Can the love of sin, and the love of Christ, dwell together in highest degrees? Can supreme love be carried out to two contrary objects at the same time? And is there anything in the world more contrary than Christ—and sin? Is there more opposition between light and darkness; extremely sweet and extremely sour? Can you love Christ—and yet love what he hates? Can you love Christ—and delight in sin, which crucified your Lord? Could you carry that knife continually in your bosom with delight, which was the instrument of death unto your dearest friend? You might as soon look down upon the earth, and up unto the heavens, at the same instant—as thus love sin and Christ together: "You who love the Lord—hate evil!" Psalm 97.10. That hatred to sin, which proves to be sincere love to Christ, must be,
1. Hatred to sin must be UNIVERSAL —to the darling sin as well as others; to the sin which has been to you as your right hand, or right eye. Hatred is to the kind —he who hates a toad, it is not this one or that toad, in particular—but all toads. He who loves Christ sincerely, hates sin as a man hates a toad, not only as to the degree, but also as to the extent, all and every one: "I hate every false way!" Psalm 119.104.
2. Hatred to sin must be IMPLACABLE. Anger might be pacified—but hatred planted in the nature is irreconcilable. Antipathy cannot be rooted out, nor turned into love. A man who loves not Christ might once be angry at sin—but be friends again. He might turn from it, and afterwards return unto it later. But the hatred to sin implanted in the new creature is implacably bent against sin, that the words might have some place here by way of allusion, relating the love and hatred of Amnon to Tamar: "Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, (Hebrew is, with great hatred greatly,) so that the hatred with which he hated her, was greater than the love with which he had loved her! And Amnon said unto her, Arise, begone!" 2 Samuel 13.15. With like detestation will the lover of Christ sends away his sin, "Arise, begone!" with greater hatred than before he loved it!
3. Therefore true hatred to sin must be mortal and destructive to sin —that is the object of it. Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand—then will I slay my brother Jacob!" Genesis 27.41. So the lover of Christ, who hates sin, is resolved to be the destruction of it. Shall not I aim at the death of that cursed sin—which was the death of my blessed Lord? Shall I allow that sin to live in my heart—which would not allow Christ to live in the world? Did sin shed my Savior's blood—and shall not I be avenged on my sin? Did sin make my Savior groan, and sweat in a bloody agony—and shall I take delight therein? My sins were . . .
the nails that fastened him to the cross;
the spear that pierced his blessed side; and
the thorns that crowned his sacred head!
And shall I lodge sin in my bosom? Did Christ in love unto my soul—die for my sin; and shall not I, in love unto my Lord—cause sin to die in me?
3. Do you love Christ sincerely—when the things of this world have the supreme degrees of your affections? As sin is not to be loved at all by those who love Christ—so things which are good , must not be loved above Christ, "If any man loves father or mother more than me—he is not worthy of me!" Matthew 10.37. Does that woman love her husband with a sincere conjugal love, who, though she loves him truly—yet loves another more than him?
Do you love riches, pleasures, honors, relations, self, life, more than Christ—and yet sincerely love Christ? As he is better than all, greater than all, more suitable, more durable, more sweet, more satisfying, than all other good things—so he must be loved above and more than all things. "Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world! If any man loves the world—the love of the Father is not in him!" 1 John 2.15. "You adulterers and adulteresses! Don't you know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God!" James 4:4
Though one who is sincere in his love to Christ might not love Christ more than some other people love him—yet he loves Christ more than he loves other people or things! But do you love Christ more than you love other things? And yet:
1. Do you love Christ more than other things—when your thoughts are habitually set upon, and actually run out upon, other things more than upon Christ? Can you think on the world with delight—but not on Christ? Do you have a thousand thoughts on other things—for one thought
of Christ? It is a pleasure to you to think on your pleasures, your profits, your children—but a burden to you to think of Christ, and keep your thoughts upon him. Are not the thoughts much upon the object of love? "When I awake—I am still with you!" Psalm 139.18. But if you cannot sleep in the
night—your head is full of the thoughts of the world, because your heart is full of the love of the world. Is it not a sign that the world, and not Christ—is loved as your treasure? for "Where the treasure is—there the heart will be also," Matthew 6.20-21.
2. Do you love Christ more than other things—when your labor is more for other things than for Christ? Did you ever take that effort, that care, to get a saving interest in Christ—as you have done for the riches of this life? If you had, might you not have had him—whereas now you are without him? You sweat for the world—and you are cold in your praying for Christ! You lay out your strength in working for the world! You are slothful in endeavoring after Christ—and you are lively in your counting-house! With might and main you act in your shop—but you are dull in your closet upon your knees, if you at any time are there so employed. Is this your love to Christ, more than to other things? Or,
3. Do you love Christ more than other things—when your care is more to keep other things, than that Christ you think you love? You let Christ go to keep your outward possessions—and yet you say that you love Christ more! Christ does not believe what you say! Will not a man who loves his child more than his gold and all his goods—if his house were on fire, lose all to save his child? So would you for Christ, if you loved him more than all.
4. Do you love Christ sincerely—and never grieve, nor groan, nor repent for the sin whereby you have dishonored him? Can there be love to any in person, without grieving for the unkindness that you have done unto him? Does a child love as a child, who is not grieved because he offended his father? If your heart burned in love to Christ—would not your eyes flow with tears?
If the fire of love to Christ were kindled in your bosom—would not the waters of sorrow run down your cheeks, and make you say: "Oh! What have I done—that I so long have slighted my loving Lord? Oh! What did I mean—to stop my ears against His calls of love and mercy? That I let Him stand outside my heart—when the world and Satan were admitted in? Did my Lord Jesus suffer for my sins—should I then have sinned thus against my suffering Lord? Was He nailed to the tree for my sake—and must I yet wound Him more? Oh! that I could not behold my bleeding Lord without a weeping eye! I am grieved, dear Savior, I am grieved—to remember how I slighted You, and trampled Your royal commands under my feet. O Lord, I blush and am ashamed, that I spurned Your tender compassion, that I undervalued Your invaluable love—and preferred the dung of this poor world, before such an incomparable Savior!"
Can you daily sin—and your soul not sigh, nor sob, nor grieve, nor groan? You can sin, and rejoice at the thoughts of it: "When you do evil—then you rejoice!" Jeremiah 11.15. You can sin—and make a sport at it, like a fool: "Fools make a mock at sin!" Proverbs 14.9.
Oh you loveless sinner! Did Christ bleed for sin—and do you laugh at it? Was Christ serious, and his soul sorrowful even to the death for sin—and do you make a sport of it? Have you a sea of sin—and not a drop of sorrow for it? Surely you are the man who has not one ounce of sincere love to Jesus Christ.
5. Do you love Christ sincerely— and live without communion with him? When he is absent from your soul—are never troubled at it? Does not love desire sweet converse, and familiar fellowship, with the person that is the object of your love? Can lovers be long asunder, and not desire a meeting? Do you account the presence of the beloved object a burden to you? Do you think that he loves you—who is weary of your company, or never desirous of it; or shuns the place where you are accustomed to be.
If you indeed love Christ—then you could be content to be without anything, rather than without him. You could better be without your health, than without Christ. You could better without your dearest friend, than without Christ, who is to you the dearest of all, if you sincerely love him. You could better be without your necessary food—than without Christ.
How is it, then, that you can be content without praying, and without hearing—or with these, without Christ in them? Is it not for lack of love? Lovers have their fainting fits, ready to faint and die away when the object cannot be enjoyed: "Sustain me with cakes of raisins. Refresh me with apples—for I am lovesick!" "By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loves! I sought him—but I found him not! I will arise and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loves! I sought him, but I found him not. I asked the watchmen: 'Have you seen him whom my soul loves?' It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loves! I held him, and would not let him go!" Song of Songs
The soul in love with Christ is restless in his absence—and never stops seeking him, until it finds him. And, having found him, holds him fast by faith and love, and will not let him go. The soul that loves—longs, thirsts, breathes and pants, after the beloved object! And though a gracious heart finds delight and rest in love to Christ—yet if Christ is not enjoyed—love cannot rest, but moves, in desiring of him, like David: "As the deer pants after the water-brooks—so my soul pants after God! My soul thirsts for God, for the living God! When shall I come and appear before God?" Psalm 42.1-2.
Love is early and earnest in seeking after him. Every full condition—to him is empty. Every fruitful state, to him is barren. He sees weakness and disgrace in all worldly strength and honor, until he is filled and made fruitful by the enjoyment of Christ, and sees his power and his glory in his ordinances. "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you!" Psalm 63:1-3
6. Do you love Christ sincerely—and yet hate what he loves?
Do you love Christ—and hate his word? Did not David, who loved God, esteem his word, for the sweetness of it, more than "honey?" Psalm 119.103. And for the worth of it, more than "gold?" Psalm 119.72.
Do you love Christ the Lord—and take no delight in the Lord's day, which is set apart for the commemoration of the wonderful work of man's redemption, and filling us with joy at the remembrance of his resurrection? Can you idle away this day? Can you spend it in pleasures, and profane it with your vain discourse and worldly talk—when you should be delighting yourself with the thoughts of the great things which Christ suffered; and by suffering, procure for his people? Do not those who love and honor an earthly king, delight themselves, and show their joy, on his day of coronation? I cannot be induced to believe that any man loves Christ, who takes no care, and makes no conscience, of the holy observations of the Lord's day.
Do you love the Lord Jesus—and yet hate his people? You cannot endure a real, holy, humble sin-fearing Christian—and yet impudently say you are a lover of Christ? Can you revile them—and magnify Christ? Do you love Christ—and hate such as are like him? Has a woman love her husband—who tears his picture with indignation? In this, God himself declares you to be a liar, when you do this, and then say that you are a Christ-lover: "If any man says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother—he is a liar! He who does not love his brother, whom he has seen—how can he love God, whom he has not seen?" "And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God—must love his brother also!" 1 John 4:20-21. " Everyone who loves the father—loves his child as well." 1 John 5:1
Did not Christ show his love unto his people—by laying down his life for them? And do you show your love to Christ, in persecuting those who love him, because out of love unto him they will not, dare not sin against him as you do? True love to Christ and them, in due circumstances, will cause a man, who is a sincere lover, to lay down his life for them, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him—how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth!" 1 John 3:16-18
Did you love God and Christ, you would have a free heart and an open hand, to receive his people in their need and necessities. And do you love God and Christ, when you can find both heart and hand to rob them of their goods, and thereby bring them into poverty and want? Is it a certain sign of lack of love to Christ—when you do not according to your power supply their needs? And is it not then a certain sign of hatred to Christ—when you take away their supplies, and bring them, drive them into poverty? "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need, but has no pity on him—how can the love of God be in him?" How indeed? Who can tell or conceive how it could be?
7. Do you love Christ sincerely—when you had rather sin against him, than suffer for him? Is that your love to Christ—when you had rather forsake him, than in danger follow him? When you had rather deny him—than die for him? And though you do as Peter did, you do not repent, and weep bitterly, as Peter did! Did not love move Christ to suffer and die for us? Was not love the chain which fastened him to the cross? If you loved Christ—would the waters of affliction and persecution quench your love? You love him—but you cannot suffer for him? Is this worthy love to Christ?
The martyrs loved Christ, when they went to prison for him, and to the stake, and were burned into ashes for him. I think it is a true saying—a martyr is either actually so, or intentionally so. It is the purpose and resolution of the heart, to die for Christ's sake—if called to it. A Christian is one who dies for Christ, or is ready, willing, and by the help of grace is resolved—to lose his life, rather than leave Christ. It is safe to say, that he who loves his life more than Christ, and will part with Christ rather than his life—has no sincere love to Christ. "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:37-38
And this was the resolution and disposition of Paul's heart, before he was actually put to death. "Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus!" Acts 21:13
8. Do you love Christ sincerely—who never were convinced of your need of Christ—of your undone and lost estate—of your deplorable condition without Christ? Are you ignorant of your malady—and can you then value the remedy? Does not the soul, first feeling its wounds by sin—inquire how to be saved? And then, upon the sight of the power of Christ, that he is able to save, and of the freeness of Christ, that he is willing to save—the soul is drawn to love him, and to set his heart upon him. Blessed Lord! will you help me out of my misery? When no other can deliver me—will you? I am undone! Will you support me? I am lost! Will you save me? "Why, poor sinner," says Christ, "I pity you! My affections yearn over you! I will keep you! I will save you both from sin and Hell."
Will you do so, dear Lord? Then you shall have my heart—my love shall be to you!
9. Do you love Christ sincerely—and yet will not submit to him in all his offices? When you say that you love Christ— whom do you mean? In what respect do you consider him? As a Priest only—who died for your sins? As a Jesus —to deliver you from Hell torments? Did you ever know a drunkard, a swearer, or the vilest debauched wretch, who has heard of Hell and Christ—but was willing and desirous, on his own terms, but not on Christ's—to be saved from Hell torments? Will you say that this man, continuing in his open sins—loves Christ?
But Christ, in this one respect considered only—is not that Christ who is preached, and offered to you in the gospel—but also Christ as Prophet to teach you, and King to rule you. Is this then your love to him—to divide him? Is this your love to him—to dethrone him from his kingly office? No—it is plain hatred to him! "But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying: 'We will not have this man to reign over us!' But those enemies of mine, who would not have me reign over them—bring them here, and slay them before me!" Luke 19.14, 27.
10. Do you love Christ sincerely—yet do not care if he ever comes again? Nay, you could be glad that you might never leave this world—if you might have your pleasures and enjoyments in it! You have no desire that Christ should come to you by death, or at judgment—but you sorrow at the thoughts thereof. Does that woman love her husband who has gone a journey—and the tidings of his coming back is sorrowful news to her? The loving of the coming of Christ, is a character of such as shall be crowned when he comes: "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing!" 2 Timothy 4:8.
And the spouse who was inflamed with love, concludes that song of love with this request: "Make haste, my Beloved, and be like a young deer upon the mountains of spices!" Song of Songs 8.14. And when in the last words of all the book of God, Christ promises his last and speedy coming—the church, who loves Christ, catches the promise out of his mouth, and turns it into a prayer: "He who testifies to these things says: "Yes, I am coming soon!" "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Revelation 22:20
But your heart says rather, "O not so, Lord Jesus!" professing great love in the mean time in your heart. Yet one who truly loves Christ might be sometimes filled with fear at the thoughts of Christ's coming, not because he does not love and desire it, but because he thinks he is not prepared for his coming, lest Christ should find him unfitted and unready, at his coming, to enter with him into his glory. But while he defers his coming, the loving soul is hastening in his preparations for it. As a woman who is told her suitor is coming, is greatly troubled—not because he is coming, but because she fears he might come before she is adorned as she desires.
What say you now, sirs! Do you love Christ—or do you not? Upon laying these things to your heart, by examination of your heart by them—can you, upon mature deliberation, say that you find the love of Christ there? Then I shall show, in the close of this subject, what cause of joy in God you have—what comfort for the present—and what ground of expectation of better, greater things for the future, and forever—this love to Christ might be unto you.
But is this the case of all of you in this congregation? I wish it were—but I fear that it is not! Is love to Christ in every heart among you? I wish it were—but I fear that it is not! I hope some of you love Christ—but can I hope so of you all? If I were ever so optimistic, I cannot—while some are ignorant, and some are profane, and too many are excluded by the former characters of love, from having, for the present, the grace of love.
O that I myself had more love to Christ—that I might grieve more, that blessed Jesus is not loved by more among you! O that for Jesus' sake I had more love to your souls, that I could weep abundantly over you—who neither for Jesus' sake, nor your own, have hitherto loved the Lord Jesus!
What then? Have you not loved Jesus? Good God—pardon it. Will you not love Jesus? Good God—forbid it! What shall I do? Yes, I have proved that many of you do not love the Lord Jesus. And oh! how bitter are these thoughts to me—that so many of you do not love the sweetest Jesus! Shall I take it for granted that you will not? This were enough, if my heart were not a stone—to break it to pieces! Shall I let you alone without this love? I dare not. Shall I try to gain your love to my Lord? I am afraid you will deny me. Deny me! In this, which is of everlasting concernment to your souls—shall I take a denial and be gone? At your first denial I will not be gone! I know that you must have love unto him—or be eternally cursed by him! How then can I acquiesce in a denial from you?
I know the sinner does not know what he says, when he denies to give Christ his love—and therefore, in hopes that he might come to a better understanding of himself, and what makes for his own eternal good, I will proceed to the fourth use, by which I hope God will change some of your hearts and minds, and win the love of some of you for Christ—that all you who yet do not love him, will not give this as your final answer: That you will not love him.