Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-04-06
TnE GENrLE LOVE OF cHRls1s

''The love OF Christ conStraileth US"
- Cor, y, il.
THERE'S nothing so strong as gentler
ness and nothing so gentle and loving
as real strength. How true ara these
words in the incarnate life Of our
Lord Jesus Christ. He was perfect
union Of Gentleness and strength. But
what is gentlenessE 1t Il quite differ
ent from mceAness Weakness is called
forth by provocat.on insult. Gentle
ness is not that Still less is it kind
ness. Many a man and woman is over
flowing with kindness, liberal in aims
giving constant Ia acts of charity, yet
they are not gentle. True gentleness
is that habit Of life which is the ont
come of prayer. of communion with
God, and careful study of our Lords
human character; it is not gained by
copying another;'we cannot make our
selves gentle. we cannot be gentle in
manner or speech apart from the srace
of God: we must mediate on the life
ot Christ and on that attribute eSEe-
cially. for it is hot merely gent'cness
that is desirable but the gentle
ness of Christ Consider Il few cases
of special gentlenass in our Lords
dealings with men when he was OIL
earth y
Take the case of Niccdamus Christ
did not say to him, Coward, afraid to
confess me before menu No; ne ac-
cepted that earnest desire of. his TO
have deeper knowledge. and before
Nicodemus was aware our Lord was
teaching him the wonderful doctrine Of
regeneration Gentle Teacher
Think of Chr.sts way Of dealing
with the Young man who came run
ming TO him and said: Good Master.
what shall do to inherit eternal l.fe?"
How wise and gentle was Jesus with
him! He knew the overnas; ering
temptation in the young mans way,
the corrupting love Of riches, such q
snare to the soul. How he longed to
snatch this brand ont of the fire that
he should set his affection On some
thing higher, We read: And Jesus,
beholding him loved him. and gave him
the best Of advice; but tho young man
loved himself better thaa God, turned
his back on unequaled tenderness. and
went away again into the void
Think OF the Saviors dealings with
Peter When Jesus walked upon The
flowing waves of Galilee he said,
Come" in answer to tho impu siye
apostles request; and as Peter walked
upon the waters right mp to Christ,
when the bois erous waves arose. he
lost faith: so Jesus put forth his hand
and caught him. What gentleness
again! But that voice still says,
Come" that heart. which knows cur
weakness our readiness 10 fall. still
beats with human sympathy; that
hand strong to control the waves is
still stretched forth with that touch
so perfect in strength. so Winning in
gentleness. Peter felt it. and knew
he was safe
Let us also think now Christ dealt
with the Magdalenc-tE1t pattern for
pcnitcnt souls. She knelt Mt the feet
OF the Savior and heard his tones of
gentleness-those tones still so gentle,
so wise. waiting for peniteat souls rs
they come to his feet. saying to them
as he said to her, Go IL peace" Why
do l speak SO mulch of gentle1ess? BE
cause l wish, from the depth of my
heart. to draw you st.ll nearer TO the
heart of Jesus.
In coming to mediate on the love
of Christ we cannot but feel our help
Iessness in undertaking, "uch task
We are reminded Of what Augustine
said of the child attempting to empty
the sea into the hole ii had Gug in the
sand. The best way to realize in any
measure the love Of Gcd is by trying
to fathom the depth of our sin and the
foreving love required to wipe it all
out. If we place ourselves in the
presence of God and look back upon
the years gone by and try to recall the
proofs of Gods pat.et.t 70 beaTanco
with us, in spite of our rebellion. in
gratitude. and forgetfuiness of him. we
shall lie much he.ped To realize the
love of God for us. We can also see
in mans dealings with his fellow crea-
lures something of the love of God
II fellow man goes on putting M
with us in orr ingratitude. our love OF
our own way. our unwiilingnoss to
learn or make any response TO his
goodness-if that man is still tender.
patient, and forbearing. we cannot
fail to believe in the love of such
man. What. then. must be the love
of God 10 each one of rs? 1t will do
ms good to mediate upon some Of the
features of this wonderful love.
1t is IN everlasting love, from eter-
nifty TO eternity. Il have loved thee
with an everlasting love; therefore
with loving kindness have drawn
thee" o, if we feel that we cannot
say Christ has drawn us, for our
hearts feel so cold and dead. so filled
with earthly cares, 50 Gled with love
OF the world. then nov should 20 up
from the depth of every such heart the
praycr-O, my Father, draw me to
myself
1t is q manifested love In all his
human life the love Of Christ was man
ifested. made plain brought down TO
the comprehension of the youngest
-ehiid. Greater love hath no man
than this tl:at man lay down his
life for his friends Chr.st's love was
manifested first in the incarnf tioa In
that &C. of infinite cOndesccssiOn
when he took upon himself the form
Of a slave and led that life of human
ity, 50 Chat no one could doubt the