p. 67 | Value of Pure Love by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 16, 1870

Value of Pure Love.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

How many times I have read, and how much I have thought upon the following words. There is a simplicity and yet a sublimity in them that marks them from Heaven.

“Whatsoever is done out of pure love, be it ever so little or contemptible in the sight of men, is wholly fruitful; for God measures more with how much love one worketh, than the amount he doeth!” Testimony No. 16, p. 28.

Here is encouragement for that humble soul of one talent who can do but little but can love much. That is the very thing that God loves above all else. The following verses by J. G. Saxe give such a beautiful illustration of this principle that I insert them. They are from The Methodist.

THE TWO CHURCH-BUILDERS.

“1 A famous king would build a church, A temple vast and grand; And that the praise might be his own, He gave a strict command That none should add the smallest gift To aid the work he planned.

“2 And when the mighty dome was done, Within the noble frame, Upon a tablet, broad and fair, In letters all aflame With burnished gold, the people read The royal builder’s name.

“3 Now when the king, elate with pride, That night had sought his bed, He dreamed he saw an angel come (A halo round his head); Erase the royal name, and write Another in its stead.

“4 What could it be? Three times that night That wondrous vision came; Three times he saw that angel-hand Erase the royal name, And write a woman’s in its stead, In letters all aflame.

“5 Whose could it be? He gave command To all about his throne To seek the owner of the name That on the tablet shone; And so it was, the courtier found, A widow poor and lone.

“6 The king, enraged at what he heard, Cried, “Bring the culprit here!” And to the woman trembling sore He said, “’Tis very clear That thou hast broken my command; Now let the truth appear!”

“7 ‘Your Majesty,’ the widow said, ‘I can’t deny the truth; I love the Lord—my Lord and yours— And so, in simple sooth, I broke your Majesty’s command (I crave your royal ruth).’

“8 And since I had no money, Sire, Why, I could only pray That God would bless your Majesty; And when along the way The horses drew the stones, I gave To one a wisp of hay!”

“9 ‘Ah! now I see,’ the king exclaimed, ‘Self-glory was my aim; The woman gave for love of God, And not for worldly fame. ’Tis my command the tablet bear The pious widow’s name!’”

I believe that the day of God will show that this sentiment is true.

D. M. CANRIGHT.