No words can express the gratitude we owe to Him who loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins:the love of Jesus is unutterably precious and worthy of daily praise. No songs can ever fitly celebrate the triumphs of that salvation which He wrought single-handed on our behalf:the work of Jesus is glorious beyond compare, and all the harps of heaven fall short of its worthy honor. Yet I do believe, and my heart prompts me to say it, that the highest praise of every ransomed soul, and of the entire Church of God, should be offered to our adorable Lord for Himself-His own blessed Person. The love of His heart is excelled by the heart which gave forth that love, and the wonders of His hand are outdone by the hand itself, which wrought those miracles of grace. True, we bless Him for what He has done for us in the place of humble service, and for what He suffered for us as Substitute on the altar of sacrifice, and for what He is doing for us as Advocate in the place of highest honor at the right hand of God:but still, the best thing about Christ is Christ Himself. We prize what comes from Him, but we worship Him. His gifts are valued, but He Himself is adored.

While we contemplate, with mingled feelings of awe, admiration, and thankfulness, His atonement, His resurrection, His glory in heaven, and His second coming, His regal honors as Israel's Messiah in the world to come, still it is Christ Himself, stupendous in His dignity as the Son of God, and superbly beautiful as the Son of man, who sheds an incomparable charm on all those wonderful achievements, wherein His might and His merit, His goodness and His love and grace appear so conspicuous. For Him let our choicest spices be reserved, and to Him let our sweetest anthems be raised. Our choicest ointments must be poured upon His head, and for His own self alone our most costly alabaster boxes must be broken.

" He is altogether lovely." I suppose at first we always begin to love Him because of what He has done for us, and even to the last His love to us in His gifts will always be the strongest motive of our
affection towards Him; still there ought to be added to this another reason less connected with ourselves, and more entirely arising out of His own superlative excellency:we ought to love Him because He is lovely and deserves to be loved. The time should come and with some of us it has come, when we can heartily say, " We love Him because we cannot help it for His all-conquering loveliness has ravished our hearts." Surely it is but an unripe fruit to love Him merely for the benefits which we have received at His hands. It is a fruit of grace, but it is not of the ripest flavor; at least, there are other fruits, both new and old, which we have laid up for Him, and some of them have a daintier taste.

There is a sweet and mellow fruit which can only be brought forth by the summer sun of fellowship- it is love to Him because of His intrinsic goodness and personal sweetness. Oh, that we might love our Lord for His own sake-love Him because He is so supremely beautiful-because a glimpse of Him has won our hearts-because He is dearer to our eyes than light. Jesus Himself"is better than all He has done or given:and as from Himself all blessings flow, so back to Himself should all love return.

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