MEDITATION XV. "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." NEXT to the love and enjoyment of God, that affection, with which the righteous embrace each other, is justly to be considered the greatest felicity of the regions above, and did it more generally prevail in the world, we should anticipate the blessedness, and have a taste of the joys of heaven upon earth. All men stand in near relation to God, and have still so much of his image stamped upon them, as should excite our love and kindness toward them. They are not only his creatures, the workmanship of his hands, but such, of whom he taketh special care, and for whom he hath a tender regard. The meanest person which we behold is the offspring of heaven, a child of the Most High, who will have us to acknowledge him as one of his, and to embrace him with a sincere and cordial affection. Christ says, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one toward another." And nothing is recorded to have been done by him, which was not designed for the good of man. All his miraculous works were instances of his goodness as well as of his power; and they benefited those on whom they were wrought, as well as they amazed the beholders. charity was not confined to his kindred or relations, nor was his kindness swallowed up in the endearments of that peculiar friendship which He carried towards the beloved disciples. His Never did He deny any request, which tended to the good of those who asked it. Never did any depart from Him with a sad countenance, except that rich youth, who was sorrowful to hear that the kingdom of heaven stood at so high a rate, that he could not save his soul and his money too. And certainly our Saviour was troubled, to see that, when a price was put into his hand to get wisdom, he had no heart to improve it. MEDITATION XVI. "Present with the Lord." HAVE I not been invited and raised by the goodness of God, to some humble hope of His favor? Hast thou not revealed thyself as willing to be reconciled unto me? May I not indulge the thought, for the purpose of forming a due estimate of heaven? If to be forever with one saint or angel, would be worthy of all acceptation, what will it be to be forever with the innumeraable company of angels, and with all the spirits of the just made perfect? If to be a doorkeeper in the house of God would be joy unspeakable, what must be the joy of being made kings and priests unto God? If to be forever with any one in heaven, would be certain and sublime happiness, what must be the certainty and sublimity of being forever with the Lord? There is no idea of heaven dearer to the followers of Christ than this. All our ideas of it centre in seeing and being with the Saviour. Even the cheering hope of a reunion with the spirits we love is enhanced by the thought of meeting them around the throne of God and the Lamb. In like manner, all the joys of heaven will and must have a similar influence on the redeemed. "Whom have I in heaven but thee?" is an exclamation that nothing there will stop or lessen, even when all that is within the veil is as visible as it is eternal. MEDITATION XVII. "Judge not that ye be not judged." LET us turn our eyes inward upon ourselves; for we can never err, or be too severe in sifting out, or condemning our own omissions of duty toward God, or our neglect of duty to our neighbor; neither can we be too cautious or sparing in censuring and estimating the actions and motives of others. Let us form ourselves on this maxim of our Master, that we may be known to be his disciples by the candor of our sentiments, the equity of our conduct, and the benificence of our actions. We often suppose that we are following truth, while we follow only our own inclination, and love our neighbor as long as he agrees with us; but are out of all patience. at the least difference or contradiction. "See not the mote in thy brother's eye." "Except ye become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." |