less profit than this, how close are they pursued, by some who
have adapted themselves thereunto? Men do not use to count telling
over of their money burdensome to them, nor yet the recounting of
their grounds, their herds, and their flocks, when they increase.
Why? the study of the unsearchable love of God in Christ to man,
is better in itself, and yields more sweetness to the soul of
man, than can ten thousand such things as but now are mentioned.
I know the wise men of this world, of whom there are many, will
say as to what I now press you unto; Who can shew us any good in
it? But Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that
their corn and their wine increaseth (Psa 4:6,7). David also said
that his meditation on the Lord should be sweet. Oh, there is in
God and in his Son, that kindness for the sons of men, that, did
they know it, they would like to retain the knowledge of it in
their hearts. They would cry out as she did of old; "Set me as a
seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong
as death" (Song 8:6,7). Every part, crumb, grain, or scrap of this
knowledge, is to a Christian, as drops of honey are to sweet-palated
children, worth the gathering up, worth the putting to the taste
to be relished. Yea, David says of the word which is the ground
of knowledge: "It is sweeter than honey or the honey-comb. More,"
saith he, "to be desired are they than gold; yea, than much fine
gold; sweeter also than honey or the honey-comb" (Psa 19:10). Why
then do not Christians devote themselves to the meditation of this
so heavenly, so goodly, so sweet, and so comfortable a thing, that
yieldeth such advantage to the soul? The reason is, these things
are talked of, but not believed: did men believe what they say,
when they speak so largely of the love of God, and the love of
Jesus Christ, they would, they could not but meditate upon it.