4. The love of Christ appears by what he has given us; his love-tokens. Whatever we have, for being or well-being, spring from his love. It is love that opens those infinite treasures of goodness, which had else been eternally locked up from the creatures. And though, in these showers of mercy, some drops fall upon the wicked, and so seem common, yet the fountain of love, from whence they issue, is not common. There is a vast difference betwixt the provision which a man makes for his wife, and for his servants. Every mercy we enjoy is a drop from the ocean of his special love. Let us ascend, by some degrees, to the height of this bounteous love.
David Clarkson, “The Love of Christ (Eph. 5:2),” in
The Works of David Clarkson, 3 vols. (Edinburgh: James Nichol, 1864), 3:8.
Quest. 1. Whether Christ’s love be universal, extended to all men; or particular, restrained to some?
Ans. No. The Scripture holds forth a restrained, a distinguishing love. The contrary opinion is against the stream of Scripture, and makes Christ’s love less endearing, less free, less engaging. The text evinces this; he loves only those who are washed in his blood; all are not washed; those who are made kings and priests, all are not such.
Besides, Christ only loves his own, John 13:1, those that are given him by his Father. All are not his; he knows his, and is known of them, John 10:14, 27; but some he professes he knows not, Luke 13:27. It is the church that he loves, Eph. 5:25; but all belong not to the church, the most are not in the church, the greatest part in it are not of it. He gives his life for those he loves, Eph. 5:2; but he lays not down his life for all. This act of love is restrained to those whom he calls his sheep, John 10:11. All are not sheep, for who are those that will be found at Christ’s left hand? Christ’s flock is a little flock; he intercedes for all whom he loves, John 16:26, 27, and 17:20. He prays not for all; there is a world that he prays not for, John 17:9; he expresses it when he loves, gives love-tokens; manifests himself, John 14:21–23, not to all, ver. 22, draws near them, abides with them, gives consolation, good hope, peace, 2 Thes. 2:16, victory, Rom. 8:37. The Lord hates some, Ps. 5:5, Hos. 9:15, Mal. 1:3. There is a common love, which bestows common favours, outward and spiritual; and a special love.
David Clarkson, “The Love of Christ (Eph. 5:2),” in
The Works of David Clarkson, 3 vols. (Edinburgh: James Nichol, 1864), 3:37.
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