having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end.' It it true, his condition is altered ; he is no more in this world conversing with his people, as he did once in the days ofhlsjlesh : He is now at the right-hand of God, in the highest glory ; but yet his heart is the same that ever it was, for love and tenderness to his peo- ple. Our conditions also are often altered in this world ; but his love suffers no alteration. Yea, which is much more admirable, we do many things daily, that grieve him, and offend him ; yethe takes not away his loving-kindness from us, nor suffers his faithfulness to fail. We pour out so much cold water of unkindness and provocation, as is enough to cool and quench any love in the world, except his love ; but notwithstanding all, he continues unchangeable in love to us. This Peter found, notwithstanding that great offence of his: No sooner was the Lord risen from the dead, but he greets him in the stile of his former love and antient respect ; Go tell the disciples, and tell Peter.
So then the love of Christ is a love transcending all creature-love> and human understanding. We read in Kom. v. 7, 8. that 'perad- venture for a good man, some would even dare to die ;' but we never find where any, beside Jesus Christ, would lay down his life for enemies. It is recorded as an unparalleled instance of love in Damon and Pythias, the two Sicilian philosophers, that each had courage enough to die for his friend. One of them being condemned to die hy the tyrant ; and desiring to give the last farewell to his family ; his friend went into prison for him, as his surety to die for him, if he re- turned not at the appointed time : But he did dot die ; yea, he had such a confidence in his friend, that he would not suffer him by de- fault to die for him ; and if he had, yet he had died for his friend. But such was the love of Christ, that it did not only put him into danger of death, but put him actually unto death, yea, the worst of deaths, and that for liis enemies. O what manner of love was this ! We read of the love that Jacob had for Rachel, and how he endured both the cold of winter, and heat of summer, for her sake. But what is this to the love of Jesus, who for us endured the heat of God's wrath ? Beside, she was beautiful, but we unlovely. David wished for Absalom his sowJVould God I had died for thee I But it was but a wish ; and had it come to the proof, David would have shrinked from death, for all the affection he bare his beautiful son. But Christ actually gave his life for us, and did not only wish he had done it. O love, transcending the love of creatures; yea, and surmounting all creature-knowledge !
1. Use. If the love of Christ pass knowledge, O then admire it I yea, live and die in the wonder and admiration of the love of Christ ! As it is a sign of great weakness, to admire small and common things; so it speaks great stupidity not to be affected with great and unusual things. O Christian ! if thou be one that conversest with the thoughts
SACfvAMEXTAL MEDITATIONS. 459
of this love, thou canst not but admire it ; and the more thou stu- diest, the more still wilt thou be astonished at it. And among the many wonders that will appear in the love of Christ, these two will most of all affect thee, viz.
1. That ever it pitched at first on thee.
2. That it is not, by so many sins, quenched towards thee.
1. It is admirable, that ever the love of Christ pitched at first upon thee ; for are there not millions in the world, of sweeter tempers, and better constitutions than thyself, whom it hath passed by, and yet embraced thee ? ' Lord, (said the disciples) how is it, that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world 'f John xiv. 22. Surely he did not set his love upon thee, nor choose thee, because thou wast better than others, but because he loved thee.
2. It is admirable, that his love to thee is not extinguished by so many sins as thou hast committed against him. Lay thy hand, Chris- tian, this day upon thy heart, and bethink thyself, how man)! have been the provocations, wrongs, and dishonours thou hast been guilty of against thy God, and that since he called thee by his grace, and set his love upon thee. What, and yet love thee still ! Yea, notwith- standing all, he is still thy God, and loves thee with an unchangeable love. O, with how many not with standings is his love continued to thy soul ! All this is just matter of admiration and wonder for ever.
3. Is the love of Christ past knowledge, an unsearchable love ? Then learn, whence and why it is, that the souls of believers never are, nor can be tired, in beholding and enjoying Jesus Christ. We use to say, one thing is tiresome ; and it is very true, if it be an earth- ly thing, it will be so, how sweet or excellent soever it seems at first : And the reason is, because the best creature-enjoyment is but a shal- low thins^, and a few thou":hts will sound it to the bottom ; and there being no supply of new matter, to feed the hungry soul upon, it is quickly sated and cloyed with the repetition of the same thing over and over. But it is far otherwise in Christ: For though he be but one, yet in that one thing all things are virtually and eminently contained ; so that every day he seems a new Christ for sweetness, and yet is the same Christ still. And in heaven the redeemed shall view him with as much wonder, and love him with as much ardour, after millions of years, as they did at their first sight of him. O, there is no bot- tom in the love of Christ ; it passeth knowledge.
4. In a word ; Bestov/ your best and chiefest love upon Christ, whose love to you passeth all knowledge. Let no creature be loved equally with Christ; but as his love to you passeth all creature-love> so let yours to him be a matchless love.
Believer; Christ loves thee with an unsearchable love; he loves thee more than the dearest friend, that is as th'me own soul, loves thee. He loves thee more than thou lovest thy child, or the wife of thy bo- som ; more than thy soul loves thy body, with which it is so intimate- ly united: And wilt thou content thyself with such poor, narrow, re-
A FAMILIAR CONFERENCE BETWEEN
miss affections to Jesus Christ ? O look upon him this day in hW red garments ! Behold him in the strength of his love, breaking through the curse of the law, the wrath of God, the agonies of death, to bring home the fruits of his eternal love to thy soul ; and whilst thou art beholding, and musing upon it, let thy heart melt, thy eyes drop, and thy very soul cry out, ' Behold how he loved me ! Blessed be God for Jesus Christ.'
MINISTER AND A DOUBTING CHRISTIAN,
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
Christian.'] ©IR, if it may be no interruption to your studies, I "would be glad to be resolved of several doubts, that arise in my mind, about receiving the blessed sacrament of the Lord's Sup- per.