The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-08
GODS LOVE EXTENDED TO
THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.
Doctor B. FL. Charles Says the AL
mighty Disowns Persons Who
Fail to Obey Him.

The Reverend Doctor B. n. Charles. pas
tor OF the Drank Memorial Presbyterian
on ..The Love OF Christ for HIS People, i
taking as his text Ephesians III. 10: And TO
know the love OF Christ which passetn
knowledge that we might be filled ~ With all
There is little difference in the love which
God bears toward his own children and that
he bears toward the ungodly. l am fully
fatherhood OF God. They want to impress
the world that all men stand on common
level with God.
part. there is a wonderful difference in tie
rnsde of Gods address toward them. n
regard to the wicked. he never claims them
as his children. He never speaks of them as
adopted into his family. or of them "a chill
dren we'll beloved. But in his interview with
the Jews, who were unfriendly TO him. ne
says they were the children OF the wicked
one. and had no claims on him as a father;
They wanted to be called the children OF
God. because they descended from Abraha M
Your sSsr says 9 wona x IN
ceeded forth and came from God: neither
came I OF myself. but he sent me-. Here
but those who love him can truly cali God
their father. He came from God. and an
that love God will love him. Thereupon he
draws the line clearly between his people
Nov consider the close relation Of Christ
and his people. in the parable of the Sihe
and It's branches. The branches bear all the
fruit; but the branches receive all their pow
er and their strength from the vine, And II
the branches are broken of from the vine
they are dead. and have no life in them.
Then in the next chapter We have the beau
iiful relation of the holy spirit dwelling In
the hearts OF his children. comforting and
leading and building them up In all the
failnese OF God. Then follows the chapter In
which the Savior prays for his people as a
distinct class of beings. He says: L pray.
not for the world, but for them that thou
he prass: Holy father. keep through thine
own name those who thou hast given me.
that they may be one. as We are. Then
he adds: pray not that thou sho1 ,,,G,,
shouldst keep them from the evil. Neither
pray for these alone. but for them aiSe
which believe on me through their word
IN all these scriptures there is clear dis-
tinction between the people of God and the
children of Satan.
Paul also says: There is. therefore. now
who walk not after the flesh. but after the
Spirit II he be child of God, then he
has the spirit of God in him. If the spirit
Of the Lord dwell not in him he is none OF
,.As an illustration of the love existing be-
tween our God and his children. let us look
isissis that it . Is that Of the bride and the
hf96eeroom. Now. of the relations known to
the human heart none are closer and dearer
marriage. A man will die for his wife, and
she will cling to him when doing SO is worse
than death. The love for children Is a re-
riaFkable bond that holds families together
and the love OF children for parents is also
wonderful. But none of these can equal
that OF husband and wife. Now, this is the
tie that the spirit Of God has seized upon
under which to represent the love OF God
and his saints. For as God loved us unto
his death. so we love him unto our death If
millions OF saints have already laid down
their lives for Christ? As they have done
70 in other days, SO will they do so In this
day II God calls on them to testify for him
unto their death. Many of you in this house,
] am persuaded. would lay down your lives
for Christ's sake. Do not persuade your
selves that the days of the martyrs are
passed. We may vet be called on to bear
witness 20 the truth with our lives. For We
reciprocate the love OF Christ for us, and
many man and woman would take II as a
privilege to give up life for his sake