Evidence of Loving Christ

Let us labour to kindle in our hearts an affection for Christ. We may judge our love by our esteem.
(1) How do we value Christ? What place should he have in our hearts? If he be the chief of ten thousand, let us rather offend ten thousand than offend him. Let us say, with David, 'Whom have I in heaven but you?' (Psa. 73:25).
(2) Are we ready to suffer for Christ? Are we resolved not to give in though the world disgraces and censures us? No, we love Christ the more, and stick to his truth the faster. Certainly, where the love of Christ is, there is a spirit of fortitude. You have some who, for frowns from greatness, fear of loss, or for hope of rising, will warp their conscience, and do anything. Where is love to Christ? He that loves Christ, loves him the more for his suffering, as the Holy Spirit has recorded of some, that they 'rejoiced that they were thought worthy to suffer for Christ' (Acts 5:41). So, the more we suffer for him, the dearer he will be to us.
(3) Where love is, there it enlarges the heart, which being enlarged, enlarges the tongue also. The church has never enough of commending Christ, and of setting out his praise. The tongue is loosed because the heart is loosed. Love will alter a man's disposition. Let a man love Christ, and though before he could not speak a word in the commendation of Christ, yet if the love of Christ be in him, he will speak and labour earnestly in the praises of God.
(4) The church is never content until she finds Christ. It is with a Christian; if he has lost, by his own fault, his former communion with Christ, he will not rest nor be satisfied; but searches. He runs through all God's ordinances and means until he finds Christ. Nothing in the world will content him, neither honour, riches, place, or friends, until he finds that which he once enjoyed, the comfort and assurance of God's love in Christ.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Love of Christ (Bowels Opened), pp. 294-97 [290-92]
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