SERMON XXV.

August 25, 1822.

THE FREEDOM OF DIVINE LOVE.

But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.ROM. V. 8.

THIS is not only the most glorious truth that can be known on earth, but the most glorious truth that now constitutes the glory of heaven, and will for ever constitute that glory throughout eternity. We have great reason to wonder that a Being so glorious, so essentially lovely in himself, should have condescended to love any other being than himself. He is revealed as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit from all eternity, dwelling together in infinite love. He is the inexhaustible source of his own happiness, nevertheless he rejoices in the works of his own hands: "The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works." 1 "But God com

1 Psalm civ. 31.

mended his love to us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." This is a rich and interesting truth, and particularly so, when we consider the manhood of Christ. It does not strike us very much (I speak comparatively) that God should love an innocent being, one who has never transgressed, but who has continued in its primitive state of excellence; but that his love should visit a being altogether sinful, with not a particle of good or love to God, I mean spiritual good,-a being whose desert is the hatred of God, is indeed a wonder of wonders! Indeed no being whatever deserves the love of God, but God himself. Do you ask, why God loves the angels? I answer, because he will love them; all other reasons are a profound secret in the bosom of God himself: no; the angels themselves do not deserve the love of God, for had they merit at all, they must have had it from all eternity, for God loved them from all eternity; but that is impossible, and from the first moment of their existence to the present, they have been and are upheld in innocency, by God himself; all their excellence is derived from him. The love of God, then, flows freely from himself to all his creatures; they cannot purchase it; for all they can render him is his own, and derived from him. But here let me warn you of

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a most awful and important truth; though the love of God cannot be purchased, the hatred of God may. The love of God flows freely from himself, the hatred of God cannot. His love has its source exclusively in his own bosom; the source of his hatred must be found to flow exclusively from the creature. "The wages of sin is death." Whenever an individual has done any work he was hired to do, he may fairly claim his wages. May we, in the light of these important truths, fall down in shame and confusion of face before the throne of grace, confessing our own unworthiness, and taking refuge in his free mercy.

But here is the wonder of wonders, that God should, strange to tell, so exhibit his love, that those very creatures who have purchased his hatred, should be overwhelmed with his love that the windows of heaven should be opened, and that love poured abundantly upon them. It must be thus, God loved us from all eternity; for his love visited us in the midst of our wickedness. "But God commended his love to us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Nothing but love capable of bringing Christ down from heaven to earth, could reach us. How, you ask, is it consistent with the love of God to love creatures so sinful? The Scriptures furnish a reason.

"The Father loveth the Son," and it implies, the Son, not merely in his divine nature, but in his manhood; for we find the love and purity of God shining infinitely more brightly in descending on earth to save a sinner, than in the midst of the hosts of heaven. Let us then contemplate this love to the church from all eternity. We find the Father giving a people to his Son. Here let me warn you not to be afraid of what are called high doctrines, nor of such as are called low. Convinced that they are truths, welcome them to your bosoms as coming from the throne of God to you; let them be there rivetted, and you will, upon examination, find that they, if you will pardon a common expression, dovetail with each other; there subsists the most beautiful harmony among them.

Another most amazing proof of God's love is, his sending into the world his Son to be a sacrifice for his people. Having given to them his Son, he has declared he will refuse them nothing that is good, if it be asked by them in the name of his Son.

Again: His love shines conspicuously in his drawing his people to his Son, to present them to himself "that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should

be holy and without blemish." 1 Not that Father, Son, or Spirit are indisposed to receive the sinner, but the sinner is indisposed to come to them: God, therefore, gives them his Holy Spirit, whereby they call him "Abba, Father;" and when the mediatorial kingdom of Christ shall cease, he will resign his kingdom to the Father, that God may be all in all" and his people reign with him for ever.

Again another proof of this love is, that Christ has covenanted to become the mediator and the surety of his people. A surety in a twofold sense: first-he gave himself as a surety to God, that all the promises of God in him, might be “ yea and amen;" and secondly -as a surety to believers, that he will complete his work for them, and in them. He is as fully engaged to complete the work in them at the present moment, as before he was engaged to complete his work for them. We all know from experience that we are naturally disposed to forsake him every moment, and to seek our own eternal destruction; but he, in his infinite love, has covenanted, that he will put into us a new heart, and take from us our heart of flesh, that we shall not forsake him, neither will he forsake us.

1 Ephesians v. 27.