p. 5 | The Test of Love by Eliza H. Morton

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 20, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 24.

The Test of Love

By Eliza H. Morton

'Tis natural for the human heart to love— It may be but an inert thing, a house, Or else perchance an animal, or else A child, or other soul akin—for love It must, or break. All hearts are made to love, For God is love.

Mere human love may be Perverted in its flow, and prove a curse; And cruel are the wounds of friends untrue, And deep the scars left by mistakes in youth. But love that comes from God must to Him turn As flowers to the sun. It's tender, true, And full of sympathy. And yet all souls Are not alike.

Elijah was not John In tenderness, but he the lesson learned Which all must learn who hope to see their God in peace,— The lesson of humility. He felt the storm, The earthquake, and the fire, the earth gave way, Before he felt within his heart the need Of gentleness to take away his pride. And Peter, rash, impetuous in his haste, Lacked that which wins and softens hearts and makes Them strong in God; but he was led to feel His helplessness, his failure and defeat, Before to him was given power to break To other souls the bread of life.

The test is love. Aye, "Lov'st thou Me?" thrice said. Yea, "Lov'st thou Me?" The one that loves, will show That love in kindly deeds and gentle words. The sentimental, cold, and selfish soul Must fall upon the Rock and broken be, Before the power will come to make alive In Christ those dead in trespasses and sins. All souls are not alike. The clinging vine May have upon its tendrils rust and blight That must be purged away before its fruit Will glow beneath a summer sun. Each one Must feel the touch of love which will reveal His own peculiar sin. We sometimes take The knife and think to prune our neighbor's vines, And find we have a two-edged sword that cuts Both ways and trims our own, for all have sinned; And so how vain it is to think to sit Upon the judgment-seat! Unlike are all, And God alone knows who is true and who Is false to Him. God knows! O blessed thought! His love discriminates, His love is broad.

The day will come, it hastens on and on, When earthly things will be as clouds that melt, As dreams that fade; when all supports will fall, Except the one eternal hope of heaven. We need not fear, for that is like a rock That stands for ay. The time of test will prove Our love, and love will open wide the gate That swings into the city's golden light. Then let us "just be kind," forget the past, And onward, upward move, trusting in God.