We should observe first, how our Lord speaks of the grace of brotherly love.
He returns to it a second time, though He has already spoken of it in the former part of His discourse. He would have us know that we can never think too highly of love, attach too much weight to it, labor too much to practice it. Truths which our Master thinks it needful to enforce on us by repetition, must needs be of first- class importance.
He commands us to love one another. " This is my commandment." It is a positive duty laid on our con- sciences to practice this grace. We have no more right to neglect it than any of the ten precepts given on Mount Sinai.
He supplies the highest standard of love : " Love one another as I have loved you." No lower measure must content us. The weakest, the lowest, the most ignorant, the most defective disciple, is not to be despised. All are to be loved with an active, self-denying, self-sacri- ficing love. He that cannot do this, or will not try to do it, is disobeying the command of his Master.
A precept like this should stir up in us great search- ings of heart. It condemns the selfish, ill-natured, jealous, ill-tempered spirit of many professing Chris- tians, with a sweeping condemnation. Sound views of doctrine, and knowledge of controversy, will avail us nothing at last, if we have known nothing of love. Without charity we may pass muster very well as Churchmen. But without charity we are no better, says St. Paul, than "sounding brass and tinkling cymbal." (1 Cor. xiii. 1.) Where there is no Christ- like love, there is no grace, no work of the Spirit, and no reality in our religion. Blessed are they that do not forget Christ's commandment! They arfe those who
JOHN, CHAP. XV. Ill
shall have right to the tree of life, and enter the celestial city. The unloving Christian is unmeet for heaven.
We should observe, secondly, how our Lord speaks of the relation between Himself and true believers. He says, " Henceforth I call you not servants .... but I have called you friends."
This is indeed a glorious privilege. To know (Jhrist, serve Christ, follow Christ, obey Christ, work in Christ's vineyard, fight Christ's battles, all this is no small mat- ter. But for sinful men and women like ourselves to be called " friends of Christ," is something that our weak minds can hardly grasp and take in. The King of kings and Lord of lords not only pities and saves all them that believe in Him, but actually calls them His *' friends." We need not wonder, in the face of such language as this, that St. Paul should say, the " love of Christ passeth knowledge." (Ephes. iii. 19.)
Let the expression before us encourage Christians to deal familiarly with Christ in prayer. Why should we be afraid to pour out all our hearts, and unbosom all our secrets, in speaking to one who calls us His *' friends " ? Let it cheer us in all the troubles and sorrows of life, and increase our confidence in our Lord. " He that hath friends," says Solomon, " will show him- self friendly." (Prov. xviii. 24.) Certainly our great Master in heaven will never forsake His "friends." Poor and unworthy as we are, He will not cast us oflT, but will stand by us and keep us to the end. David never forgot Jonathan, and the Son of David will never forget His people. None so rich, so strong, so indepen- dent, so well off, so thoroughly provided for, as the man of whom Christ says, " This is my friend ! "
We should observe, lastly, hoio our Lord speaks of the doctrine of election. He says, " Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, .... that ye should go and