[If a mere profession of Christianity be a sufficient proof of our faith and love, we may spare ourselves the trouble of addressing any as though they were destitute of those graces. But if none truly love Christ or believe in him, except they who are altogether devoted to him in heart and life, then the persons we are addressing will be found to constitute the greater part, we fear, of almost every congregation. And what shall we say to such persons ? Shall we address them in the words of our text, " The Father himself loveth you?" Would to God we could ! But there is not one amongst you so ignorant, as not to know, that such an assertion would be false. Let your own consciences judge : Can God love those who neglect and despise his dear Son? Let the Scriptures determine. Does not St. Paul say, " If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha0?" Be assured that God cannot be your Father: for our Lord says expressly, " If God were your Father, ye would love mep." Be assured too, that if you die as you are, you must perish for ever ; for Christ says again, " If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sinsq." Repent ye then of all your ingratitude and unbelief, and " turn to your strong-hold, as prisoners of hope ;" begin to " live by faith in the Son of God;" and " delight yourselves in him" now, that ye may be meet to enjoy him in a better world.]
2. Those to whom Christ is precious —
[Thanks be to God ! there is a little flock that hear the voice of the good Shepherd, and that follow his steps. Think then, ye who love the Lord, how greatly ye are honoured, how highly ye are privileged ; the Father himself loveth you ! To say that all good and holy men loved you, or that all the angels in heaven loved you, would be a rich bless- ing : but to be loved by the Creator of men and angels, to be loved by the Father himself, O ! who can estimate this blessing ? It is true, that the very thing which causes God to love you, will cause the blind and the wicked world to hate your: but why should you regard the hatred and contempt of men, if you are owned and approved of your God? " Let them curse, provided your God condescend to bless." And if your " love at any time be ready to wax cold through the abounding of iniquity" around you, remember that the very thing which heightens mans resentment, will call forth the manifestations of God's favour; and that when your enemies shall " want a drop of water to cool their tongue," you shall " be drinking of those rivers of pleasure which are at God's right hand for evermore."
0 1 Cor. xvi. 22. p John viii. 42. <i John viii. 24.
r John xv. 19.