Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-08-26
Evolution Of Christian Principles
and Motives.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. Math. g, g.
shall speak Of internal principles and motives
as distinguished from eternal duties.
The motives that usually prompt persons to obey
God are I. Fear Of punishment. 2. Hope Of tenn
poral reward 3. Hope Of future reward. 4. Love.
In the infancy Of the race Gods commands were
negative in their character, and appealed to the
fear Of punishment. The first lessons of obedience
learned by child are those with regard to pen
atty; but after these are learned, which is often
early in the chlds history, it is then prepared to
obey from higher motive, viz: the hope Of re-
ward. This reward must be Of such character
that the child can appreciate il, and is often the
toy that more mature minds would reject So in
training the in the higher lessons of positive
obedience the promise of temporal reward was
given, and this allured them on until they were
prepared to understand the nature Of future re-
wards. The third series of lessons may be termed
training ia faith. 1t is exemplifed when the boy
foregoes the pleasure OF play to study his lessons
in order that he may have the higher pleasures in
the future OF becoming man of learning. Also
in the case Of the person who subdues passion,
controls appetitcs, foregoes the the pleasures Of
gay society and sensuaisn,, in order to reach the
higher spiritual joys Of the future life even when
We cannot see that greater good will be the result
Faith follows in obedient trust believing that our
Fathers hand is guiding Alright. This is a
higher lesson than either of the others named and
prepares us for the next, viz: Obedience from
the motive Of love. This motive is presented in
the Old Testament scriptures bat only incidentally
M, IT,, 10 n full
and inspiration in character. 1t places it high
est among the christian graces. makes it the test
Of discipleship declares it to be the fulfilling Of
the law, the commandment upon which hangs all
the law and the prophets 1t is the highest lesson
in christian obedience, the highest moti7e from
which We can serve Cod
We may obey him from fear, this Ia better than
disobedience. We may obey him from hope Of
reward, this is better than obedience from fear.
We may obey him because We believe he is able to
guide us Alright and his promises cannot fail; this
is better than obedience from the hope Of tenn
poral reward. But higher and grander than all is
the obedience Of love. We should love God be-
cause Of the excellence Of hs character. He is low
able in his nature beyond all human power to con-
ceive We should love him because Of what he
has done and is still doing for u.s. II we love him
We become like him. The history OF the race is
that man becomes like the being he loves. The
character Of the object loved determines our char
actcr. No one can become Cody or God-lke who
does not love God. 1t is impossible to love him
with ell the heart and not become like him in
moral character. Therefore if we would olive
Cody in this present world We must love God.
II we would enjoy his presence in the next world
we must love him for be happy in the
presence of what he does not love.
The above is a synopsis of the sermon delivered
by Rev. G. LOwther, on Sunday morning.