The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-12

standing 1t we shall come better TO know
the ways OF God. For X the scientist
studying natures laws is thinking Gods
thoughts after him We. too. may think
with God as We observe the laws that
govern the operations OF our loving and
our hating.
To love our neighbor is one OF the hard
est commands. But the difficulties in
volved may after all be due to our short
oomings and lack OF understanding. II
Is difficult TO build a house unless you
1t may be that in our effcrt TO COM
mand love for men. love finds no
resting place on mercy and like the dove
OF the ark comes back to us without
even the olive leaf OF promise.
AN OBSERVATION OF FACT.
1t Is not theory but an observation of
fact that leads US to this, for have we
not observed that mercy Is Of the very
essence OF helpfulness, and that our af-
fecuon goes out most, not TO those who
have helped. Saws Max O'Rell In a little
essay on The Reward OF Helpfulne ss''
we love people who put us in posi-,
ton to render them good services more
than those who do US good turns, because
the former ones raise us In our estfma-
tioT, whereas INC 1atrer put us under OBJ
fellow creature whose life he has saved
simply because that fellow creature gave
him an opportunity OF performing an he
noic action: the more grateful OF the two
is often the one who saved the life, not
the one whose life was saved | knNw
a man who rescued young boy from
drowning. but he was not satisfied with
that. He implored the parents OF that
child 10 allow him To soc 10 his education.
He finally adopted him and left him. a
fortune OF more than million dollars.
Here is an illustration of love spring
ing up I'm the heart OF man for a boy
to whom he had shown mercy. The hoy
simply received and appreciated the good
ness that was shown him. The Samari.
tan I'm all probability had more regard
for the man he aided than the man had
love our fellowmen. or course we can't.
VIC aren't endeavoring to help them.
We think we are good and righteous
and every day we are hurrying down TO
Jericho In company with the prisst ard
Levite leaving the care OF the man robbed
and wounded to some Samaritan. to some
large hearted noble man outside our class
or set or church. with whom we care 20
have absolutely nothing to do and whom
we condemn because he doesn't subscribe
TO our creed You can no more expect
TO attain unto love without mercy than
you can expect pears to grow in your
yard without tree.
MISTAKEN MEANING.
We mistake tho meaning Of love itself
We have two conceptions confused that
are distinct Two words having entirely
different meanings in the Greek ere
translated by the word love IN our Eng
lish Bibles. one is n mater OF emo
tional inclnltion. This can no. be di-
rectly chosen or commanded. Buc there
is another conception Of love. IL con-
sists In being loyal TO and IN choosing
the interests OF another rather thar our
own. IL Is this kind OF love that begins
where mercy leaves of.
The emotional feeling does not precede
but follows this. Choose anothsrs inter
est rather than your own. Work 10 that
end Bind up the wounds and poUr OIL
upon them and YOU shall hcsin 20 love
that one and out OF the ace shall come
the warmth and glow ~ 'ho emotion.
You can no more command thar emotion
than you can command ripened fruit 20
arl car upon the fruitlegs branch. But
y ou can plant the tree and water and
tend IL and when Gods sunshine has
warmed ~ and mother earth has fed Il
behold the bud and flower ana fruit
EFFECT OF MERCY.
The effect Of mercy Is not alone 20
lead US 20 love but IL leads US 10 trust.
Love includes this. Perhaps our souls
need Il as much as love Itself We have
no faith I'm the man who sins No one
believes In him. lie has lost ths most |
potent influence In the world 10 lead him /.
back 10 truth and right You do not know I
where YOU would drift n YOU were not
anchored by some ones faith IN you. You I
can't do some things that desire indl- I
Gates simply because there f. some c1e /
who believes you won't
THE GREAT LEVER.
II Is the great lever that God lifts ms I
MI with. the thought that lie believes IN 4
ns and trusts us Dr. Ludlow tells this 4
story: Michael 6unne was white of /
sin but dark s0ulee yet his name 10 bc /
associated with that OF John Howard Do .
reforming criminals. though for half n I
fe time he was himself behind the bars 4
)ne night while stil intent upon c-irc
he sought pal among the hack seats
" Water street prayer meeting. 'ffc
eader spoke N trusting I'm God nrure
him. lis haf besottcd
mind thought he said, God Is uutthg