The Power of Love by John O. Corliss

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 19, 1903

The Power of Love

By John O. Corliss

J. O. CORLISS

“WE love Him, because”—Every effect is produced by some cause. So the apostle says of God: “We love him, because he first loved us.” God’s love bestowed on us first, is therefore the cause of our loving God. There can, indeed, be no love manifested by any one except it is given him of God; “for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God.” 1 John 4:7.

Then since there is no love except that which comes from God, and that love bestowed by him causes the one who receives it to love God in return, so when one uses the love God has given him in being kind to others, the bestowal of that love by him can not fail to return it upon himself. It follows, therefore, that if one would be loved by others, he must first love them. If one does this, it makes no difference how strongly the one he loves may dislike others, nor how disagreeable to them many of his ways may be, in the presence of the one who has loved him, he will become immediately transformed into a gentle and loving creature.

This mystery of love’s power over men is well illustrated by the following incident: Multitudes were gathered at one time in Cadiz, Spain, to witness a bull-fight. Two of these wretched creatures had been killed, after terrible fighting, when with terrific blasts of trumpets the gate was again opened, and another splendid animal—one of the most magnificent specimens—rushed into the arena. El Moro (the Moor) was black and glossy, and had a pair of most wicked-looking horns.

Wild enthusiasm swept through the vast crowd at the sight of him. It was soon apparent that he would be more than a match for his adversaries; for in a short time he had killed three horses. The fight went on, however, until the bull had no less than eight spear-points fastened in his neck, and his fury had become terrible. Just then, at a given signal, his tormentors suddenly vanished, and a beautiful girl about sixteen years of age, dressed in peasant garb, appeared in the blood-stained place of contest. The spectators trembled with excitement as they saw this young creature, entirely unarmed, fearlessly moving toward the infuriated bull.

As the animal stood glaring across the open space, the girl drew nearer to him, and in a sweet, musical voice called out, “El Moro, El Moro.” The effect was truly magical. Upon hearing the girl’s voice, the light in the creature’s eyes rapidly changed from an expression of rage to one of mildness, while he quietly awaited her approach. When the maiden reached him, she put forth her hand, which he touched with his nose in evident delight. Then as she began singing in a low, soft tone, the huge animal knelt at her feet. Continuing her sweet song, while one hand was placed on the brute’s forehead, with the other she gently removed the spear-points from his wounded flesh. This done, she laid her right arm over his huge neck, when he as quietly and as gently as a lamb accompanied her out of the bloody arena.

While this was going on, almost breathless silence reigned throughout the vast throng of on-lookers. For the first time ever known a blood-thirsty crowd of spectators at a Spanish bull-fight was awed into utter amazement. But the secret of the maiden’s power was simple enough. The girl had raised the bull from its earliest existence. Her hand had fed him, and he had been her pet and constant companion. Her kindness and love for the animal had given her wonderful control over him, even when he had been provoked to the utmost fury by his adversaries.

So, although man has been made captive to sin, and has been harassed by Satan until he has become furiously violent by nature, when the loving voice of the Redeemer is heard, in his approach to pluck out the barbed arrows of sin, the nature of the man changes, and the Lord is permitted to lead him away from his field of conflict to one of peace and happiness. We are told that there will be a time when “the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.” Isa. 11:6. But this can not be until the spirit of love and gentleness, which characterize the dealings of God, shall have permeated the very being of every creature.