THE LOVE OF CHRIST by C. W. Stuttle

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 1, 1877

THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

By C. W. Stuttle

HOPE will make men strive, and fear will make them tremble; but love alone will awaken love. Wheresoever the love of Christ pours itself like a flood of light into the soul, it draws all things after it by its irresistible attraction. It drew Peter, James, and John, from their boats and kindred, Nathaniel from his shade and solitude, Matthew from his custom and commerce, Mary Magdalene from her sins, Saul of Tarsus from his deeds of blood, and converted impetuous Peter. Other emotions rise and fall in their power to constrain. They come and go, are fainter and stronger, fitful and capricious; but the love of Christ never faileth.

And this love has encompassed our pathway through life,—from infancy to childhood, from childhood to youth, and from youth to manhood. Whether in sunshine or shade, darkness or light, sorrow or joy, sickness or health, He is ever near us, and by his love, drawing us onward, ever looking upon us, and seeing our intentions before he beholds our failures, knowing our desires before he sees our faults, cheering us to endure great things, and yet accepting the least, inviting our poor service, yet content with our poorer love. He has bound up our broken hearts, consoled the mourner, upheld the sinking, visited the home of the lonely and the hiding place of sorrow, the couch of sickness and the pallet of the dying. Oh! the hight, depth, length, and breadth, of the love of Christ! It shall bear thee safely to the end, and shall sustain and waft thee gently to the eternal shore.

C. W. STUTTLE.

Vernon, Shiawassee Co., Mich.