April 23

And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.—John xlv. 21.

Such love, now manifested and apprehended, leaves no place for doubtful thoughts and suspicious misgivings. There is no fear that this love intends to impose upon us, or mock us with the representation of an imaginary heaven; or that it will fail to do what can be expected from it to bring us to the real one. How pleasant is it now to behold the great and sure products of this mighty love! its admirable designs and projects, as they appear in the gospel revelation—now illustrated and shone upon by Divine light—to lie ready formed in the pregnant womb of this great productive cause. It can not but be an unspeakable pleasure which such a discovery will carry with it; when we thus behold the matter itself that is discovered and offered to our view, unto which it must be a very considerable pleasure that will arise, from the nature and kind of this manifestation. As being,

In general made by the Son of God himself. 'Tis a too plain and sad truth, that men have unhappily learned to diminish God to themselves, and make every thing of him seem little. But when he represents his love himself—as who but God can represent the love of God? he only can tell the story of his own love—that evil is provided against. He will manifest it so as it shall be understood; and set it off to the best advantage. He will make it known how great a thing it is to be beloved of him. And when he gives that blessed salutation: "Hail, thou art highly favored! O thou art greatly beloved!" he will withal bespeak and procure a suitable entertainment of it. And hence particularly it will be,

Most incomparably bright and lightsome in respect of any representation we have had of the love of God any other way.

Most immediate, that is, at least, so as not to be only made by some external testimony, given out many an age ago, out of which we are left to pick what we can, and to construe or misconstrue it as our own judgment serves us; but so, as that if he use such an instrument, he animates it, puts a soul into it, leaves it not as a dead, spiritless letter: and applies to himself, to the purpose he intends by it, and immediately himself reaches and touches the heart by it.

Most facile and easily sliding in upon us; so that we are put to no more pains, than to behold the light which the sun casts about us and upon us. Whatever labor it was necessary for us to use before, in our searches and inquiries into the state of our case, there is no more now than in moving, being carried; or in using our own weak hand when another that is sufficiently strong lifts and guides it for us.

Most efficacious and overcoming; that makes its own way, scatters clouds, drives away darkness, admits no disputes, makes doubts and misgiving thoughts vanish, pierces with a quick and sudden energy like lightning, and strikes through the mind into the heart; there sheds abroad this love, diffuses the sweet refreshing savor of it; actuates spiritual sense, makes the soul taste how gracious the Lord is, and relish the sweetness of his love, puts all its powers into a suitable motion, and excites answerable affection, so as to make the soul capable of interchanging love with love. In all these respects this manifestation of love can not but be very delectable; and they who have not found it to be so, will yet apprehend that it must be so, if they have found and experienced the cravings of their own hearts directed this way, and can upon inquiry find this among the things they would fain have from God; O that I might be satisfied of his love! that I might know his good-will towards me! for to such cravings must this delight be at least commensurate. But to them that are indifferent in this matter, and unconcerned, to whom the love of God is a fancy or a trifle, no real or an inconsiderable thing, all this will be as tasteless as the white of an egg.

"To thee, great God of love, I bow, And prostrate in thy sight adore: By faith I see thee passing now: I have, but still I ask for more: A glimpse of love cannot suffice; My soul for all thy presence cries."