Week Twenty-Eight

God’s nature, love without alloy,

Our hearts are given e’en now to share.

When love leads us, men are indeed those for whom we give ourselves; but God, He to whom we offer ourselves. (Eph. 5:2.)

It is a serious though a most happy thing to undertake direct service. … The mere fact of an inclination does not shew that we are called to it. I believe the surest sign is earnest love to souls, and intercourse through the need of the heart with Christ about it. … It is not the desire to speak, but for souls and the building up of saints which is the real moving spring of service.

How many needs, hidden even in the most degraded souls, would confess themselves if a love, a goodness, which could give them confidence were presented to them. … How many souls are whirling in pleasure, in order to silence the moral griefs which torment them. Divine love not only answers needs, it makes them speak.

I dread narrowness of heart more than anything for the church of Christ.

Love enables a man to meet all trials. Should one spit in his face, this makes no difference, for love abides; because it never draws its strength from circumstances, but rides above all circumstances.

Love … is the true means of holiness, when it is real.

Love, free from self, can and does think of all that concerns others and understands what will affect them.

Love does not grow weary of serving, though service may be often in trial indeed, save with rare encouragement, always in the general run of it, is. “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake.”

How few so present their charity to God, and bring God into their charity, exercising it for and towards Him, though in behalf of man, so that they persevere nothing the less in its exercise, though the more they love the less they be loved! it is for God’s sake.

The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, &c. Remark that the first of these fruits are love, joy, peace. The Spirit will surely produce those practical fruits which manifest the life of Christ in the sight of men, but the inward fruits, the fruits Godward, come first, the condition of soul needful for producing the others.