More Charnock: Love 'the first spring'

Still immersed in what is proving to be a simply stunning little book. Here is another excerpt (Commenting on Ephesians 5:2, "And walk in love, as Christ loved us, and gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice..."):

"['He loved us'] This is the first spring of all the actions of Christ towards us, and the passion of Christ for us. There could be no other motives with regard to us. Our misery might excite his pity, but his affection produced his passion. He loved us, as God, in common with His Father; he loved us, as man, by a participation of our nature. In this love, their is His divine will as a priest and His human will as a sacrifice. He pitied us while we were insensibly hurried down by the devil to a gulf of perdition. Love was the only impulse. Love excited Him, love prepared Him, love sent Him, love offered Him. The highest assurance of His love was the loss of His life. THE EXCELLENCY OF THE FRUIT SHOWS THE GOODNESS OF THE TREE."

My heart simply radiates at these insights into the astounding love of Christ for His chosen people.

Simon