Connecticut western news., 1900-12-27
MISSION OF CHRIST.
IT WAS TO TEACH THE WORLD THAT
 GOD IS LOVE.

GOD IS LOVE.
 Dr. TalAass In His Sermon De-
 seR1bss the synpathy ana Conn.,
 passion of the Almighty King.
 ExDlaiAs Why the Holy Dfbis Wa.
 wrAtteH.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-In this dis course Dr. Talmage describes In . new way the sacrifices made for the worlds disenthrallment and deliverance. His text is John iv, 16, God is love-"
 Perilous undertaking would 1t be to attempt a comparison between the at tributes of God. They are not like a range, with here and there a higher peak, nor like the ocean, with here and there a profounder depth. We cannot measures infinities. We would not dare say whether his omnip- otence or omniscience or omnipres- ence or immutability or wisdom or justice or love Is the greater attribute. But the one mentioned In my text makes deeper impression upon us than any other. 1t was evidently very old man who wrote the chapter from which I take the text. John was not in his dotage. as Professor Eichhorn asserted. but you can tell by the repe- titions In the epistle and the rambling style and that he called grown people little children" that the author was probably m octogenarian. Yet Paul. in midlife mastering an audience of Athenian critics on Mars hill, said nothing stronger or more important than did the venerable John when he wrote the three words of my text. God Is love-"
 Indeed the older one gets the more he appreciates this attribute. The harshness and the combativeness and the severity have gone out of the old man, and he is more lenient and, aware of his own faults, Is more disposed to make excuses for the faults of others. and he frequently ejaculates, Poor human nnturev' The young minister preached three sermons on the justice of God and one on the love of God. but when he got old he preached three sermons on the love of God and one on the justice of God.
 Descent of the Prince.
 Far back in the eternities there came 8 time when God would express one emotion of his nature which was yet worlds than were seen by the ancients from the top of the Egyptian pyramid, which was used as an observatory, and more worlds than modern astronomy has catalogued or deserted through tel escopic lens. All that showed the Lords almightiness, but 1t gave no demonstration of his love. He might make 50 Saturns and 100 Jupiters and not demonstrate an instant of love. That was an unknown passion and the secret of the universe. 1t was a sup pressed emotion of the great God. But there would come a time when this passion of infinite love would be de- clared and illustrated. God would veil 1t no longer. After the clock of many centuries had run down and worlds had been born and demolished, on a comparatively obscure star race of human beings would be born and who, though so bountifuliy provided for that they ought to have behaved themselves well. went into insurrection and con- spiracy and revolt and war finite against infinite, weak arm against thunderbolt. man against God.
 If high lntelllgences looked down and saw what was going on. they must have prophesied extermination = com plete extermination-of these offenders of Jehovah. But. no! Who is that coming out of the throneroom of heav- en? Who is that coming out of the palaces of the eternal? It is the Son of the Emperor of the universe. Down the stairs of the high heavens he comes till he reaches the cold air of Decem- Der night in Palestine and amid the bleatings of sheep, and the lowing of cattle, and the moaning of camels, and tho banter of the herdsmen takes his first sleep on earth and for B years in- yites the wandering race to return to God and happiness and heaven. They were the longest 33 years ever known in heaven. Among many high intelli- gences what impatience to get him back! The Infinite Father looked down and saw his Son slapped and spit on and supperless and homeless, and then, amid horrors that made the monday heavens turn black in the face, his body and soul parted. And all for what? Why allow the Crown Prince to come on such an errand and endure such sorrow and die such death? It was to invite the human race to put down It's antiquities and resistance. It was because God is love-"
 A Consolinx Statement.
 Now, there Is nothing beautiful in a shipwreck. We go down to look at the battered and split hulk of an old ship on the Long Island or New Jersey coast. It excites our interest. We wonder when and how 1t came ashore and whether 1t was the recklessness of pilot or a storm before which noth- ing could bear up. Human nature wrecked may interest the inhabitants of other worlds as a curiosity. but there Is nothing lovely In that which has foundered on the rocks of sin and sorrow. Yet 1t was in that condition VI moHui uTcdh up tudt uedNeu uiONtu to the rescue. It was loveliness hoy. ering over deformity. 1t was the life boat putting out Into the surf that at. tempted its demolition. It was har- mony pltying discord 1t was living God putting his arms around rec reant world.
 The schoolmen deride the idea that God has emotion. They think 1t would be a divine weakness 10 be stirred by any earthly spectacle. The God of the learned Bruch and Schleiermacher Is an infinitc intelligence without feeling, a cold and cheerless divinity. But the God we worship is one of sympathy and compassion and helpfLiness and affection. God 10 love"
 In all the Bible there Is no more con- solatory statement. The very best peo- pie have In their lives occurrences in- cxplicable They are bereft or perse-