October 6

PART II.— Proverbs 18:24.

IT must be obvious that Christ's friendship to us, is disinterested. We cannot possibly confer any advantage upon him. He is our friend, that he may be the bountiful communicator, and we the happy recipients of his grace. The benefits he thus bestows are neither few, nor small. He finds us poor, and he enriches us; naked, and he clothes us; outcasts, and he takes us into his family; he finds us sick, and bruised, and bound, and he healeth our wounds, pours into the soul his precious balm, and brings us into the liberty of the people of God. Afterwards he imparts of the graces of his spirit, and causes the Comforter to abide with us always. Jesus is also a tender sympathetic friend: hence he is with his people in all their trials and distresses, and he is willing to bear all their burdens, and to deliver them out of all their distresses. In all their afflictions he is afflicted, and being touched with the feeling of their infirmities, he knows how to succour and deliver the tempted. Then Jesus is also a faithful and intimate friend. His friendship is that of the heart; it consists in true oneness of soul. It is kept up by the exercise of mutual confidence: there is a frequent interchange of mind and feeling. And he reveals all his will to those who love him, and his secret is with those who keep his covenant. His fidelity has been the subject of rejoicing with all his people. All his engagements he hath ever kept. His truth is sacredly inviolable, so that none of his engagements can possibly be broken. He is also a constant and unchangeable friend; he is always of one mind, and nothing can turn him; the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. So that he is our friend now, and will be our friend in sickness, and in death, and our friend for ever and ever. Let Jesus be the object of our absolute confidence, of our supreme love and delight, and let it be the great business of our lives, to obey his will, honour his authority, and to bless and magnify his holy name.