The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 553

—

XVIII.

Love

in

the Triune Being of God. "God

Between there

is

natural love even in

a wide chasm.

its

Love."

\

John

iv. 8.

highest forms and Holy Love

This had to be emphasized so that our read-

might not mistake the nature of Love.

ers

is

Many

say that

God

is

Love, but measure His Love by the love of men. They study love's being and manifestations in others and in themselves, and

then think themselves competent to judge that this human love, in Of course they are wrong. a more perfect form, is the Love of God.

Love must be studied as it is in God Himself; as He has And the scintillations of the creature's it in His Word. feeble love must be looked upon only as sparks from the fire of the Essential

manifested

divine Love.

Our God

is

the very liberal Fountain of

the highest good,

God must be

all

Love being

good.

the very liberal Fountain of all

Love. And from that Fountain flows every earthly love of whatever name, however faint or feeble. The Creator alone can create in His creature the irresistible love of instinct, in which we see a display of His glory.

For the same end He created a strong crea-

turely attachment, not ivholly instinctive, yet to

some extent un-

belong the mother's love for her babe, love at first sight, brotherly love, etc. Higher than this is the love of moral kinship, whereby He has disposed spirit to spirit for conThese are three forms in which genial fellowship and mutual love.

consciously active

is

;

to this

found something of the Love of God, but still belonging to Creaand Providence, in no wise partaking of the treasure of the

tion

divine Life.

Love on earth adopts this higher character only when self-consecrating, self-denying, self-sacrificing

33

when

it

becomes

the object of

The devoted nurse caring nothing in him to attract her;

love does not attract, but only repels. for the pest-stricken stranger finds

;

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