Luke 14:25-26 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said to them,… I. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE LOVE HERE SPOKEN OF. 1. An esteem and valuation of Christ above all worldly enjoyments whatsoever. 2. A choosing Him before all other enjoyments. 3. Love to Christ implies service and obedience to Him; the same love that when it is between equals is friendship, when it is from an inferior to a superior is obedience. Love, of all the affections, is the most active; hence by those who express the nature of things by hieroglyphics, we have it compared to fire, certainly for nothing more than its activity. The same arms that embrace a friend, will be as ready to act for Him. 4. Love to Christ implies an acting for Him in opposition to all other things; and this is the undeceiving, infallible test of a true affection. 5. Love to Christ imports a full acquiescence in Him alone, even in the absence and want of all other felicities: men can embrace Christ with riches, Christ with honour, Christ with interest, and abundantly satisfy themselves in so doing; though perhaps all the time they put but a cheat upon themselves, thinking that they follow Christ, while indeed they run only after the loaves. II. THE REASONS AND MOTIVES THAT MAY INDUCE US TO THIS LOVE. 1. That He is best able to reward our love. 2. That He has shown the greatest love to us. III. THE SIGNS, MARKS, AND CHARACTERS WHEREBY WE MAY DISCERN IT. 1. A frequent and indeed a continual thinking of Him. "Where your treasure is," says our Saviour, "there will your heart be also." That is, whatsoever you love and value, that will be sure to take up your thoughts. 2. The second sign of a sincere love to Christ, is a willingness to leave the world, whensoever God shall think fit to send His messenger of death to summon us to a nearer converse with Christ. "I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ," says St. Paul. 3. A third, and indeed the principal sign of a sincere love to Christ, is a zeal for His honour, and an impatience to hear or see any indignity offered Him. A person truly pious will mourn for other men's sins, as well as for his own. (R. South, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,WEB: Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them, |
    |