“The life of a Christian consists very much in our love to Christ. Without love to Christ, we are as much without spiritual life as a carcass when the soul is fled from it is without natural life.” – Thomas Vincent (1634-1678)

Thomas Vincent ministered at the time of the London Plague, the last major outbreak of the Bubonic plague in England. Seven from his household died as a result of the plague. This article is based on excerpts from his final work, “The True Christian’s Love to the Unseen Christ”. It is intended as an encouragement to keep our eyes on what matters, despite present circumstances.

Conviction of Sin

While surrounded by sickness, Vincent declared the greatest illness to be sin, preventing us from loving Christ. He said, “If you would attain true love unto Jesus Christ, you must get conviction of sin… The prevailing love and liking of sin is inconsistent with true love unto Jesus Christ… While your hearts go after your covetousness, or your voluptuousness, or are set upon any other wickedness, your hearts cannot be set upon Christ. Before you can love Christ, your hearts must be taken off from sin.”

He continued, “Look upon sin as the most mischievous thing in the world. If there be any evil in any temporal calamities; if there be any evil in future miseries, in the extremity and eternity of hell’s plagues and punishments, be persuaded that there is far more evil in sin, which is the cause of all.”

What is the most mischievous thing to us? Do we find fault in the present circumstances… or in other persons? Or is the greatest mischief within our own hearts, keeping us from loving Christ?

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
John 14:15

Christ’s True Love

The greatest need in Vincent’s time was not for medicine, but for love… He said, “Christ loves you with the truest love. There is little true love in the world; you have many that truly hate you, and there is much dissimulation in the pretend love and affection of some; all that flatter you do not truly love you… But love in deed and truth… where there is the greatest need, that is rarely to be found.“

He continued, “None do or can love you with such a true love as Jesus Christ. There is no flattery or dissimulation in His love. His love is not the least counterfeit. It is not the least selfish and for His own ends. He does not love you to receive good from you, but that He might do good unto you.”

Where do we look to have our greatest needs met? To the world? To other Christians? Or to Christ’s love?

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
John 15:9

Our Duty to Love

Despite personal tragedy, Vincent reasoned, “It is your duty to love Christ. If it be your duty to have natural affection unto parents and children, it is much more your duty to have spiritual affections unto Christ. If it be your duty to have conjugal affection unto your earthly husband and wife… if it be your duty to love brethren, sisters, and kindred that love you, it is a greater duty to love Christ, who loves you above all relations… who is your best friend.”

He continued, “Christ has the most right to your love, and will you not give to Christ His due? If you are bound to give men their due, are you not much more bound to give unto Christ His due?”

In times of difficulty, who has the right to our love? Does the world? Does another person? Or does Christ?

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
Matthew 22:37-38

The Christian Life

Perhaps our Christian life consists of regular church participation, faithful Christian service, healthy Christian fellowship, daily bible reading, prayer, and moral uprightness…

But is there any true love unto Christ? Is our greatest conviction our own sin? Is our greatest need Christ’s love? And is our greatest duty found in loving Christ?

Vincent said, “Faith without love to Christ is a dead faith, and a Christian without love to Christ is a dead Christian.”

Let it not be said of us. May we be known, above all else, by our love to Christ.