The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-08-01

lures. Your chief concern should be to find these
proofs and not worry about the feeling What
these proofs?
l. You will delight to keep Gods law For
this is the love of God, that we keep His COM
mandments; and His commandments are NOT
grievous. (I John " 3-See also Jobn il A
10 saint, Christs laws no more burden
some than wings to brd"-(Watson). IL we
love me, keep my commandments"
e. You will have love for the brethren eff a
man say love God, and hateth his brother he
is liar."-G John iv. coy All of Gods children
are brethren, having the same Father, are mem
bers of the same household, have the same in
heritance; Gods image is stamped upon EACH and he
who loves God will love him in whom that image
is found, whether he be Presbyterian Metho-
dist, Baptist, Lutheran, an Episcopalian or
called by any other name. He will love brother
no matter what may be his nationality, color or
condition.
g. You will have desire for communion with
God, to meet with God, and possession of God
Enoch walked with God because he loved God
and wanted to be with him. True love draws
near Its object, and rejoces to know and be
known. True love seeks to know Him as he re-
veals Himself in his Word and in nature, and to
meet with him wheresoever He reveals Himself
Hence the child of God loves to meet with God
In the closet and in His sanctuary, and to COM
mune with Him in prayer. True love seeks COM
panionship with the loved as between hus-
band and wife, friend with friend True love
brings forth the desire to be like the one loved
mo praise is great as that we render by
initiating another" This is the secret why mar
RED people sometimes grow like each other
And he who loves God will desire to be like God
IN his affections and principles.
f. You will put God first in your life Your
sell and all your possessions you will freely and
unreservedly consecrate to God. You will not
hold dearer any sacrifice, possession, or talent
or calling, or power, or pleasure friend, or
even your own life. You will not count the cost
too
much OF the service sacrifice. Supreme love
Tor God led the apostles and martyrs to
themselves and their all to the Masters service and
sustained them in all their fierce trials. The
love OF Christ constraneth U.S." This love will
lead you to this same full surrender and you will
gladly lay at His feet your ALL
s. Gratitude. Love the Lord because He hath
heard my voice and my applications" Bless the
Lord, . my soul, and forget not all His benefits"
True love excites gratitude and the more you grow
Ill your love for God the greater will be YOUR
gratitude to Him. He who knows from what
God has saved him, and who fully knows
that every good and perfect gift comes
from his Heavenly Father finds his heart
hled with gratitude to the Giver of all good and
IRON his heart will come the melody of praise
Tor Him who is the One chiefest among ten
thousand. deaf mute has defined gratitude to
be the memory of the heart"
You will not find these evidences in their per-
lection within you, anymore than you will find
them perfect even in the most Christlike of Gods
saints on earth, yet if you truly love God you will
discover them within you-notwithstanding their
imperfection.
Love Tor God is mighty principle and passion
AS principle it changes not as passion it GIBBS
and flows like the tides of the ocean, AS prin-
ciple it loves always as an affection il does not
always maintain the same vigor AS a principle
1t is as steadfast the everlasting hills as a
passion it may be like the gentle breeze or the
mighty wind
Let not your peace be disturbed because you
are conscious OF the fact that you do not feel to-