The Redeemer's Love

“Your Redeemer first brought you out of nothing; and when you had sold yourselves for naught, he himself became your ransom, though he needed you not: see, therefore, that ye ascribe all to his love. It was not any betterness of yours that gave you preference in redemption, nor was it your ingenuous compliance that made redemption effectual to you, (those are slight pretences); had not your Redeemer bought you from yourself, released you from your imaginary freedom, and saved you from unbelief, you had never known what this redemption had meant, not what it is to be free indeed. No, it was purely your Redeemer’s love: he valued you as being his Father’s gift; and as given to be one with himself: “He therefore loved you, and gave himself for you.” When you were in your blood, and no eye pitied you (no not your own); then was the time of his love: even then he accepted the motion made by his Father and yours, and signed the contract. He knew both your weight and your worth; your natural unfitness for him, and averseness to the match: he also knew what it must cost him to make you both meet and willing; and that it was so stupendous a work, that all the hosts of heaven would have broken under. He further knew, that after all he should do and suffer for you, you could not advantage him in the least; only he should have the satisfaction to have made you happy against your unrenewed will; and he declined it not: he came “leaping upon the mountains, and skipping over the hills” (of death and difficulties), as longing for, and delighting to be in that work: he was straightened until it was accomplished; such was the intenseness of his love to you; and a great deal ado he had with your wills, before you were brought to be willing. And for all this, he only expects you will carry it worthy of so great a lover, and such manner of love: which is, in effect, but to accept of, and to continue in, his love, and be willing he should save you freely; and own this love of his as the immediate fountain whence your happiness is derived.” ~ Elisha Coles