“If any man will love me, and keep my words, my Father will love him; and we will come to him, and make our abode with him (John 14:23)”.
It may be said - it has often been said - “Is it not a fact tht many true Christians are often without comfort, and enjoy but in a small degree the peace of God, which passes all understanding? Admitting the fact, the question naturally arises, “What is the state of their mind and heart in reference to Christ and his words, when they are in this condition?” Are they, having his word, loving him? Are they, loving him, keeping his saints? If they are, we deny that they are - that they can be - destitute of comfort, except from the influence of mental or bodily disease. We must never doubt the declaration of the faithful and true Witness - “If any man will love me, and keep my words, my Father will love him; and we will come to him, and make our abode with him”. These words are too plain to be misunderstood; and while none can misapprehend their meaning, who dare question their truth? With the exception already made, want of siritual comfort on the part of Christians, must be traced to deficient or mistaken views of the gospel- of the salvation of Christ- or of the way in which it is brought near to them as sinners, and is to be received by them; or to some prejudice against the way of salvation, in its abgsolute freedom, originating in these deficient and mistaken views, leading them to expect comfort from themselves, and not from the finished work of Christ clearly revealed in the Gospel, and to place that dependence on fluctuating feelings which can be safely rested only on eternal truth; or, finally, to the indulgence of some sinful affection, or the neglect of some duty - the commission of some sin. They are not keeping Christ’s word; and it is therefore that he does not manifest himself to them - that he does not come and make his abode with them. The fellowship with God and Christ, which yields comfort, must be fellowship in truth, and love, and holiness. If the Christian puts the psalmist’s question, “Oh, when will you come to me?” the words which follow suggest the answer - “Walk in a perfect way. He meets him that rejoices and works righteousness,” (Ps 101:2; Is 64:5). Live in faith, and let faith work by love. Hold fast the truth. Do not “hold it” - confine it - “in unrighteousness,” and you shall not lack comfort or peace.
Let Christians beware of ascribing their want of the manifestations spoken of in the text, merely or chiefly to Divine sovereignty. God’s sovereignty invariably harmonizes with his wisdom, righteousness, and benignity. But this would not be the fact if - after having declared that He is the rewarder of them who diligently seek Him - that He fills such persons with joy and peace in believing - that they who love his law have great peace - that He will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on Him - that they who wait on Him shall renew their strength - that to them who, having his word, love his Son, and loving his Son keep his commands, He will come and make his abode with them - if, after all this, He should yet, without any reason but sovereign will, withhold or withdraw peace, hope, and joy, from those who are seeking Him, trusting in Him, waiting on Him, keeping his word, and involve them in darkness, perplexity, and cheerless despondency. He affronts God who, even in thought, imputes such caprice to Him. No; though sovereign, He is not capricious. He never withholds - He never withdraws - without a reason, and a good one. And when a Christian loses his comfort, it is wise in him to inquire, Is there not a cause? And what is it?
The practical consequences of indulging these mistaken views, as to the cause of want of Christian comfort, to which we are adverting, are most injurious. They prevent us from looking into OUR OWN hearts and lives for the causes of the lack of spiritual comfort in the enjoyment of manifestations of the Savior, and the presence of the Father with us; and from using the APPROPRIATE means of having these causes removed; they teach us to look on God with an unkindly and jealous eye, as if He were treating us with undue severity; they lead us to regard the despondency, and perplexity, and terror, which are the natural and threatened effect of backsliding in heart or life from God, as afflictions imposed on us for our trial - under which we may confidently look both to Christ and to our brethren for compassion and sympathy, without any exposure of our sin, or reproofs for it - and they discourage faith in the truth, dependence on the Savior, and holy obedience, by representing them as not effectual for the purpose which they are certainly intended to serve as the open channel for the communication of peace and comfort to the soul.
