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CHAP. XII.

CONCLUSION.

THE investigations pursued in the preceding chapters have illustrated, by their concurrent results, the truth of the scriptural position, that God is Love. Not that we are to presume, that while we receive with unhesitating submission any truth revealed from God, and then proceed, according to the general encouragements conveyed in His word, to impress it on our minds by examination of circumstances in His works of creation, and in the various dispensations of His Providence confirming that truth, that incidental difficulties, or seeming incongruities in detached instances, may not present themselves. How can limited and feeble reason fathom the depths of Infinite Wisdom! Such difficulties and seeming incongruities fall within the province of faith. "Rather," exclaims an objector, "within the province of credulity." No. The two provinces are discriminated by accurate boundaries. To mistake or to dis

regard their respective boundaries is one of the most common errors of scepticism in religion. Faith believes on sufficient evidence; credulity on insufficient. Scepticism is incredulous in the face of the sufficient evidence which is justly satisfactory to faith. The special objects of faith are facts, the reality of which cannot at present be ascertained to us by our own actual knowledge, but is believed on the credit due to the testimony of others. That God is love, we believe on the word of Himself, who is the God of truth, who cannot lie.1 If, in a reverent examination of the Divine proceedings, so far as our faculties are competent to the inquiry, we meet, among many clear confirmations of the fact, some insulated points in which we discern not its operation, or even imagine that indications militating against it seem apparent, what conclusion will sober reason suggest? It will teach us, in the first place, to ask ourselves, "Are you convinced that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God?" Firmly. "Are the words of Scripture respecting Love as an attribute of God definite and plain?" Indisputably: God is Love. Remember, then, the narrow

1 Titus. i. 2. Hebr. vi. 18.

range, the feeble powers, of the human intellect. Remember that you now see things as through a glass darkly: that the ways of God are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts: that although clouds and darkness are round about Him, righteousness and judgement are the habitation of His throne."

Is additional elucidation desired respecting the just authority of faith, and the sound process of reasoning, as each has here been stated? Behold it in the ordinary transactions of life. Behold it in Consider in how many

your own.

instances you assent on the testimony of observant and credible men to alleged facts which you have not personal means of verifying, and even though some incidental grounds of hesitation as to their certainty might be perceptible. But let us represent a single case bearing as near a degree of resemblance as may be to our immediate subject. Suppose yourself to have received through life continual and great kindnesses from a particular individual, in whom you have also remarked the steady influence of strict principles of veracity. Yet suppose that, in a recent transaction, you think that

1 1 Cor. xiii. 12. Isaiah, lv. 8, 9. Psalm xcvii. 2.

some traces are discernible of absence of kindness. He assures you that, although he cannot as yet put you into possession of the explanatory circumstances, you will find your suspicions to have been groundless. You would say, "The experience of the past satisfies me that his affirmation is true, and his kindness undiminished." If such would be the confidence given to the assurance of a human being subject to the frailties and the sinfulness pressing upon every man; what is the faith due to the word of the Most High? What is the faith due to God, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning1; to Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever?2

A question, most important to us individually, remains: What is to be the practical influence upon ourselves of the conviction that God is Love?

The answer is included in the declaration of St. John; We love Him, because He first loved

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the

1 James, i. 17. 2 Hebr. xiii. 8. 3 1 John, iv. 10.

first and great commandment; a commandment, rightly so placed and so denominated, because it plainly comprehends every other. Its binding force rests on the sovereignty of God; but is farther impressed upon our hearts by the love which He has displayed towards us. Most justly, therefore, are we required, whatsoever we do, to do all to the glory of God.1 Similar reasoning is irresistibly applied by St. Paul as to our duty to our Redeemer. The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.2

Whosoever, said our Lord, shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I deny before my Father which is in heaven.3 As dedicated to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, can we build up ourselves on our most holy faith, which was once delivered to the saints, a faith which is to

1 1 Cor. x. 31.

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2 2 Cor. v. 14, 15.

3 Matth. x. 33, 34. In Mark, viii. 38. and Luke, ix. 26. the expressions are, Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words.

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