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to live by sight。 He has found it pleasant to hear of Christ； and talk
of Christ； and read of Christ。 How much more pleasant will it be to see
Christ with his own eyes； and never to leave Him any more！ 〃Better；〃 he
feels； 〃is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desires〃
（Eccles。 vi。 9。） And why is all this？ Simply because he loves Him。
Such are the marks by which true love may be discovered。 They are all
plain； simple； and easy to be understood。 There is nothing dark；
abstruse； and mysterious about them。 Use them honestly； and handle them
fairly； and you cannot fail to get some light on the subject of this
paper。
Perhaps you had a beloved son in the army at the time of a great war。
Perhaps he was actively engaged in that war； and in the very midst of
the struggle。 Cannot you remember how strong； and deep； and anxious
your feelings were about that son？That was love！
Perhaps you have known what it is to have a beloved husband in the
navy； often called from home by duty； often separated from you for many
months and even years。 Cannot you recollect your sorrowful feelings at
that time of separation？That was love！
Perhaps you have at this moment a beloved brother in London； launched
for the first time amidst the temptations of a great city； in order to
make his way in business。 How will he turn out？ How will he get on？
Will you ever see him again？ Do you not know that you often think about
that brother？That is affection I
Perhaps you are engaged to be married to a person every way suited to
you。 But prudence makes it necessary to defer the marriage to a distant
period； and duty makes it necessary to be at a distance from the one
you have promised to make your wife。 Must you not confess that she is
often in your thoughts？Must you not confess that you like to hear of
her； and hear from her； and that you long to see her？That is
affection！
I speak of things that are familiar to everyone。 I need not dwell upon
them any further。 They are as old as the hills。 They are understood all
over the world。 There is hardly a branch of Adam's family that does not
know something of affection and love。 Then let it never be said that we
cannot find out whether a Christian really loves Christ。 It can be
known； it may be discovered； the proofs are all ready to your hand。 You
have heard them this very day。 Love to the Lord Jesus Christ is no
hidden； secret； impalpable thing。 It is like the lightit will be
seen。 It is like soundit will be heard。 It is like heatit will be
felt。 Where it exists it cannot be hid。 Where it cannot be seen you may
be sure there is none。
It is time for me to draw this paper to a conclusion。 But I cannot end
without an effort to press its subject home to the individual
conscience of each into whose hands it has fallen。 I do it in all love
and affection。 My heart's desire and prayer to God； in writing this
paper； is to do good to souls。
1。 Let me ask you； for one thing； to look the question in the face
which Christ asked of Peter； and try to answer it for yourself。 Look at
it seriously。 Examine it carefully。 Weigh it well。 After reading all
that I have said about it； can you honestly say that you love Christ？
It is no answer to tell me that you believe the truth of Christianity；
and hold the articles of the Christian faith。 Such religion as this
will never save your soul。 The devils believe in a certain way； and
tremble。 （James ii。 19。） True； saving Christianity is not the mere
believing a certain set of opinions； and holding a certain set of
notions。 Its essence is knowing； trusting； and loving a certain living
Person who died for useven Christ the Lord。 The early Christians；
like Phoebe； and Persis； and Tryphena； and Tryphosa； and Gaius； and
Philemon； knew little； probably； of dogmatic theology。 But they all had
this grand leading feature in their religion； they loved Christ。
It is no answer to tell me that you disapprove of a religion of
feelings。 If you mean by that that you dislike a religion consisting of
nothing but feelings； I agree with you entirely。 But if you mean to
shut out feelings altogether； you can know little of Christianity。 The
Bible teaches us plainly that a man may have good feelings without any
true religion。 But it teaches us no less plainly that there can be no
true religion without some feeling towards Christ。
It is vain to conceal that if you do not love Christ； your soul is in
great danger。 You can have no saving faith now while you live。 You are
unfit for heaven if you die。 He that lives without love to Christ can
be sensible of no obligation to Him。 He that dies without love to
Christ could never be happy in that heaven where Christ is all； and in
all。 Awake to know the peril of your position。 Open your eyes。 Consider
your ways； and be wise。 I can only warn you as a friend。 But I do it
with all my heart and soul。 May God grant that this warning may not be
in vain！
2。 In the next place； if you do not love Christ； let me tell you
plainly what is the reason。 You have no sense of debt to Him。 You have
no feeling of obligation to Him。 You have no abiding recollection of
having got anything from Him。 This being the case it is not likely； it
is not probable； it is not reasonable that you should love Him。
There is but one remedy for this state of things。 That remedy is
self…knowledge； and the teaching of the Holy Ghost。 The eyes of your
understanding must be opened。 You must find out what you are by nature。
You must discover that grand secret； your guilt and emptiness in God's
sight。
Perhaps you never read your Bible at all； or only read an occasional
chapter as a mere matter of form； without interest； understanding； or
self…application。 Take my advice this day； and change your plan。 Begin
to read the Bible like a man in earnest； and never rest till you bee
familiar with it。 Read what the law of God requires； as e