Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love
Jeremiah 31:3
Sometimes the Lord Jesus tells His Church His love thoughts. "He
does not think it enough behind her back to tell it, but in her very
presence He says, 'Thou art all fair, my love.' It is true, this is
not His ordinary method; He is a wise lover, and knows when to keep
back the intimation of love and when to let it out; but there are
times when He will make no secret of it; times when He will put it
beyond all dispute in the souls of His people" (R. Erskine's
Sermons). The Holy Spirit is often pleased, in a most gracious
manner, to witness with our spirits of the love of Jesus. He takes of
the things of Christ and reveals them unto us. No voice is heard from
the clouds, and no vision is seen in the night, but we have a
testimony more sure than either of these. If an angel should fly from
heaven and inform the saint personally of the Saviour's love to him,
the evidence would not be one whit more satisfactory than that which
is borne in the heart by the Holy Ghost. Ask those of the Lord's
people who have lived the nearest to the gates of heaven, and they
will tell you that they have had seasons when the love of Christ
towards them has been a fact so clear and sure, that they could no
more doubt it than they could question their own existence. Yes,
beloved believer, you and I have had times of refreshing from the
presence of the Lord, and then our faith has mounted to the topmost
heights of assurance. We have had confidence to lean our heads upon
the bosom of our Lord, and we have no more questioned our Master's
affection to us than John did when in that blessed posture; nay, nor
so much: for the dark question, "Lord, is it I that shall betray
thee?" has been put far from us. He has kissed us with the kisses of
His mouth, and killed our doubts by the closeness of His embrace. His
love has been sweeter than wine to our souls.
