Section 3

The third subject of meditation is, meditate upon the love of Christ. Christ is as full of love, as he is of merit. What was it but love, that he should save us, and not the Angels? Among the rarities of the loadstone, this is not the least, that leaving the gold and pearl, it should draw iron to it, which is a baser kind of metal; so that Christ should leave the Angels, those more noble spirits, the gold and pearl, and draw mankind to him, how does this proclaim his love! Love was the wing on which he did fly into the Virgin's womb. 1. How transcendent is Christ's love to the Saints! The Apostle calls it a love that passes knowledge, Ephesians 3:19. It is such a love as God the Father bears to Christ; the same for quality, though not equality, John 15:9. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: A believer's heart is the garden where Christ has planted this sweet flower of his love. It is the channel through which the golden stream of his affection runs. 2. How distinguishing is Christ's love, 1 Corinthians 1:26. Not many wise, not many noble are called. In the old Law God passed by the Lion and the Eagle, and took the Dove for sacrifice; that God should pass by so many of birth and parts, and that the lot of free-grace should fall upon thee; [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], O the depth of divine love! 3. How invincible is the love of Christ! It is strong as death, Canticles 8:6. Death might take away his life, not his love: and as death, so neither sin could wholly quench that divine flame of love. The Church had her [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], her infirmities, her sleepy fits, Canticles 5:2; but though blackened and sullied, yet still a Dove, Christ could see the faith, and wink at the failing. He who drew Alexander while there was a scar upon his face, drew him with his finger upon the scar: Christ puts the finger of mercy upon the scars of the Saints; he will not throw away his pearls for every speck of dirt. And which makes this love of Christ the more stupendous; There was nothing in us to excite or draw forth his love. He did not love us, because we were worthy, but by loving us, made us worthy. 4. How immutable is Christ's love? Having loved his own, he loved them to the end. The Saints are like letters of gold engraven upon Christ's heart, which cannot be razed out. Meditate much upon the love of Christ.

The serious meditation of the love of Christ, 1. Would make us love him again. Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt? Proverbs 6:28. Who can tread by meditation upon these hot coals of Christ's love, and his heart not burn in love to him?

2. The Meditation of Christ's love would set our eyes abroach with tears for our Gospel-unkindnesses. O that we should sin against so sweet a Savior? Had we none to abuse but our friend? Had we nothing to kick against, but bowels of love? Did not Christ suffer enough upon the Cross, but must we needs make him suffer more? Do we give him more gall and vinegar to drink? O, if anything can dissolve the heart in mourning, it is disingenuity, and unkindness offered to Christ. When Peter thought of Christ's love to him, Christ could deny Peter nothing, yet that he should deny Christ, this made his eyes to water, Peter went out and wept bitterly.

3. The meditation of Christ's love would make us love our enemies. Jesus Christ showed love to his enemies. We read of the fire licking up the water, 1 Kings 18:38. It is usual for water to quench the fire, but for fire to dry up and consume the water, which was not capable of burning, this was miraculous! Such a miracle did Christ show, his love did burn where there was no fit matter to work upon, nothing but sin and enmity, he loved his enemies, the fire of his love did consume and lick up the water of their sins. He prayed for his enemies, Father forgive them; he shed tears for them that shed his blood. Those that gave him gall and vinegar to drink, them he gave his blood to drink. O amor his plagis membra cruentat amor.—

The meditation of this love would melt our hearts in love to our enemies. Augustine says Christ made a Pulpit of the Cross, and the great lesson he taught Christians was, to love their enemies.

4. The meditation of Christ's love would be a means to support us in case of his absence. Sometimes he is pleased to withdraw himself, Canticles 5:6. Yet when we consider how entire and immutable his love is; it will make us wait with patience till he sweetly manifests himself to us. He is love, 1 John 4:16, and he cannot forsake his people overlong. He may take his leave, not his last farewell. The Sun may be gone a while from our climate, but it returns in the spring: The meditation of Christ's love may make us wait for the return of this Sun of righteousness. Hebrews 10:37: For yet a little while and he that shall come will come. He is Truth, therefore he shall come, he is love, therefore he will come.