December 7

PART III.—John 21:17.

LOVE to Jesus is an affection the most reasonable, whether we reflect upon what he is, what he has done for us, is now doing, or what he has engaged to do. In himself all excellencies are combined. He possesses all the glorious attributes of Deity; but he is especially distinguished for those traits which render him pre-eminently attractive. Only consider the mildness of his disposition, his gentleness, meekness, goodness, benignity, compassion, and pity. He is the personification of grace, the essence and the fountain of love. Then reflect on what he hath done for us. He has loved us with an everlasting love—he set his heart upon us, before the mountains were settled, or years began to roll. Then in the fulness of time, he left Heaven and impoverished himself for our sakes, assumed our nature, became the slave of servants, was obedient unto the whole law, lived for us, suffered for us, and last of all died for our sins, according to the scriptures. He loved us even unto death, and greater love can no man display, than this.

"He left his starry crown,

And laid his robes aside,

On wings of love came down,

And wept, and bled, and died;

What he endured, oh who can tell,

To save our souls from death and hell."

Then consider what he is now doing for us." Having died for us, he rose again, and in our nature, took possession of heaven on our behalf, and there he dwells to advocate the interests of his people; and by his gifts, to enrich them with all grace, and to make them meet for those mansions of glory he hath prepared for them. And he has given them the most glorious promises, as it regards the future. He has engaged to preserve them safely unto death; to conduct them through Jordan's swelling stream, to Canaan's blissful shore; to give them a mansion of blessedness, and a crown of glory, that fadeth not away. He has engaged also, to raise their bodies in his own glorious likeness, and to glorify both body and soul, with his own glory for ever.