Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1859-09-02
CHRISTIAN LOVE,


thct from and above all other kingdom
OF the world. Yet they were TO be di
hnSulshed from the rest of mankind 4,
by dress, nor badges, nor grades of ranl
or fortune, or education, and not Onl
even by their pious love and obedience
Himself, but also 10y their obvious and pt
culIar love for each other ~ new con
mandment | give unto YOU, that We low
one another. As have loved YOU. that Y
also love one another. by this shall al
mon know that ye are my disciples, if V
have love one to another Let Us comsi
der the Nature aud Importance OF tEi
NEW COMMAND.
|. It- Nature. In the earliest ac,s al
the church, it was common remark
among the heather. "lirw these Christians
love one another This j. the best and
trucst Indication of q standing or iailiDg
church, and has been in all .ecs-bctter
than crowded hou,cs or numerous addi-
tions. Indced,i the ncwue~s or the command
consisted not Il little in the dcglec-.'as
have loved you" From of old it had been
the essence of the law, Thou shalt love
thy ncighbor as thysclE" But Christ
loved his church better than himself, fer
'he loved the church AID gave himself
for it, and it is by this same sot oi self
sacrificing affection that the world l., 10
he redeemed to God. Read The Lives If
Carey, Mar>hman. Henry Nartyn, and
Mr.. and Mrs. .judson, and You scc those
who love the cause and kingdom Of Christ
better than themselves.
But the command was also new in its
very nature. by charity wide as sun
shine says an able writer, land conprc-
hendin@ the whole human race, the BODY
of Christians was to be placed in contrast
with the proycrhial mi>anthropy and biz
ctry Of the Jewish church and people,
while yet they were to he distinguished
and known to all men by the peculiar love
and affection Displayed by them towards
the members Of their own community.
How kind these Christians are to the
poor, without distinction Of race or coul4-
try, but how they love each other"
The love, then, Of this new command .
ment, is not that mere aniahility and for
bearance which consists in not >landcriug.
insulting or wouuding a Christian brother.
or rctaliatin@ when injured AlI Of this
is indeed included, but it is not the sum
and substance Of hi, command. Indeed,
what appears to be mere amiabilitv, may
sometimes he most opposed to real love.
which essentially involves Christian faith
fulncss, and not suffering sin To rest upon
a brother without praying for him, expos
tulating with him, and cutroatin- HIM.
1t is a love distinct from and superior
to mere family affection. 1t Is indeed the
great prcserver Of this, a. ro,hins cl-c is.
But brothers and sisters in nature. ELcthr
opening leaves Of 4 flower, though united
at the stem, naturally aud properly crow
apart, and thus most perfectly unfold their
beauty and their fragrance. But the !
Christian brotherhood. though Of different !
habits and customs and views IN all other
respects, are daily becoming more and
more closely united. ~ the raIii Of :.
circle commencing at the circumference T
in approaching the centre approach each
Other, 30 Christians from different stand ~
points as far removed as the circumference n
Of the globe, in DRAWN" nearer and nearer
to Christ become united mere closely to ]
his people, and in cunycrging towards
heaven approach each other They have ei
all the same fears, friends, and foes, and !,
are engaged i'll the same great conflict.
They are like brother soldiers. fighting il
together III the same battle field. They f.
may begin strangers to each other, or ind Dc
iferent, but Is each one achieves deeds If =,
valor, the other Is animated with love and d