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plans。 Some may hear him mentioned with utter indifference； but our own
hearts bound within us at the very sound of his name。 Well； it is just
so between the true Christian and Christ！ The true Christian delights
to hear something about his Master。 He likes those sermons best which
are full of Christ。 He enjoys that society most in which people talk of
the things which are Christ's。 I have read of an old Welsh believer who
used to walk several miles every Sunday to hear an English clergyman
preach； though she did not understand a word of English。 She was asked
why she did so。 She replied that this clergyman named the name of
Christ so often in his sermons that it did her good。 She loved even the
name of her Saviour。
（c） If we love a person； we like to read about him。 What intense
pleasure a letter from an absent husband gives to a wife； or a letter
from an absent son to his mother。 Others may see little worth notice in
the letter。 They can scarcely take the trouble to read it through。 But
those who love the writer see something in the letter which no one else
can。 They carry it about with them as a treasure。 They read it over and
over again。 Well； it is just so between the true Christian and Christ！
The true Christian delights to read the Scriptures； because they tell
him about his beloved Saviour。 It is no wearisome task with him to read
them。 He rarely needs remind ing to take his Bible with him when he
goes a journey。 He cannot be happy without it。 And why is all this？ It
is because the Scriptures testify of Him whom his soul loves； even
Christ。
（d） If we love a person； we like to please him。 We are glad to consult
his tastes and opinions； to act upon his advice； and do the things
which he approves。 We even deny ourselves to meet his wishes； abstain
from things which we know he dislikes； and learn things to do which we
are not naturally inclined； because we think it will give him pleasure。
Well； it is just so between the true Christian and Christ！ The true
Christian studies to please Him； by being holy both in body and spirit。
Show him anything in his daily practice that Christ hates； and he will
give it up。 Show him anything that Christ delights in； and he will
follow after it。 He does not murmur at Christ's requirements as being
too strict and severe； as the children of the world do。 To him Christ's
mandments are not grievous and Christ's burden is light。 And why is
all this？ Simply because he loves Him。
（e） If we love a person； we like his friends。 We are favourably
inclined to them； even before we know them。 We are drawn to them by the
mon tie of mon love to one and the same person。 When we meet them
we do not feel that we are altogether strangers。 There is a bond of
union between us。 They love the person that we love； and that alone is
an introduction。 Well； it is just so between the true Christian and
Christ！ The true Christian regards all Christ's friends as his friends；
members of the same body； children of the same family； soldiers in the
same army； travellers to the same home。 When he meets them； he feels as
if he had long known them。 He is more at home with them in a few
minutes than he is with many worldly people after an acquaintance of
several years。 And what is the secret of all this？ It is simply
affection to the same Saviour； and love to the same Lord。
（f） If we love a person； we are jealous about his name and honour。 We
do not like to hear him spoken against without speaking up for him and
defending him。 We feel bound to maintain his interests and his
reputation。 We regard the person who treats him ill with almost as much
disfavour as if he had ill…treated us。 Well； it is just so between the
true Christian and Christ。 The true Christian regards with a godly
jealousy all efforts to disparage his Master's word； or name； or
Church； or day。 He will confess Him before princes； if need be； and be
sensitive of the least dishonour put upon Him。 He will not hold his
peace and suffer his Master's cause to be put to shame without
testifying against it。 And why Is all this？ Simply because he loves
Him。
（g） If we love a person； we like to talk to him。 We tell him all our
thoughts； and pour out all our heart to him。 We find no difficulty in
discovering subjects of conversation。 However silent and reserved we
may be to others； we find it easy to talk to a much…loved friend。
However often we may meet； we are never at a loss for matter to talk
about。 We have always much to say； much to ask about； much to describe；
much to municate。 Well； it is just so between the true Christian and
Christ！ The true Christian finds no difficulty in speaking to his
Saviour。 Every day he has something to tell Him； and he is not happy
unless he tells it。 He speaks to Him in prayer every morning and night。
He tells Him his wants and desires； his feelings and his fears。 He asks
counsel of Him in difficulty。 He asks fort of Him in trouble。 He
cannot help it。 He must converse with his Saviour continually； or he
would faint by the way。 And why is this？ Simply because he loves Him。
（h） Finally； if we love a person； we like to be always with him。
Thinking； and hearing； and reading； and occasionally talking are all
well in their way。 But when we really love people we want something
more。 We long to be always in their pany。 We wish to be continually
in their society； and to hold munion with them without interruption
or farewell。 Well； it is just so between the true Christian and Christ。
The heart of a true Christian longs for that blessed day when he will
see his Master face to face； and go out no more。 He longs to have done
with sinning and repenting； and believing； and to begin that endless
life when he shall see as he has been seen； and sin no more。 He has
found it sweet to live by faith； and he feels it will be sweeter still
to live by sight。 He has found it pleasant to hear of Christ； and talk
of Christ； and read of Christ。 How much more pleasant will it be to see
Christ with his own eyes； and never to leave Him any more！ 〃Better；〃 he
feels； 〃is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desires〃
（Eccles。 vi。 9。） And why is all this？ Simply because he loves Him。
Such are the marks by which true love may be discovered。 They are all
plain； simple； and easy to be understood。 There is nothing dark；
abstruse； and mysterious about them。 Use them honestly； and handle them
fairly； and you cannot fail to get some light on the subject of this
paper。
Perhaps you had a beloved son in the army at the time of a great war。
Perhaps he was actively engaged in that war； and in the very midst of
the struggle。 Cannot you remember how strong； and deep； and anxious
your feelings were about that son？That was love！
Perhaps you have known what it is to have a beloved husband in the
navy； often called from home by duty； often separated from you for many
months and even years。 Cannot you recollect your sorrowful feelings at
that time of separation？That was love！
Perhaps you have at this moment a beloved brother in London； launched
for the first time amidst the temptations of a great city； in order to
make his way in business。 How will he turn out？ How will he get on？
Will you ever see him again？ Do you not know that you often think about
that brother？That is affection I
Perhaps you are engaged to be married to a person every way suited to
you。 But prudence makes it necessary to defer the marriage to a distant
period； and duty makes it necessary to be at a distance from the one
you have promised to make your wife。 Must you not confess that she is
often in your thoughts？Must you not confess that you like to hear of
her； and hear from her； and that you long to see her？That is
affection！
I speak of things that are familiar to everyone。 I need not dwell upon
them any further。 They are as old as the hills。 They are understood all
over the world。 There is hardly a branch of Adam's family that does not
know something of affection and love。 Then let it never be said that we
cannot find out whether a Christian really loves Christ。 It can be
known； it may be discovered； the proofs are all ready to your hand。 You
have heard them this very day。 Love to the Lord Jesus Christ is no
hidden； secret； impalpable thing。 It is like the lightit will be
seen。 It is like soundit will be heard。 It is like heatit will be
felt。 Where it exists it cannot be hid。 Where it cannot be seen you may
be sure there is none。
It is time for me to draw this paper to a conclusion。 But I cannot end
without an effort to press its subject home to the individual
conscience of each into whose hands it has fallen。 I do it in all love
and affection。 My heart's desire and prayer to God； in writing this
paper； is to do good to souls。
1。 Let me ask you； for one thing； to look the question in the face
which Christ asked of Peter； and try to answer it for yourself。 Look at
it seriously。 Examine it carefully。 Weigh it well。 After reading all
that I have said about it； can you honestly say that you love Christ？
It is no answer to tell me that you believe the truth of Christianity；
and hold the articles of the Christian faith。 Such religion as this
will never save your soul。 The devils believe in a certain way； and
tremble。 （James ii。 19。） True； saving Christianity is not the mere
believing a certain set of opinions； and holding a certain set of
notions。 Its essence is knowing； trusting； and loving a certain living
Person who died for useven Christ the Lord。 The early Christians；
like Phoebe； and Persis； and Tryphena； and Tryphosa； and Gaius； and
Philemon； knew little； probably； of dogmatic theology。 But they all had
this grand leading feature in their religion； they loved Christ。
It is no answer to tell me that you disapprove of a religion of
feelings。 If you mean by that that you dislike a religion consisting of
nothing but feelings； I agree with you entirely。 But if you mean to
shut out feelings altogether； you can know little of Christianity。 The
Bible teaches us plainly that a man may have good feelings without any
true religion。 But it teaches us no less plainly that there can be no
true religion without some feeling towards Christ。
It is vain to conceal that if you do not love Christ； your soul is in
great danger。 You can have no saving faith now while you live。 You are
unfit for heaven if you die。 He that lives without love to Christ can
be sensible of no obligation to Him。 He that dies without love to
Christ could never be happy in that heaven where Christ is all； and in
all。 Awake to know the peril of your position。 Open your eyes。 Consider
your ways； and be wise。 I can only warn you as a friend。 But I do it
with all my heart and soul。 May God grant that this warning may not be
in vain！
2。 In the next place； if you do not love Christ； let me tell you
plainly what is the reason。 You have no sense of debt to Him。 You have
no feeling of obligation to Him。 You have no abiding recollection of
having got anything from Him。 This being the case it is not likely； it
is not probable； it is not reasonable that you should love Him。
There is but one remedy for this state of things。 That remedy is
self…knowledge； and the teaching of the Holy Ghost。 The eyes of your
understanding must be opened。 You must find out what you are by nature。
You must discover that grand secret； your guilt and emptiness in God's
sight。
Perhaps you never read your Bible at all； or only read an occasional
chapter as a mere matter of form； without interest； understanding； or
self…application。 Take my advice this day； and change your plan。 Begin
to read the Bible like a man in earnest； and never rest till you bee
familiar with it。 Read what