94 FALLING SHORT OP HEAVEN. concerning Christ as man ; for there weresome peculiar qualities in this youth, whichwere suited to attract the love ofhuman na- ture ; such qualities as a wise and perfect man couldnot but love : It was some such sort of love as our Lord expressed . toward the apostle John, in a way of distinction from the rest ; upon which account, probably, he was called, the disciple whom Jesus loved ; John xili. 23. Therefore I conceive Christ is here represented as exerting the innocent and kind affections ofhuman nature towardsa youth so agreeable and hopeful. Now this Iove implies in it these five things : 1. A hearty approbation of those good qualities which Christ beheld in him - : Forhe being perfect and wise, cannot but approve that which is excellent. Hehad a sharp eye, and great sagacity of nature : With a ready penetration he could discern what was valuable; and must necessarily have a just esteem for every thing wherein his Father's wisdom andpower did eminent- ly appear. Whatsoever God created at first, was good; Gen. i. 31. And whatsoever remains of that good workmanship of God, Christ, the Sonof God, approved still, so far as it wasun- tainted with sin, and considered in itself, abstracted from thecri- minal qualities that might attend it: 2. This love of Christ to the youngman, implies acompla- cency in his 'person ; a sort of human delight in a fellow-creature that had several excellent properties ; though the love of God, and powerful religion, were wanting. If I read a book that has much good sense in it, and where the reasonings are well con- nected, -I cannot but have a delight in reading, though the, subject itself may be trifling, or the theme disagreeable. If I hear an oration well composed, with many ingenious turns of thought and pathetic expressions ; and all these pronounced with the various decencies of speech and gesture, I take plea- sure in the performance, and may love the orator; though he insist upon sentiments -quite contrary to my- own._ So I may be pleased with the learnedconversation of a knowingand well-tempered man, and love him so far, though he may bemy enemy, and perhaps, in his heart, an, enemy to God too for such was this young man, an idolater of gold, and therefore an enemy to God ; Jam. iv. 4. concerning whom it is written, that Jesus loved him. 3. Somenatural good-wishes for his welfare are implied hi this love. There is in every wise and good man, a hearty desire of the happiness of his fellow-creatures, he loves them all in this sense, even thefoolish and the wicked. Human nature that has any goodness in it, is ready to wish well to any person, though he be an utterstranger, andunknown ; especially if, he lias some agreeable qualities. There may be an. innocent 'inclination to
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