Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-05-24
GOD Is LOVE.
BY Rev. s. J. NiccoUs. ID. D.

There are many definitions of religion,
but one Of the best is that it is the life
of God in the soul of man. 1t begins
with the recognition Of the existence of
God and of his claims upon us. That
recognition may be very imperfect and
feeble, our knowledge of God may be
very limited, partial and obscure; our con-
ceptlons of his nature may be very made
quate and childish. but with them. such
as they are, religion begins.
1t is the soul reaching out after God.
but of this recognition come reverence.
worship, fear. love, prayer, praise. high
sense of duty, joy and hope. These are
the highest and noblest things of life;
they give true value and greatness to
it. God is not a luxury nor a fashion.
lie is necessity to the human soul.
There are many definitions of God.
some scientific, some theological and
some scriptural. There is none more
profound and significant than this one
given by the Apostle John, God is love-"
He does not say merely that God loves;
he goes further and declares that he Is
love itself. Love is his essential nature.
Should he cease to love he would be an
other God. Men who think themselves
wise speak of the God Of the Old Testa-
ment as a fierce cruel being. With that
definition flaming like sword, John,
who knew more than the Westminster
divincS, knew more of Christ. because he
had leaned ON the breast of the Divine
lncarnate One, wrote God is love"
Love is the controlling feeling the
master passion, in his nature. 1t moved
him to create. 1t was not from any
selfish motive, or because his sense of
justice or truth impclled him to do it.,
that he created the world and men and
angels. Nor can we conceive OF his GOV
erning them apart from his love. That
justice and judgment are the habitation
of his throne, that he rules in righteous
ness, and that he is the God of truth
is undoubtedly true. But his justice.
truth and wisdom are never separated
from his love, nor do they act indepcn-
IDENTITY of it. He is perfect love.
But what is this love. and how are we
to think about it? We know in some
measure and in varying degree what HUI
man love is. 1t is undoubtedly the mas
ter passion in man. All other passions
do homage to it and sooner or later rec
ogni2e its royal supremacy. 1t over
comes hatred and avarice and ambition.
1t can transform sorrow into JOY, pain
into pleasure and loss into gain. 1t can
renounce all things; yes, give up life
itself, and yet rejoice in its sacrifices.
Where love dwells there are the. angels
of content, peace. JOY and delight. II
can make paradise in the wilderness
and a feast in the house of poverty. 1t
glorifes the lowlest lot. purifies the heart
in which ii dwells. cnnobles life by its
service, makes hard tasks easy and bitter
things sweet. 1t gives to life its sweet
est raptures and its most exquisite joys,
SO that men would rather have love with
weeping and pain than be without it and
live a painless and fearless existence.
Love is the mightiest and most bencfi-
cent force in the world. Its bonds are
the most enduring, its work the most
glorious. 1t transforms everything it
touches. The heart in which it dwclls
sees all things in new light, "such as
never fell on land or sea-" In the fam
lily its reign makes the earthly home
the dearest spot on earth. In society
it is the regenerator, peaccmakcr and
ruler whose deeds are prophecies and
foreshadows Of a coming time, when. I'M
der its perfected reign this sorrOWing
world shall reach its golden age.
Romance and poetry through all past
centuries have never wcaricd in pictur-
ing the sorrows and joys, or in singing
the glories and triumphs of love. Its
tragedies, its suffcrings ana its victories
represent all that is greatest in history
and most thrilling in literature As it is
~ - l., of H-I, -,
pure and degraded, but without it the
world would be a hell Of misery and dis
content. Even duty would be irksome
and righteousness yoke OF bondage
But love, as we know ii. in its best es-
tate in man, is like love in God. Were
it not so the world would have no mean
ing as applied to him. 1t is because we
love that God can reveal himself to US rs
q God Of love. Love seeks the highest
good Of the object Of its affection. There
is nothing in its power to give which it
will withhold II gives itself. The meas
IRE Of It's devotion Is self-sacrifice. 1t
forgives, ii pties, it seeks to WOO 10 it
self the object OF it's affection. 1T is pa
tient and enduring. II is panied by in
difference and neglect. It is never sat
ishel until il is loved in return. 1t is
jealous of anything that intervcnes be
tween it and the object Of its love It's
highest delight is in giving pleasure to
TIE person loved.
Such, also. is the nature Of the love Of
God toward men. So, by all that is best
in YOU Of pure affection. by all the ten
derness and yearuing desire that you
have felt toward any human being, by all
the ardor OF love that has led you to WOO
another TO yourself and to seek his good,
you may know Of the love Of God toward
you.
Let US now look at the intensity Of
Gods love as he himself has represent
Cd ii to us in his word. Not a few Of
you know what parental love is, that
strong and pure affection which was
awakened in your heart when children
were begotten 10 you. All children have
certain attractivenes about them, but
none are so dear 10 the fathers heart
as his own. They are ever present in MS
mind. Their sorrows and pains are his.
For them he tolls and hopes and prays.
Their dishonor brushes his heart, their
successes fill him with JOY. When sick
ness smites them or death threatens them
he forgets his I8bors and ambitions 70
vaya AZ AZ fbefr lndutI1e TTfs y.a4ffh nd