The Great Commandment by Jos. Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 17, 1874

The Great Commandment.

By Jos. Clarke

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” Luke 10:27.

This precept is found also in Deut. 6:5; 10:12 and 11:1, 13, 22; also, 19:9; 30:16; Josh. 22:5; 23:11; Matt. 22:7; and Mark 12:30.

This precept is connected in the Old Testament with some of the most precious promises which are to be found in the Bible; and in almost every case, it is found so connected. Please turn to the above-mentioned references, and read the context in each case.

In almost all pursuits, there is some leading idea which, when fully understood and comprehended, seems to lie at the foundation of all good moral action, impelling and guiding the whole; and it is this, Love to God; not a mere friendship, but a love, passionate and warm, undying and true, and constant as the sun; it must be the ruling passion of the soul, and hold control of every thought, and word, and act.

Nothing short of this strong and constant flame of love will purify the heart; it must be so strong as to hold every other lawful love in the most complete subjection, and so full as to purge out every impure and unholy passion.

Such love will quickly purify, not the life and words only, but the motives; it will permeate the whole man, and create him anew; and lacking this, all “the moral machinery is out of order.” Jos. CLARKE.