The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-06-01

b Rev. Emory Miller, Formerly Of Deni-
son, II Rsgister and Leader, Des Monies.

: Miller, Formerly Of Deni-
and Leader, Des MONIES.
the essential meaning of the world
and all its life; and answers the dues-
ton, Whence?
4 AS to the second question, what re-
lation do all personal beings hold to
this meaning? AS life is action and
action IS reality, and perfectly adjust
ed action Is love, love is the infinite
asset Of the world. Now, then, the OBJ
ject Of the universe appears an effort
to establish a universe OF persons de-
voted to determining all there is in
genuine love as force, directed by.
infinite wisdom to the achievement OF
the richest modes of being which are
and each other. In word, God has
determined by interaction with God In
vested in personal universe devoted
infinite ideal espe cially the self-deter-
mination Of ideal personal character
to the rehabilitation of ideal truth the
and ideal society. There Is nothing
conceivable to reason, or taught inrev-
citation that can add interest or value
to the world besides perfection Of per-
sonal life. though many, by money and
pleasure" have tried 1t. Perfection
Of life is the true. intrinsic wealth
OF the world.
Having been the sole origin OF the
universe, In God is the original title
to Its possession. It Is this proprietary
relation to all values, singly and as q
whole, that is the burden Of this text.
This divine Investment of love, seek
ing its highest development in per-
sonal life, having been determined
upon. the next thing for us to note is
the divine method of realizing not for
his enrichmnt. but for ours upon his
Investment.
This the apostle represents as the
Essential value of existence. AS love
is it's own reward, Its exploitation is
the sumum bonum, the chief good. God
lis the infinite source OF this wealth and
the creation Of a personal universe is
This establishment of a copartnership
by which to share with finite beings
the good, the infinite wealth which ac-
|crued by their joining him in realizing
upon this exhaustless investment.
Without stopping to note each spe-
cial step in the process Of realization
we specify first The Christ. We find
him in human history its most master
full factor. OF Himself he speaks some.
times as man and sometimes as Of q
God; zone who existed before the
world was. The prophets who fore.
told His coming declared, also, this
double nature; and the apostles, who
were with Him and wrote Of Him
after His departure, made record 81
both His human and divine nature. &C
lions and professions, His wisdom and
power amazed, and His moral recti
ltude overawed friend and foe. But
these were incidents Of His great mis-.
sion. His main purpose was to do the
Twill Of the divine Father; that is, tc
lbe in act, thought, word and charac
tier a manifestation Of divine love Ii
this perverted, selfish world; in 8
word, to show men the true wealth
of human life. There are those who
when viewing great MASTERPIECE Of
1.-THE painters art, see nothing Of In
lterest In 1t; but a few who study II
until they see the great central and
jail pervading thought Of the artist
now see that the very size and quality
lof the canvas. every tint and shading
lin the background, all proportion and
perspective, every trace Of the brush
Indeed. are luminous with and express
ion Of the authors great, central, life
Igiving idea.
So. also, in preparing the earth as
1.-THE canvas, its scenes, its pleasures
pains. industries, ambitions, social, pc
|litical, commercial. domestic and indi
vidual life; its history. literature, arr
and enterprise are all poor, penplexing
ldisapp pointing harmonies until Christ
appears and teaches men the great
central thought Of God in all his crea
tive and providential action. and in al
the wisdom, work and worth O
fChrist's mission, namely, the NANTES
|tation OF divine love for the salvation
LOT the world. And men have come t.
|see that II this be taken away thu
picture Of human life is blurred. the
meaning OF life is lost.
4 Had Christ needed the tempter whit
said. in effect: Il lead a rival enter
|prise. ! hold there is greater power
land pleasure in selfishness than ii
Hove. Men hnliava mo and all arc fol