They love their very beasts!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

(Thomas Doolittle, "Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!" 1693)
"If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ--that person is cursed!" 1 Corinthians 16:22
 
Some openly declare by their actions and manner of conduct--that they do not love the Lord Jesus Christ. Some openly pretend love to Christ, but really have no true love unto Him. "My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words--but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion--but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain!" Ezekiel 33:31

Love to Christ is in their mouth--but love to the world is in their heart!

Some say that they love him--but God knows they do not: "But I know you--that you have not the love of God in you!" John 5:42. No!

Do you know how great a sin this is? Why then do you make so light of it?
Why then are you no more ashamed, that you lack this love to the Lord Jesus Christ?

What! Do you love your gold--and not your God? Or do you make your gold your god--and then love your gold, instead of loving the true God? Can you love your silver--and not the precious Savior?

You are bound to love your very enemies--and yet you have no love to Him who would be your surest, greatest, and most faithful Friend!

What shall I say? Lord, I am ashamed, and blush to say that which is true of too many men--that they love their very beasts, their dog, their horse, and their cattle--and yet will not be prevailed upon to love your Son--your only Son, your beloved Son!

Nay, what shall I say? You love your heinous lusts and filthy sins, which will destroy and damn you forever--and yet have no love for the Lord Jesus, who would save you from your sins, and from Hell forever.

What can I say? You do not love Christ--because you love your sin so much!

Oh horrid shame! You love deformity--and not beauty!
Where are your eyes man? Surely your love to sin is blind.

Oh monstrous iniquity! You love that which is worst of all--and not Him who is best of all!

Where is your reason? Has sin bereaved you of your wits? Oh madness and folly! Are you so fond of sin--as to be damned for it? Are you so foolishly fond of this world--that you choose to be hated by God, and banished out of His glorious presence forever? Is your soul so clogged with flesh, and sunk so deep into it--that it can rise no higher than to love sensual, earthly, and fleshly delights and pleasures?
"If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ--that person is cursed!"

   ~  ~  ~  ~