Christ Is Altogether Lovely

Was he lovely when he was nailed on the cross, hung between two thieves, when he wore a crown of thorns, whipped, when he sweat water and blood? Oh! yes; then he was most lovely of all to us, by how much the more he was abased for us. This makes him more lovely that out of love he would abase himself so low. When greatness and goodness meet together, how goodly it is! That Christ, so great a majesty, should have such compassion! It was so beyond comparison lovely in the eyes of the disciples, that they stood and wondered to see him, who was the eternal Word of the Father, condescend to talk with a poor Samaritan woman (John 4:6, 7). What loveliness of carriage was in him to Peter, undeserving, after he had denied him, yet to restore him to his former place, loving him as much as ever he did before! In a word, what sweetness, gentleness, meekness, pity, and compassion did he reveal to those that were in misery! There is a remarkable passage in the story of Alphonsus the king, not very well liked of some. When he saw a poor man pulling his beast out of a ditch, he put out his hand to help him; after which, as it is recorded, his subjects ever loved him the better. Is it not as wonderful that the King of heaven and earth should stoop so low as to help us poor worms out of the ditch of hell and damnation and advance us to such a state and condition as is above our admiration, which neither heart can conceive nor tongue express? Is not this wonderful condescension?
Let us labour to place all our sweet affections upon this object, this lovely deserving object, Christ. Let the whole stream of our affections be carried unto Christ. For he, being altogether lovely, all that comes from him is lovely. His promises, his directions, his counsels, his children, his ordinances, are all lovely. Whatever has the stamp of Christ upon it, let us love it. We cannot bestow our hearts better.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Love of Christ (Bowels Opened), pp. 292-94 [288-90]
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