Thirty-one Meditations on Christ

that all comfort is only in Jesus. And mark this, my soul, for all future occasions: if
you will seek comfort in anything out[side] of Jesus, though it be in the sweetest
frames (as you may think of your own), Jesus, in mercy and love, will put your comforts
out of your reach. Oh, then, come to Jesus, poor and needy, with or without
frames. Make Him all and in all; and He will be your joy, your comfort, and your portion
forever!
23
“Because of the savour of thy good ointments
thy name is as ointment poured forth.”
—Song of Solomon 1:3
Why, my Lord, is Your name so truly blessed, but because You have so endeared it
to Your redeemed by every tie which can gain the affections.
Even before I had being, You entered into suretyship 47 engagements for me, [so]
that You would redeem me when fallen. You would take my nature, live for me, die
for me, become a sacrifice for me, shed Your blood for me, wash me in Your blood,
clothe me with Your righteousness, justify me before God and Your Father; become
my Advocate, High Priest, Intercessor; betroth me to Yourself here in grace, and everlastingly
unite me to Yourself in glory hereafter.
Did You do all this, and are You still doing it, making my cause Your own, and
following me with love, grace, and mercy—every day, and all day? And will You never
leave me nor forsake me?
And must not Your name be as ointment poured forth? Can there be a savor 48 as
sweet, as fragrant, as full of odor, 49 as the name of Jesus? Precious ointments, it is
true, have a smell in them very grateful. 50 But what savor can be like that which to
the spiritual senses manifests Jesus in His person, love, grace, and mercy. In [Jesus]
there is everything desirable and nothing but what is lovely: all beauty, power, wisdom,
strength—an assemblage 51 of graces more full of odor than all the spices of the
east.
47
suretyship – taking responsibility for some<strong>one</strong> else’s debt.
48
savor – scent; flavor.
49
odor – scent.
50
grateful – pleasing.
51
assemblage – collection.
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