Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-08-25
GODS GREAT LOVE FOR MAN

NVD W ultDAA bu ~ Wv htAA'
Tbs Clay mont Methodist Episcopal
Church, which was rededicateu re-
Gently, was improved at cost of nearly
81 900. Tbs improvements wore sug'
eested by Miss NJ. II. Zandt, who
formerly resided with Mr.. Kimher'e
family, but who now lives in Boston.
She always was grsatly Interested 10
tho church, and contributed largely to
the improvements. Mrs. Henry Baker,
wife Of the pastor of Grace Church.
this city, represented ID las Zandt in
thu work, and maue many valuable sug-
gestions.
In the absence Of the pastor. tho
Rev. George II. Tonpkins, the pulpit
was supplied last Sunday by Postmns.
ter Eben N. Baldwin. who usually
attends the Methodist Episcopal
Church, although he is a member of
tho Methodist Protestant Church ny
invitation OF MIR. Baldwin, members OF
Star of Bethel Lodge, |. Q. o. F., and
Morning Star Lodge. X. of r, OF
Gruhb's Corner. were present at tho
morning service.
The morning sermon was suggested
by the text John Is, 10: "Greater love
| hath no man than thia, that man lay
down his life for his friends. /" Mr..
| Baldwin said In part:
No man can carry his love for hin
| friend further than this; for when
man gives up his life ho gives up all
| that he has. Jesus had just heen
| teaching His Disciples the parable OF
the vine and its branches He calls
them His friends, aud promises to lay
down His life for them. He taught
them il they would have influences and
power they must be united to Himself,
| the true vine, and in or,ler TO maintain
such union they must be governed and
controlled by the doctrines of tho Great
Teacher. The great central doctrine
of Christ was love. OF course without
obsdience there can he no love, and
hence He says. still keeping to the
figure OF the vine and the branch, !" IL
We keep my commandments, 50 shall
abide in my love, even as / have kept
my Fathers comp and abide
in His love- Christ was obedient,
even unto death. and heren He Is our
example il as Christians We would have
mower ard influence in the Cody life.
Love ia the result of obedience, hence
the more obedient the Christian, the
more love he has We might trans
nose this sentence and Hay, the more
love be has the murs obeliient he will
be. The taxi suggests Code great love
to man. "Greater love hath no mar
than this, that q man lay down his liz
for his friends. !" fsE
There are instances, even among tut
heutheu, where great love and heroisn
has been shown, one person oiferinl
hia life for that OF another, butil CLAIM
that even In these cases may he seei
reflections and eminationa from TIN
| Infinite aud Eternal One. Tbs won
. derful story of devotion and friendship
between DamRn ana Pythias ma
, reached out into all the earth, whers
i ever civilization has reached, teachin
. tho beautiful and touching lesson
love and faithfuness, and many heart
\ have been made more tender and lovin
!, because OF such fidelity and friendship
Many noble men bandsd together ca
!. themselves "Knights OF Pythias" !
or.jer to prepstuare and disaeminRt
certain principles of truth and honor
and my mayer is that the Lord ma
Z eruciouely bless the ordsr, and increaF
:. II in everything good. Coming to til
= BLESSED Word OF God, there are man
:, which excite our admiration. III
"a friendship of Jonathan and David WI
y one OF the most unselfiHh in all tx
= Divine Recnrd. Jonathan might ha'
I. worn the crown; land he was worthy
y wear it) but his love for David wi
: greater than his love for the crown, al
:, he placed il Oh the head of bis frien'
y What beautiful lesson OF unseltiH'
- ness, aud how it contrasts with Il
a political setshness OF the nineteeni
I. century. Cod give us back Hnt
Y, ~ friendship, and help those who CO
~ themselves Christiuns to show SUI
=. \. sweet unHelfish love that the world VI
i be compelled to say In honor tn
=. prefer one another. God bless Il
az followers of Jonathan and David
IL represented in tine Order Of Odd ~
H. lows, and increase thar humble
- benevolent orders arc made the mea
- to an end by the Infinite God, in hel
ing the poor, caring for and assisti
- the widow and orphan, and Garryi
~, substantial cheer and sunshine in
81 beresyed hearts. 'Pure religion a
~ uudefiled before God and the Father
u, TO yisit tho widow and fatherIess
- their nfIliution, and to keep hims
q unspotted from th world. -
mo hut when all the multiplied instaut
no OF rare friendship and affection /
Il. seen, read and admiral, let US turn G
ut ewes to tho lord Jesus Christ,
-e. Saviour of tho world. He taated dea
ma for every man. lie poured out his lif
blood to redeem US all, and to lift
he race out OF sin and degradation il
d: puri,y and holiness. When dying
mt His enernies hear His pitying C
a "Fathsr forgive them for they KIN
IL not what they do" What wonder
of gpectacle for our Investigation. W
IL may the anul cry out 20 lamb of q
Oh was ever pain, WINS ever love like this
The Greater lows nasn no man IMAM .nih
of Not only for his friends but for
ate enomies Christ died. While We "
Ihe vet sinners Christ died !or US. +" &C
ne go loved the world that lilo gave /
III. only begotten son, that whatsoever
A. neveth on Him should not perish,
III have everlasting life." Oh, what ",
ina derful love. Christ does not atton
in 10 expluin it! Such love as that O
sth not he explained. Cod has put
eternity Of meaning in the particle
for and left subject for the profound c
ol !: temptation of angels and men. Let
b. review the peculiar circumstances
ar. the case. God has fitted up this be
10 tiful world for His highest Great
i'm oouception, man. Man was MAIDS
- the Infinite One with two natu
tina earthly and heavenly. Ono part &C
we'd posed Of the dust of the ground and
nly puit immaterial spirit a spark of
ary divine nature itself. God did not III
,tes a mere machine when He made m