# “Children ought to love Jesus Christ above things in the world” by Jonathan Edwards

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2020/09/08/children-ought-to-love-jesus-christ-above-things-in-the-world-by-jonathan-edwards/
- Published: 2020-09-08T12:00:08-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“The following reasons may be given why children ought to love Jesus Christ above
things in the world.

_He is more lovely in Himself_. He is one that is greater and higher than all the
kings of the earth, has more honor and majesty than they, and yet He is innately
good and full of mercy and love.

There is no love so great and so wonderful as that which is in the heart of Christ.
He is one that delights in mercy; He is ready to pity those that are in suffering
and sorrowful circumstances; one that delights in the happiness of His creatures.

The love and grace that Christ has manifested does as much exceed all that which
is in this world as the sun is brighter than a candle. Parents are often full of
kindness towards their children, but that is no kindness like Jesus Christ’s.

_And He is an infinitely holy One._ He is God’s holy child, so holy and pure that
the heavens are not pure in His sight, so that He is fairer than the sons of men,
as the Psalmist says (**Ps. 45:2**). He is ‘the chiefest among ten thousand,’ (**
Cant. 5:10**) and ‘altogether lovely’ (**5:16**).

Because of His glorious excellency, He is compared to the sun, that is the brightest
of all things that we behold with our bodily eyes. ’Tis He that is called ‘the Sun
of righteousness’ (**Mal. 4:2**).

So He is called the ‘morning star,’ the brightest of all the whole multitude of 
stars (**Rev. 22:16**). He is so lovely and excellent, that the angels in heaven
do greatly love Him; their hearts overflow with love to Him, and they are continually,
day and night without ceasing, praising him and giving Him glory.

Yea, He is so lovely a person, that God the Father infinitely delights in Him; He
is his beloved Son, the brightness of His glory, whose beauty God continually sees
with infinite delight, without ever being weary of beholding it. ‘I was daily His
delight, rejoicing always before Him,’ (**Prov. 8:30**).

And if the angels and God himself love Him so much above all, surely children ought
to love Him above all things in this world.

Everything that is lovely in God is in Him, and everything that is or can be lovely
in any man is in Him: for He is man as well as God, and He is the holiest, meekest,
most humble, and every way the most excellent man that ever was.

_He is the delight of heaven._ There is nothing in heaven, that glorious world, 
that is brighter and more amiable and lovely than Christ.

And this darling of heaven, by becoming man, became as a plant or flower springing
out of the earth; and He is the most lovely flower that ever was seen in this world.(**
Cant. 2:1**)—there ’tis said of Christ, ‘I am the rose of Sharon, and lily of the
valleys.’

There is more good to be enjoyed in Him than in everything or all things in this
world. He is not only an amiable, but an all-sufficient good.

There is enough in Him to answer all our wants and satisfy all our desires. Children,
if they come to Christ and set their hearts on Him, will find that in Him that is
better for them and will be sweeter to them than anything that is to had in the 
presence and company or provision of their parents, and better than anything that
is to be found in their parents’ houses.

Christ has the bread of life in Him; their souls may feed and feast upon that which
will be much better than anything they are ever entertained with at their fathers’
tables.

Christ is to those that love Him as glorious clothing and excellent ornaments to
their souls. Those children that love Him, their souls are clothed with those robes
that are a thousand times as beautiful and desirable than the best clothing their
parents provide for them.

In Him they shall have that spiritual good which will be as gold tried in the fire,
that will make them richer than if they were kings’ children.

Christ is the most suitable good for them. If they love Him, they will find Him 
sweeter to them than the honey and the honeycomb.

In Him they shall have enough, all that they desire. He will give them rest and 
satisfaction.”

–Jonathan Edwards, “[Children Ought to Love the Lord Jesus Christ Above All, (Matthew 10:37)](https://amzn.to/3bxwM66),”
[_Sermons and Discourses, 1739–1742_ ](https://amzn.to/3bxwM66)(ed. Harry S. Stout,
Nathan O. Hatch, and Kyle P. Farley; [vol. 22; _The Works of Jonathan Edwards_](https://amzn.to/3bxwM66);
New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2003), 22: 171–173.

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