The answer that the humbled Apostle gave, is the one account that the true servant of Christ in every age can give of his religion. Such an one may be weak, and fearful, and ignorant, and unstable, and failing in many things, but at any rate he is real and sincere. Ask him whether he is converted, whether he is a be- liever, whether he has grace, whether he is justified, whether he is sanctified, whether he is elect, whether he is a child of God, — ask him any one of these questions and he may perhaps reply that he really does not know ! — But ask him whether he loves Christ, and he will re- ply, " I do." He may add that he does not love Him as much as he ought to do ; but he will not say that he does not love Him at all. The rule will be found true with very few exceptions. Wherever there is true grace, there will be a consciousness of love towards Christ.
^^ What, after all, is the great secret of loving Christ ? It is an inward sense of having received from Him par- don and forgiveness of sins. Those love much who feel much forgiven. He that has come to Christ with his sins, and tasted the blessedness of free and full absolu- tion, he is the man whose heart will be full of love to- wards his Saviour. The more we realize that Christ has suffered for us, and paid our debt to God, and that we are washed and justified through His blood, the more we shall love Him for having loved us, and given Him- self for us. Our knowledge of doctrines may be defec- tive. Our ability to defend our views in argument may be small. But we cannot be prevented feeling. And our feeling will be like that of the Apostle Peter : " Thou, Lord, who knowest all things. Thou knowest my heart ; and Thou knowest that I love Thee."
We should notice, lastly, in these verses, GhrisVs command to Peter. Three times we find Him saying,
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