The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-05

At the approach Of the festival now so
&c 1erally celebrated on one OF the early
Sabbaths of June as "children,s Sunday. u
our thoughts are especially turning to the
little ones And we feel that the day with,
its gladness for them, has its lessons for us.
As we see their happy faces and bright
dresses vieing with the profusion of flowers
we hear their sweet voices mingling
with the songs of birds in the sanctuary.
there is one thought that seems to stand out
in letters of light. Ard these form them
selves into the one word-love For we see
here love in its simplicity the pure, natural,
ideal element We recognize in these little
plant unreasonable natures the POSSIBLE
tiles for the development of the whole bless
ed cluster of graces called by the apostle
the fruit of the spirit''-because this first
grace, love, is the keynote to al! the rest.
The elements which go to make the per-
feet life lie dormant in every soul. If we
scatter diligently in susceptible minds the
germs of the good and the beautiful, they
will there develop. bud and bloom, and
bear the golden fruits of paradise"
And if we are to so direct this unfolding
rs to secure most perfect fruitage it is of
first Importance that we know whereof we
teach and exemplify it-and we are our
selves but children of a larger growth"
Love. and not fear, is the greater motive
in life and religion. Love in exercise. in
the daily life, in relation to our children
and all those about us, is the one great
duty and privilege. 1t is not so easy for
some to love and be lovely as for Others
1t is somewhat a matter of disposition and
temperament; but not altogether in heredity
and environment. And then in our methods
of exercising love, l am of the opinion thar
IT should be as natural and spontaneous as
possible. We should brush aside all theo-
logical prejudices and schemes and plans
and up-in-the-sky tendencies, and lust
simply live, love and expand into beautiful
characters and lives. rejoicing in all good
things in the sense that they all naturally
and of right belong to us, as the children of
a good home feel about the benefits and
blessings of that home.
CHILDREN'S NATURAL LOVE.
1t is a mistake to teach children to love
God first and then their parents, brothers
and sisters. 1t should be just the other way.
They are first to love their parents; it is
natural for them to do so, and thus they
are prepared to understand what it is to
love their heavenly father and home. Thus
they will love them. Love is the ladder
which rests upon the earth and leads up-
with it to the skies when we climb to
heaven, tbs on the rounds of love to men,"
To start with God and heaven is to inyert
the pyramid; we must begin with man and
the earth, and if our love is true and deep
We shah bring or find 'ioi and heaven here.
There are people who seem to be troubled
because they love their children and friends
so dearly, and fear that such idolatry God
will DuniSh nv faIyipo thor,
sad mistake and gloomy theology that is.
1t is more likely that some children are TAX
en- away because they are not loved enough.
Indeed, the more we love our GEAR ores
the more truly we love God You remember
Leigh Hunts Ben Adhem," whom the
angel told that he did not love God. Write
me then, he said, las che who loves his
fellowmen." So in the array of names
Hnally made of hose who loved the I'D
Ben Adhem's name LED all the rest" There
Is no better-I Was going to say no other
way of loving God tidn by loving his chill
dren. If we do no. love these whom we
nave not seen, now can we love God whom
we have not SEEM" We can most truly love
Eod III loving each other, and what near
simple natural and beautiful way Of LOVING
that is.
The fruit of the spirit does not mean
harps or angels in another world, but love
ana JOY IN this; it is not longing for heaven
beyond, but earnestly creating it here 1t
Is not the worship of God as a located be-
lhs IN an unseen world, but rather the serv-
Ice of love rendered to our fellow-beings
here. This will best lead to what we cali
divine worship, which becomes all the
olViner the more it is the outgrowth of
natural, earthly love. One great trouble in
religious matters is that we are apt to work
the far end TO the neglect of the near end
OF Ito think and act for the future, the
hereafter, using up the energies and the
llIne given US for present duty in very use
less effort to realize the. future
OBJECT LESSONS.
Nor Is 1t wise &c urge children to love God
without giving an object lesson to make it
plain. The same is true as regards loving
Jesus Not to do this creates much con-
fusion in the chiId's mind. The father and
mother stand for God to the child. So the
child seeing and feeling the power and
beauty of the parents love, can easily be
led TO understand how lovable thing it is
TO love the one who gave us life and gives
Us All good things and to be loved by Him.
lie prayeth best who loveth best
All thlnSs both great and small;
Fol the dear God who loveth us,
lie made and loveth all.
Keep liz mind and teach the child that
IoNe of virtue, love of beauty love of
nature love of goodness is love of God, who
Is IN and through all blessed forevermore
Whatever things be sweet and fair, love
makes then So"
Loving is a great happiness. and not to
love Il serious misfortune. Sir Arthur Helps
says that the man who feels weary of life
may be sure that he does not love his fell
IoW-creatures as he ought" How precious
ana fair love makes this human life. The
loNe that shows itself in little kindneSSes.
attentions codrtesies and tender, thought
Iul acts is ;he richest fruit of the spirit
Love is not thing to command, but TO
grow into. to embrace and to win, not drive,
our children TO- 1t is an instinct the match
ing OF qualities, beholding of beauty and
All attributes of excellence. When we study
God IN his works and in ourselves as made
In His image we are kndled with love and
admiration. This we can in turn inspire in
the child heart
All love has one source-the mothers love
Is Gods love breaking out in her clnging
power toward the child. The love OF God
Is IN all love that comes to us in our dis
resses. to lift US up to sweeter hope and
HoIler worship of the good. the beautiful