398 EPHESIANS, CHAP. VI. VER. 24.

object of love. In1 Cor. 16, 22, Paul says, “If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” These passages, though so dissimilar, both teach that love to Christ is the indispensable con- dition of salvation. There must be an adequate reason for this. Want of love for Christ must deserve final perdition, and love to him must include preparation for heaven. This of necessity supposes Christ to be God. Want of love to him must imply enmity to God. It is all a delusion for any one to think he can love the Infinite Spirit as manifested in nature, or in the Scrip- tures, if he does not recognize and love that same God in the clearest revelation of his character, in his most definite personal manifestation, and in his most intimate relation to us, as partaking our nature, loving us, and giving himself for us. Love to Christ includes adoring admiration of his person, desire for his presence, zeal for his glory, and devotion to his service. It need not be ecstatic, but it must be controlling.