The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-12-17
ltloral ano Reliaiuus.
The Power OF Love.

Love naturally be-eeches and does
not cummaDd. The harsh voice of
command is SIMPLY the imposition of an-
others will, and it belongs 10 relation.
ships in which the heart has no share
hut wherever love is the bond grace
is poured Into the lips, and /" | order "
becomes I" | pray )" 80 that even where
the Out ward form Of authority is still
kept, as in a parent to Young children,
there will ever be some eBdralibg word
10 Swalhr the harsh imperative in ten
.irrlcss, like sword blade wrapped in
wool. lest It should wound. Love tends
10 Obiiteratr tn" hard distinction Of
hyperion and Inferior, which finds lis
XpressiOn in lScuniG orders and silent
obedience. II serts not for mere com
pIiance With commands, but for one
ness Of wi |. LIS enlreatits are more
powerful than imp rdlives. The light
cst wish brrulhed by loved lips is
stronger than all Stern injunclions,
often, alas! than all laws Of duty. The
nrnrt j. 80 tuned az only to vibrate to
that one tone. The rocking stones
which all the storms of winter may
hu"l around and not move can be set
,wiuging nv a sight touch. Una leads
the lion in a siikrn leash. Love con
/, Ms the widest nature. The demoniac,
Yhom no chains can bind. is found Sit
ting at the feet Of incarnate gentleness;
so the wish of love is all-poweriul with
loving hearts, and lis ihIUtesl Whisper
louder and more imperative than all
the llumpets OF Sinai. There is large
lesson here for all human Relations
slips. Fathers and mothers, husbands
and wives, friends and companions.
,,achrrs and guides of all sorts ahOnld
set their conduct by this pattern. and
let III" la" OF love lit ever upon their
lips. Authority is he weapon of a weak
man, who is afraid Of his own power,
to get himself obeyed, or Of ST. FISH
one, who seeks for mechanical suhmis-
siOu, rather than for the feally of will
ing hearts. Love is the weapon of n
strong man who can cast aside the trap
pings OF superiority, and is never loflier
than when he descendS. nor more abso.
lutte than when he adjnres authority,
and appeals with love to love. Men
dlc ubl APT w Dt uIdpODHtu lulo goDu-
ness. / mere outward acts are sought,
it may he enough TO impose anolher's
will in orders a. laconic as a drill ser
geants word of command; hut if th.
jIyful inclination of the heart to the
good deed is to be secured, il can only
be when law melts iuto love, and il
thereby transformed to Il more impera-
tive obligation. written not on tables Of
stone, but on tlrshy tables of the heart.
There is Il glimpse here into the very
heart Of Christ's rule over men. H..
too, does not merely impose commands,
but stoops to entreat, where he indeed
might command. Henceforth / call
YOU not servants, but friends" and
though he does 20 on to say, "Ye are
my friends, if We do whatsoever | com
mand you," yet this commandment ha1
so much tenderness. condescension aud
pleading love that it sounds far iker
beseeching than enjoining. His voice
is easy, for this, among other reasons,
that it is, if one may say 50, padded
with love. His burden is light, because
it is laid on his servants shOu ders by a
loving hand, and so, as st, Bernard
says. it is OnuS quod portontem p0rtat, II
burden which carries him who carries
it.-Rer. Alexander Mdcluren, u. ID.