The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-06-13


and reflector of the mind of God,
and revealer OF man to himself in his
higher nature. Herein is found the
real originality of Jesus. He is
unique and singular as the first
openly conscious son Of God, di-
vinely chosen leader of spiritual man.
hood; showing the way, the truth,
and the life of the immortal family
of God, who is himself the author of
eternal life, and of all the truths
therein involved. Jesus is the title
page and table of contents of "the
book of life" which God is writing,
begun seemingly on earth and end
ing only when God dies.
l can take time barely to indicate
what to me appears the most original
feature in this character. You will
not be surprised when l announce it
to be love. Nor will you demur
when l say that it was divine love
that was manifested in Jesus Christ;
or find your hearts otherwise than in
accord with me when l say, it was
Gods love.
But what was the peculiar quality
of that love, which differentiates it
from all others? Here we may find
variance of opinion. l can but tell
and you what | see, and hope that |
am not alone.
Christ's working love, in the first
place, was not begotten by others
love for him. Such was common
kind which he contrasts with the di-
vine, saying, eff ye love those who
love you, what do ye more than
others?" Love your enc
miesw The more pc feet your love
of enemies the more Godlike you
are.
1t is not easy ordinarily for people
TO understand how one can love his
enemies. Just not to hate them is
task of self control and self repres
sion that lifts one above the common,
and is generally accomplished by not
thinking about them. One imagines
himself good way along in Chris
tian virtue if able to do that. But
this is only negative attitude to-
ward enemies, and saves us from
doing them an injury. If we can
keep the hate out we simply avoid
positive sin. Hate, then, is devil,
or adversary of the Christ love to be
fought and expelled. Its absence
makes room for the Christ love, that
is all.
The Christ love calls for thought
of the man that is your enemy, and
study of ways to do him good, with
desire to serve his best interests. The
desire to serve his best interests is
the divine element, and comes from
the heart of God. Success will be
according to the strength and power
and endurance of this desire, and
ability and skill in the use of means.
Pain may come in as in surgery, or
medical treatment, but the intent is
the same, some good to the enemy;
and the higher the order of the good
aimed at, the liker to Gods aim.
This is the human way of the incar-
nation of Gods love,-the highest
end 10 which a man can consecrate
his life on earth.
This love may rise from trifing to
sublime sacrifices for friends; but
rarely for enemies. Human minds
have had flashes of it beyond the call
of the golden rule, which generally
stops this side of sacrifice. This
much vaunted rule is but the highest
limit of law within reach of man as
man on earth, and he who keeps it is
not far from the Kingdom of God;
but he who goes beyond this, does
so by virtue of influx of new life from
the heart of God, which comes by
faith.
This love gives all it has, and gives
itself for loves ends. Its nature is
to give for others good-to suffer, if
need be, for their highest interests.
We call it insanity when woman,
believing that her child is sure TO go
to heaven if it dies in irresponsible
childhood, makes certain its saliva
ton at the cost of the loss of her own
soul. But the insanity is in her the
ology, not in herself. Her logic is
correct if her theology is true, and
her love the divinest on earth. She
dies that her child may live. Such
love becomes the radiance of the
cross of Christ, and power of God,
when, instead of child, enemies are
its object.
The glory of the cross, yet STUN
bling block to the Jew, and foolish
ness to the Greek, and still misunder-