p. 467 | Love by Frank Hope

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 5, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 30.

Love.

By Frank Hope

"God is love." And "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him." When God created man, he imparted to him the faculty of love. So strong is this in man that there is not a human being on the earth that does not love something, the most degraded and ignorant savages all having their objects of adoration and love. This faculty, applied in the manner that God intended, makes the Christian; but, allowed to run after other objects, makes the sinner. There is nothing done by man under the sun without love. It is the motive power of man's life, the very quintessence of his existence. It is the subtle influence that prompts his every action, and every imagination of his heart, whether good or bad. Every good action, kind word, or noble thought is inspired by love to God, and "this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments."

Sin is perverted love. A man must love something; just as surely as he partakes of the divine nature, just so surely it is in his nature to love. If he does not love God, he will love something else. He generally loves himself. The apostle tells us that "the love of money is the root of all evil." What crime or iniquity cannot be traced to selfishness? and selfishness is too much love of self. So, as in other cases, the greatest blessing God bestows on man, when perverted becomes his greatest curse. FRANK HOPE.