way； and we shall do good to the world。 Let us live in this way； and we
shall leave good evidence behind us when we are buried。 Let us live in
this way； and the Spirit's word to the Churches will not have been
spoken to us in vain。
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XV。
〃LOVEST THOU ME？〃
〃Lovest thou Me？〃John xxi。 16。
THE question which heads this paper was addressed by Christ to the
Apostle Peter。 A more important question could not be asked。 Nineteen
hundred years have passed away since the words were spoken。 But to this
very day the inquiry is most searching and useful。
A disposition to love somebody is one of the monest feelings which
God has implanted in human nature。 Too often； unhappily； people set
their affection on unworthy objects。 I want this day to claim a place
for Him who alone is worthy of all our hearts' best feelings。 I want
men to give some of their love to that Divine Person who loved us； and
gave Himself for us。 In all their loving； I would have them not forget
TO LOVE CHRIST。
Suffer me to press this mighty subject upon the attention of every
reader of this paper。 This is no matter for mere enthusiasts and
fanatics。 It deserves the consideration of every reasonable Christian
who believes the Bible。 Our very salvation is bound up with it。 Life or
death； heaven or hell； depend on our ability to answer the simple
question 〃Do you love Christ？ 〃
There are two points which I wish to bring forward in opening up this
subject。
I。 In the first place； let me show the peculiar feeling of a true
Christian towards Christhe loves Him。
A true Christian is not a mere baptized man or woman。 He is something
more。 He is not a person who only goes； as a matter of form； to a
church or chapel on Sundays and lives all the rest of the week as if
there was no God。 Formality is not Christianity。 Ignorant lip…worship
is not true religion。 The Scripture speaketh expressly： 〃They are not
all Israel which are of Israel。〃 （Rom。 ix。 6。） The practical lesson of
those words is clear and plain。 All are not true Christians who are
members of the visible Church of Christ。
The true Christian is one whose religion is in his heart and life。 It
is felt by himself in his heart。 It is seen by others in his conduct
and life。 He feels his sinfulness； guilt and badness； and repents。 He
sees Jesus Christ to be that Divine Saviour whom his soul needs； and
mits himself to Him。 He puts off the old man with his corrupt and
carnal habits and puts on the new man。 He lives a new and holy life；
fighting habitually against the world； the flesh and the devil。 Christ
Himself is the corner…stone of his Christianity。 Ask him in what he
trusts for the forgiveness of his many sins； and he will tell you in
the death of Christ。Ask him in what righteousness he hopes to stand
innocent at the judgment day； and he will tell you it is the
righteousness of Christ。Ask him by what pattern he tries to frame his
life； and he will tell you that it is the example of Christ。
But； beside all this； there is one thing in a true Christian which is
eminently peculiar to him。 That thing is love to Christ。 Knowledge；
faith； hope； reverence； obedience； are all marked features in a true
Christian's character。 But his picture would be very imperfect if you
omitted his 〃love〃 to his Divine Master。 He not only knows； trusts； and
obeys。 He goes further than thishe loves。
This peculiar mark of a true Christian is one which we find mentioned
several times in the Bible。 〃Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ〃 is an
expression which many Christians are familiar with。 Let it never be
forgotten that love is mentioned by the Holy Ghost in almost as strong
terms as faith。 Great as the danger is of him 〃that believeth not；〃 the
danger of him that 〃loveth not〃 is equally great。 Not believing and not
loving are both steps to everlasting ruin。
Hear what St。 Paul says to the Corinthians： 〃If any man love not the
Lord Jesus Christ； let him be Anathema Maran…atha。〃 （1 Cor。 22。） St。
Paul allows no way of escape to the man who does not love Christ。 He
leaves him no loophole or excuse。 A man may lack clear head…knowledge
and yet be saved。 He may fail in courage and be overe by the fear of
man； like Peter。 He may fall tremendously； like David； and yet rise
again。 But if a man does not love Christ he is not in the way of life。
The curse is yet upon him。 He is on the broad road that leadeth to
destruction。
Hear what St。 Paul says to the Ephesians； 〃Grace be with all them that
love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity。〃 （Eph。 vi。 24。） The Apostle is
here sending his good wishes； and declaring his good will to all true
Christians。 Many of them； no doubt； he had never seen。 Many of them in
the early Churches； we may be very sure； were weak in faith； and
knowledge； and self…denial。 How； then； shall he describe them in
sending his message？ What words can he use which will not discourage
the weaker brethren？ He chooses a sweeping expression which exactly
describes all true Christians under one mon name。 All had not
attained to the same degree； whether in doctrine or practice。 But all
loved Christ in sincerity。
Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ Himself says to the Jews； 〃If God were
your Father； ye would love Me。〃 （John viii。 42。） He saw His misguided
enemies satisfied with their spiritual condition； on the one single
ground that they were children of Abraham。 He saw them； like many
ignorant Christians of our own day； claiming to be God's children for
no better reasons than this： that they were circumcised and belonged to
the Jewish Church。 He lays down the broad principle that no man is a
child of God who does not love God's only begotten Son。 No man has a
right to call God 〃Father〃 who does not love Christ。 Well would it be
for many Christians if they were to remember that this mighty principle
applies to them as well as to the Jews。 No love to Christthen no
sonship to God I
Hear once more what our Lord Jesus Christ said to the Apostle Peter
after He rose from the dead。 Three times He asked him the question；
〃Simon； son of Jonas； lovest thou Me。〃 （John xxi。 15…17。） The occasion
was remarkable。 He meant gently to remind His erring disciple of His
thrice…repeated fall。 He desired to call forth from him a new
confession of faith before publicly restoring to him his mission to
feed the Church。 And what was the question that He asked him？ He might
have said：〃Believest thou？ Art thou converted？ Are thou ready to
confess Me？ Wilt thou obey Me？〃 He uses none of these expressions。 He
simply says； 〃lovest thou Me？〃 This is the point； He would have us
know； on which a man's Christianity hinges。 Simple as the question
sounded； it was most searching。 Plain and easy to be understood by the
most unlearned poor man； it contains matter which tests the reality of
the most advanced apostle。 If a man truly loves Christ； all is
rightif not； all is wrong。
Would you know the secret of this peculiar feeling towards Christ which
distinguishes the true Christian？ You have it in the words of St。 John；
〃We love Him because He first loved us。〃 （1 John iv。 19。） That text； no
doubt； applies specially to God the Father。 But it is no less true of
God the Son。
A true Christian loves Christ for all He has done for him。 He has
suffered in his stead； and died for him on the cross。 He has redeemed
him from the guilt； the power； and the consequences of sin； by His
blood。 He has called him by His Spirit to self…knowledge； repentance；
faith； hope； and holiness。 He has forgiven all his many sins and
blotted them out。 He has freed him from the captivity of the world； the
flesh； and the devil。 He has taken him from the brink of hell； placed
him in the narrow way； and set his face toward heaven。 He has given him
light instead of darkness； peace of conscience instead of uneasiness；
hope instead of uncertainty； life instead of death。 Can you wonder that
the true Christian loves Christ？
And he loves Him besides； for all that He is still doing。 He feels that
He is daily washing away his many shortings and infirmities； and
pleading his soul's cause before God。 He is daily supplying all the
needs of his soul； and providing him with an hourly provision of mercy
and grace。 He is daily leading him by His Spirit to a city of
habitation； bearing with him when he is weak and ignorant； raising him
up when he stumbles and falls； protecting him against his many enemies；
preparing an eternal home for him in heaven。 Can you wonder that the
true Christian loves Christ？
Does the debtor in jail love the friend who unexpectedly and
undeservedly pays all his debts； supplies him with fresh capital； and
takes him into partnership with himself？ Does the prisoner in war love
the man who at the risk o