The unquenchable love of God (Quality: Poor)

[0:00] The words I've eventually tried make a few remarks from this evening you'll find in the 8th chapter of Solomon's Psalm, verse 7.

[0:12] The 7th verse of the 8th chapter of Solomon's Psalm. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.

[0:30] If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, he would utterly be contemned. How Solomon, in the Solomon's Psalm, beheld this love.

[0:52] And we might say at the beginning it is a two-fold love. It is a love of God to the church and the church's love to God.

[1:09] Made known throughout these chapters. But with this difference. The love of God was for all eternity.

[1:26] In the beginning, before all worlds, toward his people, his church. But their love unto God was in that time when the Spirit spoke peace and pardon to the soul.

[1:52] And when the Holy Spirit brought them to a knowledge of their condition before God.

[2:07] Well, firstly then, the love of God has made known that these many waters cannot quench love.

[2:22] And we are sure of this truth. That whatever waters we are called to pass through, it cannot quench the love of God to the soul.

[2:45] Though he gives the waters of adversity and the bread of trouble.

[2:58] Yet you see, he does many best. His love to his people. And though you and I may pass through many trials, these waters, we are brought to pass through in this time state.

[3:24] The very first water that a child of God has to pass through, I believe is when they are convinced of their sin.

[3:38] And then when, my dear Bunyan saideth it forth, when they come to the slough of despond.

[3:51] Is there a poor despondent one here? Well, you know, when we come into that water despondency, I'm sure that it cannot quench the love of God to the soul.

[4:15] There will be a struggling in despondency. There will be a prayer go forth, not from the lip only, but from the heart unto God.

[4:35] There won't be then praying but with ourselves. There will be a praying in our hearts unto God how that he will be with us in these waters.

[4:55] Well, he is with us in those waters, the waters of affliction. And there are many and various.

[5:12] And we shall find them to be sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet. But for the most part, they will be bitter waters.

[5:27] And they will be bitter to that extent that we shall not feel we can far take off them. But nevertheless, God's love will be made manifest in them for he does not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

[5:52] He does not lay his rod upon men for only for one purpose. to the world he laid his rod upon them that they might know in due course that he is the judge and he is the great and mighty God that hath a right of the disposal of mankind as he hath ordained it that the rod on his people will be not a rod of rock.

[6:37] No, he does not afflict his people and bring down the rod in rock. He brings it down in love.

[6:51] And one says the lash is steeped beyond the lands and softened in his blood.

[7:02] And though you and I may have proved in these waters that we pass through that we have a rebellious heart and like we read this morning they dwell in a dry land.

[7:22] That is to say while they are left in that rebellion. Our God his love is such that he will rebuke and rebuke our poor sin.

[7:41] It doesn't mean always outward sin. He will rebuke for that definitely. But do we realize that the thought of foolishness is sin always?

[7:59] Do we realize life and prophecy spirit is sin? Do we realize that jesting and many things like that are sin?

[8:14] Yea, I'll come closer. Do we realize that everything that is of the flesh and springs from the flesh is sin?

[8:28] Well, you know, if we are drawn to see this, God in his love will reprove us and if it is not seen by others, he'll reprove us in our conscience, I hope there's none here with a seared conscience, we have a tender conscience, tender in the fear of God, it'll amaze you as it has been what some would term little things, the conscience, our will, our reprove, and it'll be in the hand of God to bring us before him to ask forgiveness, well, the fear of God, my friends, wrap it up, our people, mine, will not permit the minutest degree of anything of the flesh, and that's close, isn't it, but what are we to do with this, well, we know we have power over the flesh, but there is that of asking that God might subdue the things of the flesh, and that which is alienated from God, and had it not been for his subduing grace, where would you and I be tonight?

[10:17] Well, I know where I was once. We all know where we've been in our past lands, but many waters cannot quench love, though we may have been wanted and wanted proud from him, even against conscience, though we may have done many evils, all those bitter things, which one said, they remembered the wormwood and the gall, his soul had them still in remembrance, those bitter waters, but he couldn't quench love, that love that is so rich, so sweet, so boundless, that love that was set upon you, how before all worlds, that love, the same love that was set upon

[11:22] Manasseh and upon dear Ephraim, to know what God said of him, is he for him my dear son, since I spake against him, I learn to remember him still, and then the writer of those words, or the speaker of those words this night, dear Peter, how he proved that many waters could not quench love, oh, the loving heart of a dear Redeemer, when Peter denied him, even warned of him, before the cock crowed France, twice though he denied him Christ, and yet you see, he also Christ warned him, that

[12:24] Satan had his son, had to have him to sift in his wheat, did he leave him there, no, but I have prayed for Father, that thy faith fail not, there was love, that love that could not quench the waters of sin, could not quench her want, in that sense thy meaning there, his sin could not quench those waters of God's love toward him, do you know how it was when dear Peter went out, when he saw the Lord, the look of the Saviour, he went out and wept bitterly, they weren't he saw tears, they were tears of contrition and sorrow for sin and you sinner, if you know a little of that time, have you never been brought to that place where you have been compelled to weep before him for your sin well you know the dear poet there's a second look he gave which said

[13:55] I really all forgive love that love that is boundless and was fixed upon Peter in eternity and others in God's world too who proved that many waters did not quench that love look at dear David how you see his pathway while here on earth many bitter waters Ithapol rose up against him he won that he went to the house of God in company there you see what a bit of water that was but all those things could not quench the love of God before him and then that city fell into oh some eyes talking professor some

[15:04] Pharisee written professor of religion might say well I wouldn't have fallen into that sin don't you be too sure about these things sinner it only wants the inclination and the opportunity you know and Satan is our right hand to push it on there's no sin that you and I are proof against not one my friend that he that think he standeth take heed lest he fall I know what I'm speaking about I say there's not one sin that we are proof against and dear David you know how he fell into sin and how God came with that wrong when he sent one under him and gave him that choice of three things in punishment you know he could not bear as a thought but when you see the prophet asked him what should be done he says and he began to say he was going to punish other people for what he done himself to see how he says but thou art the man and when the word comes to you and shows you who you are that very character then it'll make you very quiet as to finding anything in others it will indeed you'll find it's all in our own hearts it will bring us more and more

[17:00] I feel I are to prize as a love of God to us that he has not cut us off as cumberers of the ground well he would have done but for his covenant he would have done but for his eternal decrees and purposes that are unalterable we have no claim upon God we have no claim upon anything really even that which we have here on earth is only lent to us I'll try and come to it a few moments as many waters then cannot quench love well now there is the love of God well there is then I believe as I said at the beginning there is the love of the sinner toward

[18:01] God love begets love and therefore when we are brought to behold the love of God to us as sinners then love in our hearts go out toward them like it says in the song that this is my beloved and again my beloved is white and rubby the cheapest among ten thousand and the altogether lovely and there will be love going out to him as we see him as he paid the price for sin upon the cross and that of agony and pain he bore for you and for me then as we view his love our love will go toward him there will be times when the arms of our faith would embrace him yea there are times when it does embrace him but we must have this made known to us by the operation of the

[19:33] Holy Ghost we may know of it in the letter of truth we may know it in our judgment what do we know of it by experience and by the operation of the spirit oh I dread the thought how do you get on oh I dread the thought as we are far facing to a never ending eternity lest I might only have these things even now as as in the letter of truth or by sitting under the sound of it so many years like a child at school as it were and become so accustomed to expressions and portions of scripture and so on and then find even after all we have not the vital reality possible oh my friends how we need then to have the love of God felt in our hearts and also that love go out toward him as he as he died just for the unjust upon the cross well whatever floods you see the floods could not drown his love those floods of wrath that came against him by which the father poured out upon him all his penal costs when he stood as a substitute for his people when he stood there as a representative may I say rightly of his church as the king of his realm the spiritual

[21:55] Israel there I say those waters of the penal wrath of the father could not quench his love that love that we could never fathom it's too deep of poor human reason to understand and then there were the waters that he passed through of agony in his holy body those dear hands and feet at his dear sacred side torn for sinners whatever their love like this that love that he that caused him to be made a little love the angels that he might that he might redeem not good men not the old not those that had a religion of their own no that he might redeem sinners those that had no help in themselves those that could bring nothing of their own had been had been had been merited by them and received from

[23:35] God any return of love while how then those waters could not quench his love and then there was the taunts of those around him if thou be the son of God come down from the cross save thyself and us there was an easy thing for it says but love many waters could not quench his love and so how you see bore that those taunts from them when he said I first how they ran you see and could give him nothing better than vinegar to drink drink have you had a little fellowship with

[24:41] Christ here when you felt and thirsted after many things for your soul's good and yet were those things within you that brought you nothing but vinegar to drink no sweetness in the things of God but only those things which were sour to your taste that is to my mind just for a moment here to with those who will appreciate his love if the children it says eat a sour grain that teeth will be upon it so my friend if anyone here may be left or have been eaten a sour grape that is to say something that is congenial to the flesh satisfying the flesh you'll find in due course your teeth will be on edge you won't have any willies for the things of

[26:00] God and if that be the case then if God comes in his love then you will prove the greatness of that love and that even though many waters cannot quench his love come ye that know and fear the Lord said one and lift your hearts above come and sing with sweet accord and sing that God is love love then one said love my soul still still fond love so great so rich so free and then this love is known by feelings it's a love that's unchangeable doesn't ever flow like yours and mine we may love a person one five minutes they only want to do something we don't like and love varies you know doesn't say we shall hate them because that love will revive again if you understand me rightly

[27:32] I believe it'll it'll diminish we shall feel that sweetness in that love but God isn't like that his love is the same he knows no change and his love to dear Peter was the same when he denied it when he looked upon him with the second time yes oh I say there's a depth in God love isn't there and so then his love to his people is such that those waters which he endured did not quench it and could not quench it and then you know when they sealed the tomb the stone upon the tomb even that could not quench his love couldn't hold him you say that he must come forth a mighty conqueror from the grain and that love may known who is it made known to first after his resurrection wasn't it that dear woman out of whom he cast seven devils there you have love begetting love when the dear savior you see as she beholding as only the gardener when he revealed himself she said my lord my god there you have love which begets love so then you see as he called her by name

[29:31] Mary that love you see of his was made known unto her that he loved her and had loved her with an everlasting love I wonder if there's one or more here have come some sweetness in that yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee and if he has drawn thee son I tell you where he drawn thee he drawn me away from this world and the things of it drawn you away from yourself and away from everything as a drawing away from as a drawing to and so he draws a sinner away from all wickedness and all sin unto himself he does indeed and he reveals himself in his love as the deliverer for sin as the saviour of his people and they are brought and drawn to the cross and it is here too where the sinner find

[30:59] I believe that his sins are pardoned and forgiven and you know how the word speaks that thy sins shall be cast into the sea and shall be remembered no more what sea is this is this not the sea that crimson sea his precious blood oh my friends are your sins and mine cast into the crimson sea well there's no more indictment against you the Lord has no more demands against you man cannot wrench you from his love many waters cannot destroy you neither shall you be overcome by the mighty floods for his rubbish towards you is perfect in his utterance when thou passest through the waters

[32:18] I'll be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou passest through the fire they shall not be burned neither shall the flames kill against thee here in his love the love of God to you in the fire and in the floods and here too I believe there's times when we have a little fellowship with him as we view him in those floods which we are told in the psalms all thy waves and thy billows have gone over me and Jonah too he experienced this as he went down into the bottom of the mountains and into the deep and the weeds were wrapped about him but many waters cannot quench love he brought

[33:24] Jonah up my friend there's a poor sinking one here sinking in the depths of the waters of trouble in their soul remember this you cannot sink beyond God's love he'll hold you fast and he'll hold you while you're sinking he will indeed I'm a living witness of that truth if it had been possible for the floods that overwhelmed a sinner it would have overwhelmed me years ago it would indeed but many waters cannot quench love that love the love of God which is known by tasting and by feeling and by experience is indeed and then one of the dear poets says bear with me with these quoting these verses this evening they come in my mind and

[34:29] I must quote them I know more of Mary wonder dropping tears upon the grave anxious asking all around her where is he that died to save you is that your case are you designing that you may see him and you see how she had that felt that love and she was early at the sepulchre yes it wasn't too early my friends to get to the sepulchre it was a case she had a case my friendship was urgent she didn't say to herself well I waited a little longer I go a little later in the day no ah she was first at the sepulchre and there you see how her love was such how she said they had taken away my door and

[35:34] I know not where they laid it and so it was then she experienced his love well I just wanted to say a little the God who let apart if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contempt how this love is parallel with the words that Christ spoke what shall a man give and change his soul there is nothing my friends that we can bring to obtain this love no good works nothing that we may say we are doing for Christ nothing that we may have in the way of religion that we might present to him you know when they came to him when that maid lay dead how they came and began to show the garments that she made he said put them away put them away there no acceptance here oh my friends don't misunderstand me in these things it's quite right for us

[37:07] I want to be clear here it's quite right for us to do as good we can here on earth and should do it and and we have no mind against it when we see those who are unable to do it and I believe God honors it but we we want to be clear on these points if we are going to bring them as an acceptance for our salvation they are not to be brought for if if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be content no good deeds no good tempers pleasing frames nothing nothing we shall have to come my friends just as we are and there's another point too just came into my mind with regard to our substance what should we do if

[38:20] God were to come and take it away what should we have to bring there you see there is nothing that can be brought that is sufficient well those things that I said just now or hinted on it they are only lent to us all we possess and he lent to us and he gives some more some less yes and in those things I believe God does give grace whereby those whom he blesses in providence he enables them to move and act wisely with it he does indeed and I believe they acknowledge his goodness and his mercy but all that we possess belong to him the cutlet upon a thousand hills or the gold and silver is God's my friends it is indeed and he does bless his people from time to time as without knowledge many waters then cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it the man who give all his substance of his house for love it would utterly be content so there is nothing we can bring then to obtain

[40:11] God's love is sovereign and free it is indeed and there is too there is this knowledge too I believe just here for a moment but I may soon give over there is this knowledge too with regards to our natural love if I may just touch upon that delicate point to God's natural love if we love a person there may be waters come that may appear to quench it but I can't feel it'll altogether quench it but I know it won't whether union where the union is of God it cannot quench that love but it may be damp after a time or how we have to mourn those things we do indeed but love even the natural love is a thing we cannot understand it's so deep seated in the heart it is indeed and you know it'll bear many things it will indeed all the many many things even natural love will bear and not only so may

[41:43] I say this too it's a forgiving love it's a forgiving love don't tell me you love a person if you can't forgive her my friends it is a love my friends that will cover a multitude of faults will indeed oh to be favoured and to look beyond as we as we as we come in contact with one another that we may look beyond our natural dispositions and those things and we may not be misunderstood as some of us feel we are sometimes I'm not speaking these things my friends to in any wise to having anyone in thought or mind but in my own case I feel very tried sometimes because I know that I'm misunderstood in my natural disposition my natural manner but you know I was born with it my friends and I can't alter it but love if there's love it'll cover those things but do we those of us that may have these things that are trouble to us do we ask the

[43:09] Lord subdue them and keep them in check but I do believe this that when we are left if we have the love of God in our hearts it will cause us much grief and sorrow there's none cause me so much grief as myself not one on earth cause me so much grief as myself I can honestly say that wretched soul brought me into darkness and bondage many times but it's also given me many errors to the throne of grace that I may receive forgiveness and even my friends if I never receive forgiveness of men here to have the forgiveness of God to know his love that love that covers all our sins and that love that was made known unto

[44:15] Peter in that sheet that was let down heaven to see how there was four footed beasts creeping things and piles of the air he said I ate when he was commanded to rise and eat he said I've never eaten anything common or unclean are you among my friends are you one of the four creeping things in that sheet that's God's covenant you know lift the four corners they can't fall out of it they say are you one of the four creeping things am I one of the wild beasts who is a whiny air like the fowls of the air fluttering about in the things of God well I say as you look into these things they were all in that sheet and it's caught up again into heaven now oh what a mercy to be bound up in that covenant secure as that when the great day comes we may prove his love that love which is so boundless we may witness that love throughout eternity and that our love for him may grow stronger and stronger amen