Your afflictions and desertions only prove that you are under the Father's hand. There is no time when the patient is an object of such tender interest to the surgeon, as when he is under his knife; so, you may be sure, if you are suffering from the hand of God, his eye is all the more bent on you. "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." [Deut 33:27]
2. Encourage poor sinners to come and taste of this love. It is a sweet thing to be loved. I suppose the most of you have tasted a mother's love. You know what it is to be rocked in her arms—to be watched by her gentle eye—to be cheered by her smile; but, oh! brethren, this is nothing to the love of your God. That dear mother's eye will close in death—that dear mother's arm will moulder in the dust. Oh! come and share the love of Him who cannot die. There is one spot alone on which the love of God continually falls unclouded—it is the head of Jesus: "The Father loveth the Son." [John 3:35; John 5:20] He loves him from his very nature; so that the perfections of God must change before this love can change. He loves him fully. The whole treasures of love that are in the infinite bosom of Jehovah are pouring continually into the bosom of the Son. He loves unchangingly; no cloud can ever come between—no veil—no distance. But what is this to me? Everything to you, sinner. Jesus stands a refuge for sinners—ready to receive even thee. Flee into him, sinner; abide in him, and that love shall abide on you. You are a worm; but you may enter into the joy of your Lord. You may share the love of God with Jesus in a way that holy angels cannot do. Oh! sinner, had you rather remain under the wrath of God? "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." [John 3:36] "God is angry with the wicked every day;" [Ps 7:11] but, ah! "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." [1 Tim 1:15]
Oh! it is sweet to pass from wrath to love—from death to life. That poor murderess would leap in her cell, when the news came that she was not to die the murderer's death;[1] but, ah! ten thousand times sweeter would it be to you, if God were, this day, to persuade you to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered in the Gospel. Robert M. McCheyne
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