love to Him, but rather our continuance in the sweet and sacred
atmosphere of His love to us. For the connection between the two
halves of the verse necessarily requires that the love in which we
are to abide should be identical with the love which had been
previously spoken of, and _that_ is clearly His love to us, and not
ours to Him. But then, on the other hand, whosoever thus abides in
Christ's love to Him will echo it back again, in an equally
continuous love to Him. So that the two things flow together, and to
abide in the conscious possession of Christ's love to me is the
certain and inseparable cause of its effect, my abiding in the
continual exercise and outgoing of my love to Him.

Now note that this continuance in Christ's love is a thing in our
power, since it is commanded. Although it is His affection to us of
which my text primarily speaks, I can so modify and regulate the flow
of that divine love to my heart that it becomes my duty to continue
in Christ's love to me.

What a quiet, blessed home that is for us! The image, I suppose, that
underlies all this sweet speech in these last hours, about dwelling
in Christ, in His joy, in His words, in His peace, and the like, is
that of some safe house, into which going, we may be secure. And what
sorrow or care or trouble or temptation would be able to reach us if
we were folded in the protection of that strong love, and always felt
that it was the fortress into which we might continually resort? They
who make their abode there, and dwell behind those firm bastions,
need fear no foes, but are lifted high above them all. 'Abide in My
love,' for they who dwell within the clefts of that Rock need none
other defence; and they to whom the riven heart of Christ is the
place of their abode are safe, whatsoever befalls. 'As the Father