KenH
Well-Known Member
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.—Proverbs 17:17.
Is not Jesus "this friend who loveth at all times?" Yea, before time commenced, his love existed towards his church. Every member was loved by him, and was given to him of the Father. When in time he saw them polluted in their blood, defiled with sin, and loathsome in their persons, yet (O wonderful!) that was the time of love, he passed by, his eye saw, his heart loved, and his lips said, LIVE. Dost thou, O soul, live by faith on the Son of God? This is the effect of love; this is love known and manifested. But dost thou find daily that thou art a poor sinner? Therefore art thou grieved, and thinkest thou shalt weary out the love of thy friend! No; that cannot be, he loveth at all times; "whom he loves, he loves to the end." Jesus is "the brother born for adversity," to comfort in and to support under it. Now thou art in an adverse state; the world, the flesh, and the devil are all against thee; but thy friend is above, engaged for thee; he is stronger than all. Though in dangers oft, always safe. Jesus was born to suffer adversity for his brethren. A friend and a brother makes one's sorrows and sufferings his own. So did Jesus. Our sins were his, "he bore them in his own body." "He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows." And hath he loved before time? Does he love at all times? Then what shall separate from the love of Jesus? Nothing: for "in all things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us."
- excerpt from William Mason's A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God, Volume 1, November 6
Is not Jesus "this friend who loveth at all times?" Yea, before time commenced, his love existed towards his church. Every member was loved by him, and was given to him of the Father. When in time he saw them polluted in their blood, defiled with sin, and loathsome in their persons, yet (O wonderful!) that was the time of love, he passed by, his eye saw, his heart loved, and his lips said, LIVE. Dost thou, O soul, live by faith on the Son of God? This is the effect of love; this is love known and manifested. But dost thou find daily that thou art a poor sinner? Therefore art thou grieved, and thinkest thou shalt weary out the love of thy friend! No; that cannot be, he loveth at all times; "whom he loves, he loves to the end." Jesus is "the brother born for adversity," to comfort in and to support under it. Now thou art in an adverse state; the world, the flesh, and the devil are all against thee; but thy friend is above, engaged for thee; he is stronger than all. Though in dangers oft, always safe. Jesus was born to suffer adversity for his brethren. A friend and a brother makes one's sorrows and sufferings his own. So did Jesus. Our sins were his, "he bore them in his own body." "He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows." And hath he loved before time? Does he love at all times? Then what shall separate from the love of Jesus? Nothing: for "in all things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us."
- excerpt from William Mason's A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God, Volume 1, November 6