The Life of James Renwick: A Historical Sketch Of His Life, Labours And Martyrdom And A; Vindication Of His Character And TestimonyHouston, Thomas
History
The Life of James Renwick: A Historical Sketch Of His Life, Labours And Martyrdom And A; Vindication Of His Character And Testimony
Houston, Thomas
Covenanters; Renwick, James, 1662-1688; Scotland -- Church history -- 17th century
"Christ's love is _pure_ and _sincere_ love. 'Herein is love, not that
we loved Him, but that He loved us;" not for any advantage that He can
have by us, for He is infinite in all perfections without us; therefore
we can neither enrich Him, nor add any more glory to Him. We may well
magnify His power; that is all we can do, and all the advantage is our
own. Christ's love is not a base love; He loves us not for His good or
advantage, but for our real good and advantage. It is pure and sincere
love, for all the advantage is ours.
"Christ's love is an _enriching_ love, for those upon whom His love is
bestowed are no more poor. How can they be poor who have Christ for
their riches? for, saith the Apostle, 'All things are yours, and ye are
Christ's, and Christ is God's.' If ye have this love bestowed on you,
then all other things are made to serve for your good--ye shall lack
nothing.
"Christ's love is a _free_ love. He gives His love freely, without any
reward, and so it is free love; the offer is _alike to all_. If ye will
but take it off his hand, He makes open proclamation of it to you all,
saying, 'Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.' Oh, my
friends, all other love is infinitely beneath this. He took not on him
the nature of angels, but He took the seed of Abraham. Oh, my friends,
God hath made us the centre of His love; and therefore, I beseech you,
do not despise His love. He came not to redeem any of the fallen angels,
but the seed of Abraham."
In the following moving terms, he pleads with his hearers to accept of
Christ and his salvation:--"Your eternal enjoyment of God will be your
element, which ye shall for ever delight in, and this shall be to praise
and admire his love. For, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath
it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things that the Lord
hath prepared for them that love Him. Oh, then, sirs, what think ye of
Christ? Will ye not, at _this time_, say, He is your Beloved and your
Friend? Oh, give your consent to become His friends, and accept of Him
as your friend. I leave this offer at your door; He is willing to
befriend you, if you will come into an estate of friendship with Him.
Come, come, and take His offer off his hand. Say not that ye have
continued so long in sin, that ye know not if He will befriend you now;
for if ye will come to Him, He will yet befriend you. Therefore, for the
Lord's sake, put not away such an offer, but take it _in the present
time_; for ye know not if ever ye shall have an offer again. If ye will
not take his offer off His hand _this day_, I will be a witness against
you in the great day of judgment, that this day, the Son of
righteousness offered Himself to be your friend, and ye have made light
of the offer. Yea, the hills and mountains about us shall be witnesses
that ye had Christ in your offer such a _day_, in such a _place_;
therefore, my dear friends, say now that He is your beloved, and that He
is your friend."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account