Evening journal., 1916-02-03

Romans v: s--But God commend I
eth His love toward us. in that, while
we we're yet sinners. Christ died for
us.v
In the consideration Of this text, i'll
might be well to connect it with the
preceding verses. for these two pass
ages have been placed side by side 10
contrast the love Of God with the love
Of man. The seventh verse says: For
scarcely for a righteous man will one
die: vet peradventure for good man
some would even dare to die Then
there comes the words Of our text,
"But God commondeth His love tow
ard us. in that. while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for U.S. The
process OF the salvation Of any human
soul must begin with the realization
by that soul of Gods personal love Tor
him Il is important that we contem-
plate the other divine attributes First
OF an that we appreciate the holiness
Of cod; that He is absolutely stain
less and sinless: that He can look
with,no degree OF allowance upon any
form OF sin Il is the consciousness
Of this holiness that gives us conf
dence in the character Of God.
Itis also Of great Importance that
lnnro iFtn the wisdom of God. We
are struck with absolute wonder and
amazement when we think Of divine
omnlscience that could create the
universe. making every part so nicely
adjusted TO every other part. u Is the
Naturalization OF this divine wisdom
thatf fcreates in our minds profound
respect for His character ana as
surance. that We have a God who
knows how 10 do what he claims
he can. But it is also important that
we consider the omnpotonce. the in
finite power Of God Have yon ever
stood out on a summer evening in a
gathering storm. the lightning flash
cd. -the artillery Of the skies thun-
dercd and tho earth seemed shaken
10 its foundations? And at last when
The clouds cleared away and you be-
held The stars shining through space.
so Tar distant that the ninetv-three
million miles that the sun s distant
fron the earth seemed like a hairs
breadth. in comparison. All this
caused you 10 stand awe struck and
captiyated by the majestic might OF
Gods power But the condition OF all
of these attributes together cannot
win the affections Of human soul
and create a spirit Of personal loyalty
and allegiance That can come only
through the realization OF divine love.
All through the ages our heavenly
Father has given MS abundant evi-
dcnce Of the breadth and depth and
height Of His affection. He has done
this first Of all in the material uni
verse. What is the purpose OF ali
created things? Why did God make
the planets. the sun and skies? Why
has He given us the mountains and
the seas and the lakes and rivers and
fertile prairies? AS far as we car
determine the supreme purpose Of
these works is 10 make proper en-
vironment for the welfare OF man. Al
these. works OF creation are hut evi
dences OF divine love.
This same truth is reinforced b.
the econsidefation Of the endowment
Of httniAn intellect without the leas
fear bf making any Of you egotistical
let mf say to you that you have ten
fold iihore talents and abilities thar
any Of you have imagined. There Is
in every human soul a great reservoir
of reserve power that not one in a
thousand ever utilizes at all. In
business. in education. in industry, In
politics. in society and in religion
you can do vastly more than you
think you can. Il will take an eter.
nifty TO develop your powers and abil.
tiles TO their fullest extent Why die
God give you all this wealth Of in
tellect. OF memory. OF emotion; wh'
did He endow you with that God-lik'
faculty OF wils He was not cOmpelle,
10. II was to impress you first o
all with the realization that He sus
tsins toward you feeling OF infnit
affection. that there are no beings il
the universe whom He regards wit
greater love than He does His earth
ly children
Moreover He has shown this Low
br His laws. There are some VIII
seem TO think that God has beei
planning 10 limit. as far as possible
mans activities and enjoyments. tn
act Is absolutely the reverse. Go
las shown His love not only on Ca
vary. but also on Sinai There ca
be no liberty without law. You coul
not play a baseball game withou
rules and regulations. Would It
possible TO govern a universe. Z
make this earth a fit abode for mar
without commandments Throughot
all the generations. by the message
of his prophets. Jehovah endeavore
% instill into the human mind IN
great fact Of His eternal love n
matter how many gifts and blessing
He bestowed upon His people.
some difficulty would arise then the