I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Reader! when Jesus saith, as he doth in the first of these verses, that he loves them that love him, do not imagine that it is meant to say, that our love of him becomes the cause of his love to us; for if we love him it is because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19. And certain it is that his love to us, and for us, is the sole cause of ours. Nay, more than this: if Jesus had not done more than merely looking upon us with love, and by his grace, shedding abroad his love in our hearts by his Holy Spirit, he had not subdued the natural enmity of our nature against him, and both planted love in us towards him, and drawn out that love in exercise upon him, never should we have loved him, notwithstanding all that he hath done for us, to all eternity. By what the loving and all lovely Redeemer here saith, of loving them that love him, we are to understand that in those precious souls where a love to him is shewn, as he himself is the author as well as the object of that love, such may be well assured that he loveth them who love him. And Jesus means, no doubt, at the same time to say by the expression, that he values such love, and his eye is continually upon it. And he will preserve it and keep it alive, and when they seem to feel their love towards him cool, still he will not suffer the flame to go out. Sweet thought to cherish. Song of Solomon 8:7. And see, Reader! what blessings are held forth to the lovers of Jesus, here are durable riches and righteousness. Not the fleeting, dying, transitory enjoyments of the world! Not the silver and gold of Peru! Not the righteousness of creatures, nor the bread of creatures which perisheth with using. But the durable riches of Christ's blood and righteousness which are forever, and the salvation which cannot be abolished. Oh! what fruit can be equal to the fruit of the Spirit, what revenue of choice silver and gold, to the possession of the everlasting income of Christ's righteousness, and peace, and joy, in the holy Ghost. Yes, precious Jesus, thine is substance indeed, to all who possess thee and thy treasures. All other attainments are hollow, unsubstantial, and insecure. Reader! what saith your soul's experience to these things? Do you enjoy Christ; is he your portion, your treasure, your happiness, your substance? If your heart can answer yes to the enquiry, then will you have a better apprehension of these things, than by any words which I can make use of, to shew the blessedness of their state, who in the love of Christ, and the possession of Christ, and an interest in his blood and righteousness; find a revenue indeed, of durable riches and pleasure.