"that he might present to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” Consider, for a moment, the ample proofs our blessed Redeemer gave of His love which "passeth knowledge." Consider its source and origin. As it is written, God loved the Israelites, "because He loved them" of His own sovereign free will: so Jesus loves his Church. It was not because He saw any thing lovely in you! He loved you when you were children of wrath, even as others. He died for you when you when you were yet in sin-" serving divers lusts and pleasures." He loved you, not because you loved Him.— You love Him because He first loved you. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved "2 Oh! sureus, and His own Son to die for us. gave ly this is marvellous love! There is not one redeemed sinner who has felt the power of Jesus' love and can now sing "of mercy and judgement," but must say, with a Saint of old, "Not unto us O Lord, not unto us, to thy name be the glory!" Christ's love for His Church, is also an "everlasting love." Before the mountains were formed, He rejoiced in the habitable parts of the earth and 1. Deut. x. 7-8. 2. I. Jno. 4-20. "Wait upon the Lord and ye shall renew your strength-Ye shall mount up with wings like Eagles and ye shall run and not be weary, and walk and not faint." 9. I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots. The gracious title with which the Church is here addressed and the remarkable comparison which is made respecting her deserves attention. "O my love," The expression may be rendered "O my friend." There is a mutual friendship between Christ and His Church. Believers recognize in Jesus a Friend "who sticketh closer than a brother,"--and Jesus is pleased to acknowledge them as His friends-" Henceforth I call you not Servants but Friends." In that character He welcomes his Brethren to His Royal Banquet— Eat, oh! friends, drink, yea drink abundantly O beloved."-The Septuagint renders it " My neighbour," and truly Christ and his people are neighbours. They dwell nigh to each other. He dwells in their hearts and they dwell near him by faith. But, our own version-" O my love!" is peculiarly expressive of His love, who gave himself 1. Isaiah xl. 31. his delights were with the sons of men. And as He loved his Church from all eternity, so He loves them to all eternity.' The love of Jesus is the same, yesterday, to day, It is stronger than death. and for ever. Many waters of sin and ingratitude in His people cannot quench it.........neither could floods of rereproach and cruel mockings and sufferings which were poured out upon Him from the manger to the cross-weaken it! His love is like Himself-invariable: unalterable: unchangeable. Notice, too, the quality of Jesus' love-In degree it is the first display of love the world has seen, not to be compared with any other instance on record. No higher expression of love could be given. What will not a man give for his life? It is what he most values-and the loss of which he most dreads. Now for one man to be willing to lay down his life for another, as in the case of Damon and Pythias―(the two renowned friends of ancient days) was so marvellous a thing, that it has been recorded as the wonder of the age in which they lived. But, Christ's love—to what can you compare it? He laid down His life not for friends—but enemies -His was great love for great sinners, He was in the form of God and thought it no 1. Prov. viii. 31. robbery to be equal with God!1 yet he emptied himtied himself of his glory. He humbled himself and the shame of the Cross he despised not! He was rejected of men-a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief!2 Such love is without parallel........." For scarcely for a righteous man will one die,3 (i. e. scarcely for one of those who has kept the letter of the law -that which was required but no more,) yet, peradventure, for a good man (one who was bountiful and kind to the poor, and did more than the law required in repairing the temple and maintaining the SACRIFICES,) for a good man, might be found willing even to die. But who would die for the ungodly and the wicked-the baser sort -the CRUEL-and the WICKED? one Yet God (EVEN OUR GOD,)-God commendeth His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners-Christ died for the ungodly." And, bear in mind, that it is with such love as this-that He regards his Church. How blessed, if you, my reader, are truly a member incorporate of that Church! How lofty your privileges! How glorious your prospects! Having loved His own that are in the world, He loves them to the end! There is no variableness |