The Christian's Friend, Papers for the Comfort and Edification of the Children of God (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874. Excerpt: ... THE FATHEE'S LOVE. What I want to press on you, my brethren, is the distinct present blessing, which it is our privilege to enjoy, resulting from the knowledge of the love wherewith the Father loves the Son. Well might it make the soul stagger, to hear that the love wherewith the saints are loved of God is according to that with which He loves Jesus--" as thou hast loved me." Our companionship with the Lord in glory will be the manifestation of this--then, even the world shall know it; but, without waiting for that day of manifestation, Jesus speaks here of ministering to us, by the Spirit, the present joy and comfort of it. How is the love of the Father towards us shown, my brethren? In giving His Son to be "the propitiation for our sins." Who amongst us does not know this? But it is quite true that we can go on further, and speak of the Spirit's enabling us to believe on and prize the Son. Who is there would set so little value on the power of believing in the Son, as to say that it could arise from the human heart 1 It is not in the capacity that at all belongs to "the spirit of a man" to appreciate that best and blessed gift of God--"the Son." We little prize as we ought the grace which has led us to believe. But let us go on further still. All of us know that this was not of human origin, that it came from whence Jesus came--it followed the gift; but are we not accustomed to stop there 1 I would apeak to you of that love of the Father to the Son, in which we partake through union with the Son. My brethren, let us recollect that the grace which led us to receive the Son has only put us on ground where we have to learn more of the fulness and depth of love. The special love of the Father is ours. I am not speaking now of Christ being ours, but of that ...