THE LOVELINESS OF CHRIST In the words of the Canticles, Draw me and I will run after Thee. So St. Augustine says in a well-known word, How sweet did it at once become to me to want the sweetness of those toys; and what I feared to be parted from, was now a joy to part with! For Thou didst cast them forth from me. Thou true and highest sweetness. Thou castedst them forth, and for them enteredst in Thyself, sweeter than all pleasures, though not to flesh and blood; brighter than all light, and more hidden than all depths; higher than all honour, but not to the high in their own conceits. The Shulamite said, ‘The King hath brought me into His chambers. He loved the church and gave Himself for it. Can we say in truth, Lord Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest I love thee. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made know unto you. - John 15:15 SELAH. No flower of earth, no earthly fragrance or beauty, can compare for one moment with the blessedness which His presence bringeth. No wonder Peter said, Lord it is good to be here. The Lord is fairer than the children of men; to the Christian there is no vision of earthly beauty which will bear one moments comparison with the tender loveliness of the Saviours character, or the exalted beauty of His self- sacrificing love. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord.- Psalm 27:4. The Prophet said, Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty. - Isaiah 33:17. May God shine in our hearts to reveal to us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus. David said, My soul thirsteth for God; when shall I come and appear before God? The conscious possession of the love of God is the souls deep need and desire. Men try all manner of other delights, but they turn out to be mere apples of Sodom. The love of God alone can satisfy - (Nostrum cor inquitum est donec requiestat in te.) His Name stands for all that He is in His person and character - what a lovely Name, the name of Jesus! That blessed Name which is above every other name - that blessed name of Jesus! Let us go forth unto Him. said the writer to the Hebrews. Peter well said, To whom could we go Lord, Thou alone hast the words of eternal life. Without Him we can do nothing, but with Him what can we not do! Since therefore I can hardly bear What in myself I see, How vile, how black, I must appear, Most holy God, to Thee! But oh! My Saviour stands between, In garments dyed in blood; Tis He instead of me is seen When I approach to God. As one has said, A holy minister is a mighty instrument in Gods hands for the conversion and sanctification of souls. He is a Refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. O Love Divine, how sweet Thou art! When shall I find my willing heart All taken up with Thee? SC Speak Lord for thy servant heareth. The Shulamite said, The voice is the voice of my beloved. Jesus said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me. As some rare essence in a vase of clay Pervades it with a sweetness not its own; So when Thou dwellest in the human soul, All heavens sweet fragrances seem around it thrown. Equally true is it that men wonder from, teacher to teacher, from one religious system to another, in quest of saving knowledge, soul-purity, men try practical morality, asceticism, bodily mortification, Church sacraments; but they are doomed to disappointment. For Jesus, the Son of God, is the only Saviour, and, apart from Him, the soul is starved, diseased and undone. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. In Him alone dwells the fullness of the God-head bodily. He is the God-Man. Let all the angels of God worship Him. With the sweetness of His disposition, non can compare. Thanks to Christian missions, the fragrance of the Saviours love is diffused from sun to sun. It refreshes the fainting; it revives again those who are ready to perish. He has no equal! GIVE HIM PRAISE! He is the theme that will loosen into eloquence every human tongue one day. All will confess that He it the Christ to the glory of God. All in the universe will stand at attention! Every part of Christs nature is fruitful. The woman that was afflicted with the old disease of Canaan, found fruitful blessing even in touching the hem of His garment. He is fruitful as a teacher, for His words dispel all the perplexities of the human family. He is fruitful as a Healer, for His gracious virtue cures every disease of body and of soul. He is fruitful as our Priest, for His sacrifice atones for every sin. He is fruitful as intercessor, for His righteous pleadings always prevail. He is fruitful as a King, for His reign brings order, contentment, righteousness and peace. He is fruitful as a Friend, for all that He has He shares with His own. He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. For fruitfulness is the result of His being the True Vine. His superlative uniqueness is unsurpassed. Dr. Steeves
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 05:58:56 +0000
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