II. Consider the love of Christ as a principle which works in ourselves.—1. It does not destroy natural affections, but teaches us to fix them on proper objects and to give a right direction to their fullest energies. 2. A due sense of the Saviour’s love makes us feel at once that He merits all our best affections in return. 3. It gives delight in meditating on the precepts and promises of God’s Word. 4. It helps in all the duties we owe to our fellow-creatures. 5. It animates the soul in the hour of death and the prospect of eternity.—J. Brewster.
Loving Christ in Sincerity.
I. On what account Christ is entitled to our love.—1. He is a Divine person. 2. He was manifest in the flesh. In the man Christ Jesus appeared every virtuous quality which can dignify and adorn human nature. 3. His mediatorial offices entitle Him to our love. 4. He is an object of our love because of His kindness to us.
II. An essential qualification of love to Christ is sincerity.—1. Our love to Christ must be real, not pretended. 2. Must be universal. It must respect His whole character. 3. Sincere love to Christ is supreme. It gives Him the preference to all earthly interest and connections. 4. It is persevering. 5. It is active.
III. How sincere love to Christ will discover itself.—1. It will make us careful to please Him. 2. Will be accompanied with humility. 3. We shall be fond of imitating Him. 4. We shall promote His interest and oppose His enemies. 5. We shall do good to His needy brethren and friends.
IV. The benediction connected with this temper.—It is called grace. It comprehends all the blessings the Gospel reveals and promises. 1. Justification before God. 2. The presence of the Divine Spirit. 3. Free access to the throne of grace. 4. The gift of a happy immortality.—Lathrop.
Love to Christ.—What is it that constitutes Christ’s claim to love and respect? What is it that is to be loved in Christ? Why are we to hold Him dear? There is but one ground for virtuous affection in the universe, but one object worthy of cherished and enduring love in heaven and in earth, and that is—moral goodness. My principle applies to all beings, to the Creator as well as to His creatures. The claim of God to the love of His rational offspring rests on the rectitude and benevolence of His will. It is the moral beauty and grandeur of His character to which alone we are bound to pay homage. The only power which can and ought to be loved is a beneficent and righteous power. The ground of love to Christ is, His spotless purity, His moral perfection, His unrivalled goodness. It is the spirit of His religion, which is the Spirit of God, dwelling in Him without measure. Of consequence, to love Christ is to love the perfection of virtue, of righteousness, of benevolence; and the great excellence of this love is, that by cherishing it we imbibe, we strengthen in our own souls the most illustrious virtue, and through Jesus become like God. I call you to love Jesus that you may bring yourselves into contact and communion with perfect virtue, and may become what you love. I know no sincere, enduring good but the moral excellence which shines forth in Jesus Christ.—Channing.
The Apostolic Benediction.
I. The subjects of the benediction.—“All them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.”
1. The object of their love.—“The Lord Jesus Christ.”