Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. John 21:15.
This love is the fruit of the love of Christ, and consequently cannot have place till this is shed abroad in our hearts, that we can confidently rest upon it. As in striking a circle, one point of the compasses must be kept steady in the centre, if the other shall go right; so our faith must be immoveably fixed in Christ, in his righteousness, grace, and love, if the reciprocal love and sanctification shall follow; but relying only on gifts of sanctification, yields no settled peace and assurance, and consequently no strength to walk steadily in love.
Jesus, thy boundless love to me
No thought can reach, no tongue declare:
O knit my thankful heart to thee,
And reign without a rival there;
Thine wholly, thine alone I am:
Be thou alone my constant flame.
O grant that nothing in my soul
May dwell, but thy pure love alone:
O may thy love possess me whole,
My joy, my treasure, and my crown,
Strange fires far from my soul remove,
My every act, word, thoughts be love.