November 9

PART VI.—1 Peter 2:7.

LET us now consider the application of Christ's preciousness to our own hearts. If Christ be precious to us, then shall we love him with holy ardour, and delight in all that relates to his name, and person, and work. Our souls will rejoice to follow his blessed steps, we shall feel ourselves constantly drawn closer and closer to him, by the attractive power of his cross. His word will be the subject of our constant reading and meditation, we shall esteem it especially, because it testifies of him. His ordinances will be the rejoicing of our hearts, we shall be glad to go up to the house of the Lord. To hold communion with his saints will indeed be our constant pleasure, but to see Jesus, and enjoy his presence,—

"Makes our Paradise,

For where he is, is heaven."

Then if Christ be precious to us, we shall cheerfully confess him before men, we shall consider.

"'Tis all our business here below,

To cry, Behold the Lamb."

We shall neither be ashamed of Christ nor of his words. If Christ be precious, we shall be constrained to willing and constant obedience. The love of Jesus will constrain us to live to him, and honour him with our body and soul which are his. Finally, if Christ be precious to us, we shall joyfully anticipate his presence in the world to come. To die, we shall consider to be gain, not loss, seeing that we shall immediately be with Christ, which is far better,—

"I'll speak the honours of thy name.

With my last lab'ring breath,

And dying clasp thee in my arms,

My joy in life and death."

Nor. 10.