[If I were to say, that in so doing you will save your souls alive, I should speak what would be amply sufficient to encourage you. But what if I should say, that God would be glorified in you ? Would you need more than that, to ani- mate your endeavours ? I do say it then, yes, and declare it most confidently, that in proportion as you are fruitful in good works, you will glorify your God. This is the uniform
declaration of the inspired volume1' and on this is
grounded that exhortation of our blessed Lord, " So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven"1."]
p Eph. ii. 10. i Matt. v. 16.
John xv. 9. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you •' continue ye in my love.
REASON could never suggest motives sufficient to counteract the passions : the law of God itself, with all its sanctions, could not change the heart. The Gospel alone can make sin odious, and holiness delightful. It effects this by revealing to us the love of Christ a. Hence our Lord reminds us of his love in order to confirm our love to him.
a 2 Cor. v. 14.
I. The nature and extent of Christ's love to us —
The comparison in the text denotes not equality, but resemblance b. The love of Christ to us, like that of his Father to him, is,
1. Without beginning —
There never was a period when the Father first began to love his Son —
[He loved him before his entrance on his ministry0, before his existence in the world d, before Isaiah's timee, from all eternity f.]
There never was a period when Christ first began to love us —
[His love is first manifested when we believe in him. But our faith in him is the effect, not the cause, of his love to us. This is affirmed by the prophets g, and by Christ him- self11.]
2. Without measure —
The Father's love to Christ was unbounded — [He is one with Christ in nature, and therefore in affec- tion '. He has shewn the greatness of his love to him, in the gifts bestowed upon himk, and in his constant co-operation with him1.]
Christ's love to us is also boundless —
[It produces most astonishing acts of kindness towards usm. Human affections fall far short of it". It "passess all know- ledge," whether of men or angels.]
3. Without variation —
The Father's love to Christ was unchangeable — [His love seems to have been withdrawn for a season0: he seemed not to answer his prayersp: but he heard him always q, and loved him always. The apparent suspensions of
° Matt. v. 48. c Matt. iii. 17.
d John i. 18. e Isai. xlii. 1.
f In this sense many commentators explain Prov. viii. 22, 23, 30 : and if that interpretation be admitted, the eternity of Christ's love may be confirmed by ver. 31. But, however this passage be inter- preted, the fact itself stands on the most unquestionable authority. John xvii. 24.
s Jer. xxxi. 3. Ezek. xvi. 6. h John xv. 1G.
1 John x. 30. k Johniii. 35. Col. i. 19. ' John v. 19, 20.
m Eph. v. 25. Rev. i. 5, 6. n Isai.xlix. 15, 16.
0 Matt, xxvii. 46. p Luke xxii. 42, 44. i John xi. 42.
1693.] Christ's love to us. 03
his love were the necessary means of accomplishing the pur- poses of his love even towards Christ himself1.]
Christ's love to us also is unchangeable — [There are seasons when he seems to withdraw his love. But his chastisements are tokens of his loves. He hates sin indeed, and will correct his people till they put it away: but he will not withdraw his love from them1. Wherever he fixes his love, he rests unalterably in itu.]