The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-10-02
GOD rs LOVE


All the relations IN WncI< man -
placed here require the exercise of the
affections. The heart is made a prime
factor In our lives. The fact Is, we are
born in the midst of relationships. The
little infant upon the breast. drinking
its first Joy from the light of its moth
er's eve, soon understands its earliest
relation TO be that which IL sustains to
her who bore IL. Then, cuddling in the
nest by the side of brothers and sis
tiers who keep IL warm, IL learns the
tie by which IL is bound TO these, the
fraternal relation under the shadow OF
the paternal. AS soon as itcomes 10 ex-
ercise it's independent choice the child
forms its own friendships among COM
panions at school, multiplying, and, IL
may be, changing them, until at ma
turity the heart shoots forth its sweet
est and strongest affections, like the
tendrils OF vine, and weaves new rela-
tions, OF which itself shall be the CEN
ter, and about which others in their
turn shall constantly circle.
Just here two facts challenge our at
tention: First, that all human rela-
tions have their genesis In love, since
no form OF society exists which does
not trace itself back 10 the family re-
lation from which IL Is drawn; and, sec
ondly, that IL is the principle of love in
man which diffuses him over all those
circles, and without which IL will not be
possible to occupy his place In any one
of them. The circles multiply and
widen until they strike the boundaries
OF time and are taken up TO spread
themselves over the boundaess eternity
TO come How shall the heart move
securely In its orbit, with complex rev.
olutions, In so many circles around so
many centers, except by the attraction
OF n superior love, like the sun among
the planets, holding all other love in
allegiance TO itself? The same Jehovah
who reveals His truth TO the under
standing and renders man capable of
knowledge, who discloses righteous
ness to the conscience. and makes man
capable of vurtue, reveals His infinite
goodness and renders man capable or
affection. Thus, Love, as IL resides in
God, infinite and eternal, becomes the
law OF the human heart-the standard
and the measure by which all its affec-
lions shall be tried both as 10 their
quality and degree.
There Is species of trinity IN man.
He has a mind and can think. He has
n heart which throbs with affection and
desire He has will which puts forth
its choice and becomes the spring OF
all his activity. The wonderful phil
osophy Of the Gospel is seen in itsprac-
tical recognition OF this coordination
| cf,rrI
The Divine wisdom is singularly illus
trated In the correlation of our facul-
ties, by which the exercise OF any one
: shall roll the tidal movement through
, them all. IL Is because man has a
heart, that he moves upon the plane
{ appointed by Jehovah as the sphere of
) his activity. II, then, the heart per-
forms this necessary and important
: function, does IL not require law for
: its guidance equally with any other
faculty of our complex nature?
' Now, consider for n moment the pro-
, vision which Is made in the Gospel of
r Christ to satisfy this ever craving
1 necessity of love in the human soul.
( II all nature be a type, so that, from
!. spear of grass TO the most intense long
; ing OF human desire, we understand
!. | nothing Alright save as IL interprets
4 God TO our thoughts, then surely these
4 affections can be met only by person
. al revelation of Jehovah TO the heart
h OF man. And this is the glory OF the
Gospel, that il discloses personal
: God, in personal relation with His
q crcatures, attracting them 10 Himself
\ by the exhibition OF His supreme good
q ness In the gift OF eternal salvation
: God is love. and that we may be like
o Him lie is ever saying TO us-Lovel lie
4 gives us the wife OF our youth, and
) says "In this sweetest OF earthly ties
9 learn what IL Is TO love-" We toss oui
a first born into the air with a fathers
$ pride; and In the wild JOY which finds
> expression In the glee OF both, God Il
teaching us again the great lesson OF
love TO man on earth. So on down q
the very close OF human life, how tbs
I. stream OF this love is freshened anC
broadened AS IL flows on, diversifyinf
n its relations and Multiplying It's OBJ
jects-love passing from children Il
! children's children, spreading ovel
r church and country, until IL oyertaiSei
the world IN the brcadth OF n universe
10 philanthropy. In each recurring
/, change the love Is more and more un
selfish. and In each modification IL ha,
! relish and JOY peculiarly it's own
!, Thus the heart is rendered mellow ant
:, retains the sweetness OF its love I'll
/, death closes the scene upon earth, ans
4 the educated heart expands with high
;" err and holier charities In the world I.
= come.-C Christian Work
" The Great Problem.