December 5

Lovest thou me.— John 21:17.

THE Saviour's address to Peter, may with the greatest propriety, be put to all who bear his name and profess to be his disciples. In every system there are some principles which are essential, and love to Jesus is indispensable to the existence of true religion. He who loveth not Christ, is not known of him, and cannot possibly be an object of his approval. If love to Jesus be therefore a vital, essential matter, how necessary that we ascertain as to its existence in our hearts. Endeavour then to feel the force of the question, "Lovest thou me?" and rest not until you can sincerely reply, yea Lord thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee. And surely this is not a very difficult question to answer. We imagine no point can be more easily settled than this. For if we love Jesus it must be known to us. We cannot possibly be strangers to the existence of so lively and warm an emotion as that of genuine love. If we love him, our hearts will be set upon him, — he will hold a prominent place in all our feelings and desires. Our wishes will be constantly going out after him. We shall delight in him with all our hearts, and he will be the joy, and rejoicing of our souls. If we love him, our mouths will declare it. From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, so that his name, and person, and offices, and work, will form the theme of our conversation. If we love him, we shall often converse with him in prayer, and holy meditation. We shall also converse of him, and extol him, as the fairest among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely. Every where, we shall labour to spread the refreshing fragrance of his blessed name. He will be the subject of our songs, and we shall feel and say,

"No theme is like redeeming love, No Saviour is like ours."

Finally, if we love him, we shall exhibit his doctrines and precepts in our lives, for he hath said, "Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you," and again, "If you love me keep my commandments."