A Jeep In Summer

This One's For Lang

That we may show our love improperly, I readily grant; but that we can love one another too much, I utterly deny, provided only it be in subserviency to the love of God. I think I have explained to you that word fervently ('see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently'): its precise meaning is intensely. No two words in any two languages more exactly agree than 'intensely' does with the original. If then our love be with a pure heart, this alone were sufficient to establish the point. But I am anxious to convey to you more fully my views of this matter, because as God himself is love, I think that the more intensely I love those who are beloved of him, the more I think I resemble him. The proper model for our love to each other is Christ's love to us. If you will not fall short of that, I have no fear of your exceeding it. We are required to lay down our lives for the brethren. We shall not readily exceed that. The union that should subsist between the saints should resemble, as far as possible, the love that subsists betwen God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. How then can we fear excess?...

Perhaps you will say, my grief is, that my love generates disquietude when those who are dear to me are ill; and this is an evidence that my love is idolatrous, and not truly Christian. Then what will you say to Paul, who confesses, 'he had no rest in his spirit because he found not Titus his brother?' Christianity does not encourage apathy: it is to regulate, not to eradicate our affections. It admits to their full operation, but tempers them as to their measure, and sanctifies them to the Lord.

But I will not delay this, that I may show at least, that if love be a crime, there are few more guilty than your friend.

--Charles Simeon, 1835