Morning “Thou whom my soul loveth.” / Song of Solomon 1:7

It is well to be able, without any “if” or “but,” to say of the Lord
Jesus–“Thou whom my soul loveth.” Many can only say of Jesus that they hope
they love him; they trust they love him; but only a poor and shallow
experience will be content to stay here. No one ought to give any rest to his
spirit till he feels quite sure about a matter of such vital importance. We
ought not to be satisfied with a superficial hope that Jesus loves us, and
with a bare trust that we love him. The old saints did not generally speak
with “buts,” and “ifs,” and “hopes,” and “trusts,” but they spoke positively
and plainly. “I know whom I have believed,” saith Paul. “I know that my
Redeemer liveth,” saith Job. Get positive knowledge of your love of Jesus, and
be not satisfied till you can speak of your interest in him as a reality,
which you have made sure by having received the witness of the Holy Spirit,
and his seal upon your soul by faith.

True love to Christ is in every case the Holy Spirit’s work, and must be
wrought in the heart by him. He is the efficient cause of it; but the logical
reason why we love Jesus lies in himself. Why do we love Jesus? Because he
first loved us. Why do we love Jesus? Because he “gave himself for us.” We
have life through his death; we have peace through his blood. Though he was
rich, yet for our sakes he became poor. Why do we love Jesus? Because of the
excellency of his person. We are filled with a sense of his beauty! an
admiration of his charms! a consciousness of his infinite perfection! His
greatness, goodness, and loveliness, in one resplendent ray, combine to
enchant the soul till it is so ravished that it exclaims, “Yea, he is
altogether lovely.” Blessed love this–a love which binds the heart with
chains more soft than silk, and yet more firm than adamant!

Evening “The Lord trieth the righteous.” / Psalm 11:5

All events are under the control of Providence; consequently all the trials of
our outward life are traceable at once to the great First Cause. Out of the
golden gate of God’s ordinance the armies of trial march forth in array, clad
in their iron armour, and armed with weapons of war. All providences are doors
to trial. Even our mercies, like roses, have their thorns. Men may be drowned
in seas of prosperity as well as in rivers of affliction. Our mountains are
not too high, and our valleys are not too low for temptations: trials lurk on
all roads. Everywhere, above and beneath, we are beset and surrounded with
dangers. Yet no shower falls unpermitted from the threatening cloud; every
drop has its order ere it hastens to the earth. The trials which come from God
are sent to prove and strengthen our graces, and so at once to illustrate the
power of divine grace, to test the genuineness of our virtues, and to add to
their energy. Our Lord in his infinite wisdom and superabundant love, sets so
high a value upon his people’s faith that he will not screen them from those
trials by which faith is strengthened. You would never have possessed the
precious faith which now supports you if the trial of your faith had not been
like unto fire. You are a tree that never would have rooted so well if the
wind had not rocked you to and fro, and made you take firm hold upon the
precious truths of the covenant grace. Worldly ease is a great foe to faith;
it loosens the joints of holy valour, and snaps the sinews of sacred courage.
The balloon never rises until the cords are cut; affliction doth this sharp
service for believing souls. While the wheat sleeps comfortably in the husk it
is useless to man, it must be threshed out of its resting place before its
value can be known. Thus it is well that Jehovah trieth the righteous, for it
causeth them to grow rich towards God.