The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-12-29

bt"i dlih SuitCI Win tVuhuIlhlly Ah"'
which nothing else would"
The Apostle John. in his First EpIs-
tie, places similar emphasis on the ne
cessity Of believing In Christ as the
Son Of God. "Whosocyer shall con
fcss that Jesus is the Son Of God, God
dwelleth In him. and he IN God. -
John 4:l5. We cannot appreciate the
love Of God, unless We understand
that lie who was sent into the world
10 die for sinners was the very son
Of the Father. As John says, Herein
Is love. not that we loved God. but that
lie loved us and sen, His Son to be
the Precipitation for our sins."-+:l 10.
But while right belief is necessary.
It's genuineness will be tested by right
conduct. The first of the two texts
profession of love to God. which Is
not accompanied by love to the chill
drcn Of God, Is vain. In another pass
age In the same eplstle. John says
whose hath this worlds good. and
seeth his brother have need, and shut
teth up his bowels Of compassion from
him. how dwelleth the love OF God In
him. the last word being emphatic.
Faith Shown by Works.
1t is not enough 70 talk Of our orth
Of love 20 God Actions speak loud
or than words. and love to God must
be evidenced by love TO the children
of God. The practical Christianity ~
such men as the seventh Earl Of
Shaftesbury. George Muller. Chinese
Gordon. William Booth and others of
the same kind. must be our model
But, while some rest on their ORTIZ
odOxy or their experiences. and do not
show their faith and love by their
deeds. others make the mistake OF
concluding that he who does good
deeds need not concern himself about
belief or experience. We have seen
what John has to say about belief, aud
the second text with which we started
out has something TO say about our
experience o: love to God. by this
we know that we love the children ~
God, when we love God and keep his
commandments"
Defective Philanthropy
Hence, We truly love the children OF
God only when we love God. II has
been strikingly snid: "Piety without
philanthropy Is unreal; philanthropy
without piety may be immoral"-nt
least II cannot bestow the highest
good How much Humanitarian work
will be consumed In the fires OF the
great day. because II will not be able
to stand this test
The principle underlying these two
texts IL, that love to God and love To
man are Identical passions II Is the
nature OF God which We love In those
begotten OF Him. Hence II We do not
love that nature Ia the children, we
do not love II In the Father. rs the
first Of our texts brings out on the
other hand. love to man ~ imperfect
without love "a God, for II We do not
love the original We can imperfectly
Him.
Love In Deed and IN Truth.
We cannot better conclude than by
the quotation of some words from
Professor Flndiay, an able writer On
First John. lie says: "rhe charity
which supplies the body's needs mus,
be instinct with a sense OF that which |
les behind them In the sufferers soul. |
Or Il degrades instead OF blessing. |
When We love In our offspring not our
OWN SO much as Gods children. we
owe them wisely and well. When II |
IS not their wealth nor their wit, nor |
he charms OF person and manner for |
which we prize our friends and clenve
% them. but character-purity. cOur-
ige reverence. goodness, the God CIV
IN and God-born--then We love In deed
nd In