Evening, October 13
Go To Morning Reading
“Love is strong as death.”
Song of Solomon 8:6
Whose love can this be which is as mighty as the conqueror of monarchs,
the destroyer of the human race? Would it not sound like satire if
it were applied to my poor, weak, and scarcely living love to Jesus
my Lord? I do love him, and perhaps by his grace, I could even die
for him, but as for my love in itself, it can scarcely endure a scoffing
jest, much less a cruel death. Surely it is my Beloved’s love which is here spoken of—the love of Jesus, the matchless lover of souls. His love was indeed
stronger than the most terrible death, for it endured the trial of
the cross triumphantly. It was a lingering death, but love survived
the torment; a shameful death, but love despised the shame; a penal
death, but love bore our iniquities; a forsaken, lonely death, from
which the eternal Father hid his face, but love endured the curse,
and gloried over all. Never such love, never such death. It was a
desperate duel, but love bore the palm. What then, my heart? Hast
thou no emotions excited within thee at the contemplation of such
heavenly affection? Yes, my Lord, I long, I pant to feel thy love
flaming like a furnace within me. Come thou thyself and excite the
ardour of my spirit.
“For every drop of crimson blood
Thus shed to make me live,
O wherefore, wherefore have not I
A thousand lives to give?”
Why should I despair of loving Jesus with a love as strong as death?
He deserves it: I desire it. The martyrs felt such love, and they
were but flesh and blood, then why not I? They mourned their weakness,
and yet out of weakness were made strong. Grace gave them all their
unflinching constancy—there is the same grace for me. Jesus, lover of my soul, shed abroad
such love, even thy love in my heart, this evening.