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The Rev. Henry Kollock was a much-admired pastor at the Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah, Georgia. He died young, at the age of 41, but after his death four volumes of his sermons were published. One volume was published during his lifetime: Sermons on Various Subjects (1811).
One of the particular sermons contained in this volume is “Love to the Saviour” (Sermon XIII), a memorable discourse which stirs the heart to greater adoration of our Redeemer.
If Christ be loved, the Holy Spirit who “takes of the things of Christ and shews them unto us,” will be loved also: we shall gladly cherish his dictates and motions upon the heart; we shall listen to his voice directing us in our duty, with joy receive his testimony in the inner man, open our souls for the reception of his influences, and be careful not to quench, to grieve, or resist him. If Christ be loved, his scriptures which contain his will, his promises, his threatnings will be loved also: “O how I love thy law; it is my meditation all the day;” is the language of him who has this affection. If Christ be loved, his ordinances where he is wont to meet with his people will be most dear: “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts; a day in thy courts is better than a thousand;” this is the sentiment of their hearts whose affections are fixed upon Jesus, and who attend his ordinances not to pay him a cold formal visit, but to enjoy delicious intercourse with him. If Christ be loved, his children who bear his image will be loved: “By this,” saith the Saviour, “shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love to one another.” If we admire the perfections of the Lord, we must delight to see these perfections enstamped upon any of his creatures; if we love him we cannot be indifferent to those who are the objects his tenderest affection. If Christ be loved, his cause and interest will lie near our hearts: if his mercies be despised, his authority be contemned, his glories overlooked by a thoughtless world, his friends are deeply grieved, and exclaim with David, “Rivers of waters run down mine eyes because men keep not thy law;” or with Jeremiah, “Because you will not hear, my soul shall weep in secret places for you.”
May these words ring in our ears today. With so many reasons and motives to do so, how our hearts ought to be stirred up with more ardent love to the one who gave himself for us and in whose image we are remade when we are born again. Jesus Christ is the only true Savior, and how we ought to love the one who first loved us, and to manifest that love in our lives, thoughts and actions. Read Henry Kollock’s sermon in full here.
