The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-04-03

tions. And, withal, He loved them
with that mighty, godly love where
with none other had ever loved them
before. Such was the love of Christ
to His disciples. Such was the char
acter of the affection, in the broadcast
Interpretation, that He lavished upon
them. Such was the love which, in
it's fullest application, He wished
them to manifest to all men. He had
loved them as sinners. They must
love other men in sin. He had dealt
kindly and patiently and with all
forebearance with them. They must
do the same with their fellows. TO
be sure, they were to strive for har-
mony among themselves at all times
that they might be known and read
of all men as His disciples. Only
thus could their teachings gain or
retain a merited respect. But the
wider expression of the love of Christ
that was spread abroad in their
hearts demanded, as it demands to-
day, that they look upon all men in
sin, as we'll as upon all Christians, as
brothers--and love them.
But, I hear some one ask, suppose
Christian men to-day do love. spe-
officially and generically. as Christ
commanded that the disciples should
love. wat then?
That is just the point that I wish
to consider. This command Of
Christ, in it's application both to the
relation of the Christian to the other
faithful and to the world Of men in
sin about him, is just as imperative
upon US as it was upon any of the
eleven. And the outworking OF that
Christ principle in all the depart
ments of human activity will ensure
the final solution of all difficulties
that now perplex and distress us and
the consummation of the Kingdom of
our Lord. It is so perfectly easy and
so very simple that the ease and sim
plicity of it all astonishes u.s.. We
have become so accustomed to think
of our problems as exceptionally hard
to solve. We seem to take much JOY
to assure ourselves Of the almost in
surmountable difficulty to set the
world right with the eternal plan Of
God. W. would much rather, so it
would seem, that the whole matter
remain complex. We think, perhaps.
that God will be easy OF us If we fail
in a difficult task. =
Beloved. it is difficult, it IS we'll
night, yea actually, insurmountable.
this sin in the worldJ when squared
to the possibilities Of our own un-
aided powers. But did we open u
hearts wide toward Heaven once, and
let the power of the Spirit of the liv-
ing Father fill us to the full; did we
but empty out our Snirit-filled hearts
in love upon our fellow men; did we
but put into action nee this simple
plan of God toward the rehabilitation
of the world, we would learn, and
that quickly, what are the possibilities
of the power that cometh from on
high. And the only way to rectify
the results of the spiritual moral,
economic and political sins of this
world, individual and social, is to
let the love Of God fill you and
through you the world of men about
you. This done, the task is light, for
our basis of action is changed. We
no longer rely upon the wisdom OF
the PHILOSOPHERS OF men and their
theories, but we clutch tightly to the
power arm Of that Ruler Of us all to
whom all things are possible-and
we seize the first thing first.
Consider for a moment what would
be the effect upon this world to-mor-
row if all the men in it who profess
to be filled with Christ's love were
to live true to this command of
Christ, and you will agree that I am
right. And if 1 am not right, then
I am much mistaken in my estimate
Of the ability of the Infinite Father
of US all. But of this much I am
absolutely sure: The p%erfecting of
the individual, the church or of the
world, will never be consummated
until all Christian men breathe that
spirit of gracious love which was the
foremost moral attribute in the char
acter CT Jesus Christ. And of this
much ! am also certain: The Spirit
of God has never had the unhindered
access to the hearts of men that He
needs. The full force of Christendom
working under the whole power of
the Spirit and of outgoing love would
produce the most marvellous trans
formation that the universe has wit
messed. The work is hard now be-
cause our tools are dull or unsuited
to the task We need the proper i'm
elements. The sad thing is that af-
ter nineteen hundred years we are
not much more willing to yield our
selves to God and to cooperate I'M
reservedly with Him in His work
of the redemption of the world, than
were our forebears. We seem to
prefer poor work with dull tools.
Now this command of Christ to
love one another even as He has loved
us, is imperative. 1t is mandatory
and not permissive. If we would be
good Christians of full and regular
standing in the household Of faith
we must obey. 1t is not for us to
decide whether or no in our case the
law shall be valid. Christ commands,
and only by obedience to His demand
do We so live that all men shall
know that we are His disci-
pies. The test of fidelity is in obedi-
ence. Lip testimony is judged by
fealty in service. Some n has said:
What you do speaks so loud that /
cannot hear what you say" 1t is this
central fact that Christ recognizes
when He commands a loving order
ing of our outward life. We are
Christians, but do we live the life Of
love?
These words Of Christ should come
home to each Of US with more than
usual force at this season Of the
year. Christmas is yer: shortly we
shall be face to face with those sad.
der days which are so full of mem
cries Of Him who, for our sakes, suf.
fered even ignoblest death. 1t is
fitting that we should ~re-dedicate our.
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