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The True Christian's Love to the Unseen Christ
Whom having not seen, ye love... - 1 Peter 1:8 Love to Christ is essential to true Christianity. Without love, faith lies dead, like a body without a soul. While many claim to be Christians, their lack of love for Christ proves that they know nothing of Christianity's true nature. Therefore Christ demands love from all His disciples, knowing the transforming power it has over the souls of men. In The True Christian's Love to the Unseen Christ , Thomas Vincent endeavors to excite and provoke Christians to a lively and vigorous exercise of love toward Jesus. With pastoral affection, Vincent delivers a variety of arguments and motivations to stir us up to love. He also provides a number of wise directions for how to warm and enflame one s heart with a love for Christ. A devotional classic, this specimen of practical Christianity is full of biblical application and encouragement. This volume also includes a biographical sketch of the author and appended sermon concerning Christ s manifestation of Himself to those who love Him. Foreword written by John MacArthur.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 10, 2023
O carte absolut superbă despre siguranța dragostei lui Hristos pentru credincioși, modul în care ea este revelată și prezentă credinciosului. O dragoste ce emană siguranță și statornicie.
În același timp, cartea abordează în principal tematica dragostei credinciosului pentru Hristos, care trebuie să primeze în fața oricărui alt lucru. De ce trebuie să fie iubit Hristos și cum trebuie El iubit.
O carte ce te provoacă să te gândești adânc la cât de mult arde focul dragostei tale pentru persoana lui Hristos și care te determină să fii mai înflăcărat în a-L iubi pe El.
În același timp, cartea abordează în principal tematica dragostei credinciosului pentru Hristos, care trebuie să primeze în fața oricărui alt lucru. De ce trebuie să fie iubit Hristos și cum trebuie El iubit.
O carte ce te provoacă să te gândești adânc la cât de mult arde focul dragostei tale pentru persoana lui Hristos și care te determină să fii mai înflăcărat în a-L iubi pe El.
February 10, 2025
I actually don’t know how many times I have read this book. It is worth rereading.
May 26, 2017
Thomas Vincent: Born at Hertford, England in May, 1634. Educated at Oxford. Pastor of Rectory of Sn Mary Magdalen, London. Ejected by the Bartholomew Act of 1662. Died October 15, 1678.
Good book to stir one's affections for Christ. One thing I am beginning to admire in the Puritans is their emphasis on the ongoing value of our union with Jesus. Christ is not just a source of pardon to manage our sin problem. Christ is a living friend and redeemer with whom we can have fellowship, whose love we enjoy and one whom we can learn to love in return.
Quotes:
(1) Ch. 1 (The Christian's Love to the Unseen Christ)
-SIII,(2): The ground of this love to Christ is the discovery and believing apprehensions of Christ's loveliness and love. There must be first a discovery of Christ's loveliness and love. There must be first a discovery of Christ as a suitable object for love; and not merely a bare notion of this, but believing apprehensions of it, that Christ is infinitely lovely, superlatively excellent, and that His love is matchless and transcended towards the children of men; that there is a treasure in Him, and a storehouse of all graces, and the most needful and rich supplies. Otherwise there will be no going forth of the heart in love unto him.
-SIII(4): The concomitant of this love which true Christians have unto Christ is a yielding and dedication of themselves unto His will and service. Lovers give themselves unto those whom they love. This accompanies the marriage union; and such as love Christ are espoused and joined unto Christ, and they give themselves unto Christ to be His and wholly at His disposal, as the wife gives herself unto the disposal of her husband.
-pg. 15: Christ excelled the most excellent men that ever lived, as to spiritual endowments, when he was here upon earth. He excelled Moses in meekness, Solomon in wisdom, Job in patience; and how much does He excel now that He is in heaven? He excels not only the spirits of just men made perfect, but also the most glorious and holy angels that never sinned. If any creatures have wisdom, it is but a beam; Christ is the sun. If they have goodness, it is but a drop; in Christ is the ocean. If they have holiness, it is but a spark of dark shadow; Christ is the brightness of His Father's glory. If they have the Spirit, they have it but in some measure; the Spirit is given to Christ without measure, John 3:34.
-pg. 21: Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly; be as a roe, or a young deer upon the mountains of spices. Leap over the mountains, skip over the hills, and make haste unto my soul, which is sick of love for Thee in Thy absence from me. O that I might see Thy face which is so fair! That I might hear Thy voice which is so sweet! That I might feel They presence which is so refreshing! O that I might behold Thy heart-ravishing smiles!
-pg. 24: Do you love Christ's image on His people? If you do not love your brother whom you have seen, how can you love your Lord whom you have not seen? All Christ's disciples bear Christ's image; if you love the original you will love the picture, although it is but imperfectly drawn.
-pg. 30: You can think of your raiment, but how little do you think of the robes of Christ's righteousness?
-pg. 45: His love is not in the least counterfeit, it is not in the least selfish and for His own ends. He does not love you to receive good from you, but that He might do good unto you.
-pg. 46: It was the love of Christ which made Him to fulfill all righteousness for you. He yielded perfect obedience to the law, both moral and ceremonial, that you might have the benefit of it.
-pg. 49: Has Christ united himself to your nature, and shall not your hearts be united to HIs person? Has He fulfilled all righteousness for you, and will not you fulfill His command of love?...Is He preparing a glorious mansion for you in His Father's house, and will not you prepare a place for Him, and entertain Him in the inner room of your chiefest affections?
-pg. 50: Will He raise upo your bodies at the last day, and will not the hopes of this raise up your affection? Shall you be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and will Christ there own and crown you, and will not the believing forethoughts of this ravish your hearts with love to Christ, and transport you with unspeakable joy?
-pg. 50: He may, indeed, upon unkindness on your side, withdraw the manifestations of His love for awhile, but He will never wholly remove His love from you.
-Pg. 53: You have the robes of righteousness from Christ. You are born naked of original righteousness, and you could not work out any actual righteousness for yourselves that might cover your nakedness whatever you wrought yourselves. It was a rags that could not cover you, and it ws filthy rags which polluted and defiled you. Christ has given you the robes of His perfect righteousness to cover and adorn you and, therein, you are accepted as perfectly righteous in the sight of God. O how should we love the Lord Jesus for this garment! If your bodies were naked, and one should give you clothes to cover you, especially if they were rich clothes, you would love such a person; and will you not love the Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you a garment to cover your souls, and that a very rich one, even the robes of His most pure and unspotted righteousness which, by faith, is put upon you?
-Pg. 63: "How can I do this evil and offend my dear Lord?" will be the answer of love to repel temptations to sin, whatever alluring proffers they may be accompanied with.
-Pg. 79: Direction 3: Would you have much love to Christ? Be much in prayer to God for this love, Ephesians 6:23, Peace be unto the brethren, and love, with faith from God the Father.
-Pg. 80: Tell Him that if you asked for corn, wine, and oil; if you asked for wealth and honors, and creature delights in abundance, they might be a snare to you, and for your hurt; but a strong love to Christ is needful and useful, and you can be sure it will be for your good.
-Pg. 82: Doubts of Christ's love cause fears, and fears contract the heart, and therefore, are opposite to love which is the expansion and enlargement of the heart (Steve: my fears have narrowed my heart in the most comprehensive sense--no joy, no generosity, rigidity, pettiness, hyper-judgmentalism. Lord, deliver me from all this!!!).
-Pg. 90: If you have found the Messiah, or rather have been found of Him, let you love to Christ, and love to souls, prompt you to endeavor the conversion of others that are your relations, your friends, and acquaintances.
-Pg. 93: (on Christian duties in 3 spheres of life): Christ used to worship publicly in the synagogues, to pray with His disciples, and to spend time also in secret prayer; so you should give your attendance in the public assemblies of God's people, worship God in your families, and be often upon your knees at the throne of grace in secret.
-124: And what comfort this is that whatever you ask of the Father in the name of your dear Lord Jesus, if it is for His glory and your good, He will certainly procure it for you.
Good book to stir one's affections for Christ. One thing I am beginning to admire in the Puritans is their emphasis on the ongoing value of our union with Jesus. Christ is not just a source of pardon to manage our sin problem. Christ is a living friend and redeemer with whom we can have fellowship, whose love we enjoy and one whom we can learn to love in return.
Quotes:
(1) Ch. 1 (The Christian's Love to the Unseen Christ)
-SIII,(2): The ground of this love to Christ is the discovery and believing apprehensions of Christ's loveliness and love. There must be first a discovery of Christ's loveliness and love. There must be first a discovery of Christ as a suitable object for love; and not merely a bare notion of this, but believing apprehensions of it, that Christ is infinitely lovely, superlatively excellent, and that His love is matchless and transcended towards the children of men; that there is a treasure in Him, and a storehouse of all graces, and the most needful and rich supplies. Otherwise there will be no going forth of the heart in love unto him.
-SIII(4): The concomitant of this love which true Christians have unto Christ is a yielding and dedication of themselves unto His will and service. Lovers give themselves unto those whom they love. This accompanies the marriage union; and such as love Christ are espoused and joined unto Christ, and they give themselves unto Christ to be His and wholly at His disposal, as the wife gives herself unto the disposal of her husband.
-pg. 15: Christ excelled the most excellent men that ever lived, as to spiritual endowments, when he was here upon earth. He excelled Moses in meekness, Solomon in wisdom, Job in patience; and how much does He excel now that He is in heaven? He excels not only the spirits of just men made perfect, but also the most glorious and holy angels that never sinned. If any creatures have wisdom, it is but a beam; Christ is the sun. If they have goodness, it is but a drop; in Christ is the ocean. If they have holiness, it is but a spark of dark shadow; Christ is the brightness of His Father's glory. If they have the Spirit, they have it but in some measure; the Spirit is given to Christ without measure, John 3:34.
-pg. 21: Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly; be as a roe, or a young deer upon the mountains of spices. Leap over the mountains, skip over the hills, and make haste unto my soul, which is sick of love for Thee in Thy absence from me. O that I might see Thy face which is so fair! That I might hear Thy voice which is so sweet! That I might feel They presence which is so refreshing! O that I might behold Thy heart-ravishing smiles!
-pg. 24: Do you love Christ's image on His people? If you do not love your brother whom you have seen, how can you love your Lord whom you have not seen? All Christ's disciples bear Christ's image; if you love the original you will love the picture, although it is but imperfectly drawn.
-pg. 30: You can think of your raiment, but how little do you think of the robes of Christ's righteousness?
-pg. 45: His love is not in the least counterfeit, it is not in the least selfish and for His own ends. He does not love you to receive good from you, but that He might do good unto you.
-pg. 46: It was the love of Christ which made Him to fulfill all righteousness for you. He yielded perfect obedience to the law, both moral and ceremonial, that you might have the benefit of it.
-pg. 49: Has Christ united himself to your nature, and shall not your hearts be united to HIs person? Has He fulfilled all righteousness for you, and will not you fulfill His command of love?...Is He preparing a glorious mansion for you in His Father's house, and will not you prepare a place for Him, and entertain Him in the inner room of your chiefest affections?
-pg. 50: Will He raise upo your bodies at the last day, and will not the hopes of this raise up your affection? Shall you be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and will Christ there own and crown you, and will not the believing forethoughts of this ravish your hearts with love to Christ, and transport you with unspeakable joy?
-pg. 50: He may, indeed, upon unkindness on your side, withdraw the manifestations of His love for awhile, but He will never wholly remove His love from you.
-Pg. 53: You have the robes of righteousness from Christ. You are born naked of original righteousness, and you could not work out any actual righteousness for yourselves that might cover your nakedness whatever you wrought yourselves. It was a rags that could not cover you, and it ws filthy rags which polluted and defiled you. Christ has given you the robes of His perfect righteousness to cover and adorn you and, therein, you are accepted as perfectly righteous in the sight of God. O how should we love the Lord Jesus for this garment! If your bodies were naked, and one should give you clothes to cover you, especially if they were rich clothes, you would love such a person; and will you not love the Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you a garment to cover your souls, and that a very rich one, even the robes of His most pure and unspotted righteousness which, by faith, is put upon you?
-Pg. 63: "How can I do this evil and offend my dear Lord?" will be the answer of love to repel temptations to sin, whatever alluring proffers they may be accompanied with.
-Pg. 79: Direction 3: Would you have much love to Christ? Be much in prayer to God for this love, Ephesians 6:23, Peace be unto the brethren, and love, with faith from God the Father.
-Pg. 80: Tell Him that if you asked for corn, wine, and oil; if you asked for wealth and honors, and creature delights in abundance, they might be a snare to you, and for your hurt; but a strong love to Christ is needful and useful, and you can be sure it will be for your good.
-Pg. 82: Doubts of Christ's love cause fears, and fears contract the heart, and therefore, are opposite to love which is the expansion and enlargement of the heart (Steve: my fears have narrowed my heart in the most comprehensive sense--no joy, no generosity, rigidity, pettiness, hyper-judgmentalism. Lord, deliver me from all this!!!).
-Pg. 90: If you have found the Messiah, or rather have been found of Him, let you love to Christ, and love to souls, prompt you to endeavor the conversion of others that are your relations, your friends, and acquaintances.
-Pg. 93: (on Christian duties in 3 spheres of life): Christ used to worship publicly in the synagogues, to pray with His disciples, and to spend time also in secret prayer; so you should give your attendance in the public assemblies of God's people, worship God in your families, and be often upon your knees at the throne of grace in secret.
-124: And what comfort this is that whatever you ask of the Father in the name of your dear Lord Jesus, if it is for His glory and your good, He will certainly procure it for you.
February 20, 2024
Excellent. Read it slowly, think it over, and pray accordingly.
April 29, 2021
Puritans can be wordy and their points elusive, yet some are rich and full treasures waiting to be unearthed by the reader. This is one. If you have not read this book as a Christian, pick this up, it will only heightened, your love for Christ!
November 1, 2024
I plan to return to this book over and over. The outline is choppy and hard to follow but the precious gems of knowledge found throughout made it well worth the time and effort. My love to Christ has been heightened by this book.
March 31, 2016
Short as it may be, it's a book which points out the need to love Chris, who just wanted to love l, not what we've done but us to guine His family
January 27, 2019
A beautiful book searching the depths of Christ’s love to the believer and the believer’s love to Christ. The comparison leaves one shameful about their lack of love to Him, yet comforted by the abundance of His love to them. It guides the weary heart out of this world and into the arms of Christ. It’s a short but amazing read!
May 1, 2023
I would be lying if I said I fully understood this book. I reread most of the book trying to decode what I didn’t understand.
However what I did understand was amazing. This is an earnest call to intimacy with Christ. This work was very Puritan, it felt like something you’d find in Owen or Baxter.
I will revisit this work and hopefully it grows on me.
However what I did understand was amazing. This is an earnest call to intimacy with Christ. This work was very Puritan, it felt like something you’d find in Owen or Baxter.
I will revisit this work and hopefully it grows on me.
July 14, 2019
Beautiful devotional writing. A man delighting in Jesus with a passion for Christ and people.
June 9, 2021
Stick with it, it’s worth it.
August 16, 2022
O lectură obligatorie pentru orice creștin și oricine e interesat de Dumnezeu.
January 3, 2024
I read this as a lost teen and it caused me to blush on many occasions at the radical and irresistible, overwhelming love of God - who I had not yet come to know.
March 4, 2024
Good devotional , thorough analysis of the love between Christ and the believer.
September 2, 2024
Hermoso libro, creo que más que un libro es un manual, que nos puede ser de mucha utilidad cada vez que veamos que nuestro amor por Cristo mengue.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews