The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-07
Special Contributors.
LOVE TO GOD OUR DUTY.
BY REV. JOHN S. PALMER.
(Mansfield, Pa.)

The genius of the Universalist faith
makes us kind and obliging neighbors
and friends. 1t makes us benevolent
and creates a fraternal feeling, as it
unites all in one inGissoluble brother
hood, and assures us that God is the
universal Father. The influence of
these sentiments leads to generosity in
the common walks of life. This is all
right, and is proof that the love of the
Father has warmed our hearts; that
we have friendly regard for our
= brother man. This is practical relig-
ion so far as we live in its spirit.
Without such fruits falling in the path
way of life, we should not follow in
the footsteps of our divine master, or
be his worthy followers.
But this is not enough. 1t is good
and right so far as it goes, but we have
duty which not only relates to man,
but to him who created man, to our
Father who is in heaven. We not
only need to cultivate an ardent love
for all men, but an ardent love for our
dear Father in heaven. We ought to
have a direct correspondence or COM
munication with him, as he is Friend
who is nearer in his relation to us than
an earthly father or mother. He Gre
ated us aud is the giver of all the good
gifts we enjoy. He has a perfect
knowledge of us in all our physical re-
lations, as well as our mental, deyo-
tional and moral relations. Nothing
which relates to us in this or any
world is hid from him. He was
pleased to create us for his pleasure
and that pleasure consists in the mani
festation of his love and his purpose
to make us happy. He IS in the truest
sense 'sOur Father"
We all know how intimate this
earthly relation of fatherhood is, and
the constant care the father has for his
child. His love is manifest by day
and night in his anticipation of what
will make his children comfortable
and happy. He anticipates every
want, and calls to his aid all of his
powers to supply what may be neces-
sary for their comfort and support.
This he does in the early years of his
loved ones, and this begets love in child
rem for the parent. They become
strongly united, and the more their
affections become blended, the strong
er is the union of heart to heart.
Their love is mutual, and their hap
piness is as mutual as their loving
hearts;-and who can describe the con-
fdence of the child in the ability of the
father? There is nothing too intricate
for him to accomplish; nothing too hard
for him to do.
Let us now use this illustration to
show how we should love our heav-
emily Father. We, in our maturity,
have the love of our parents swallowed
up in loves of our own, but still we
never forget how ardently our parents
loved us and we them. However our
lives may be prolonged we never for
get their ardent love. This is some
thing not to be forgotten; and how
forcibly it reminds us of the greater
love of the good Father in whom we
should confide as his children! We
should not let busy cares step in be-
tween us and our love for him. When
we were little children we never forgot
the love of our parents. This was al
ways first and last in our minds, and
this should be so with the love of God
to us. His love never declines, s,-nor is
taken from US. Though we may forget
him, he never will forget or forsake
us. In all periods of our earthly life,
he loves us with a far stronger love
than the klndest earthly father could
love US, and the Christian religion has
been revealed to confirm this pleasing
relation in our minds.
Are we sensible of this great love of
our heavenly Father We ought then
to make an exhibition of this know
ledge, by an open confession of his
loving care for us. When we were
young we never hesitated to speak of
the love of our earthly parents. 1t
was delight to do this as often as op-
portunity presented. And as the
church has been established to call
forth our expressions of love and graf
itude to God, why do so many stand