The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 87

progresR. 'fo seo men perfect (cf. Eph. v. 25-28; Col. i. 26-28; Titus ii. 14). '!'Lis-this is lovo; this is the love; herein is love. This is the supreme lesson tanizht us in Cbrist.-t!t,,t the supreme energy is infinite, eternal, bonnrlless, ont-gushing love! Mr. Herbert Spencer tells u~ that "amid the myPteries which become tr:,c more mysteiious the more they are thought about, there will remain the one absolute certainty that we are ever in presence of an Infinite and Eternal Energy, from which all things proceed" (Nineteenth Oentury. January, 1884). Where the agnostic ends, acknowledging that there is an Infinite Energy, though he knows not what it is, the gospel messenger begins, and says," That Energy I declare unto you." The Infinite Energy is a self-existing, self-outpouring love !-a Jove that makes the greatest possible sacrifice in order to redeem the lost! II. LET us LEARN LOVE'S GREATEST LESSON. How much the lesson of love needed to be taught can only be learnt from the study of the period at which the AJY.>,tle John wrote.1 'fhe space at our disposal forbids our doing more than to refer the student to works touching thereon. This Jove of God for man is seen to have a fivefold effect. 1. It teaches new tl"uth about man. (1) That man is very precious in the eye 0f God. (2) That the life of self-sacrifice on behalf of man is the noblest possible expenditure of spiritual energy. (3) '1.'hat when so expended, it should be for the pi;,rpose (a) of removing obstructions to human advancement, whether (ci) from within or (/3) from without; and (b) of creating and sustaining such new forces as will raise him in the scale of being. (4) That to teach us all this, Heaven itself has led the way. The highest Being in the universe finds his highest glory in stooping to redeem and save! 2. It creates a new duty, viz. that of laying ourselves out for other3. "And we ought," etc. The vastly higher plane to which the revelation of Divine love lifted hum.an nature, ipso facto made the claims of manhood on redeemed and sanctified man enor- mously greater than before. It warranted and even demanded the " enthusiasm of humanity." The measure of self-devotion to others' weal, indicated in the words, " we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren," is very far greater than the phrase just quoted implies. The Church of God has "left its first love; " a return to it would revolutionize and regenerate society. 3. It becomes a new inspiration in man. Of this the text, looked at historically, is a proof. Such precepts as it contains ·were never considered a part of human duty till God so loved the world. The apostles and the early Christians had learnt of God to love one another and to do good unto all men. 2 4. lt at once led to the adoption ·of a new test of chamcter. E.g. take the case of a rich man and a poor one-of Dives and Lazarus. " Whoso hath this world's good (/3los ), and seeth bis brother have need," etc. I~ such a hard-hearted one it is perfectly clear the love of God does not dwell, i.e. either the love which is like God's, or which he imparts, or which he commands, or of which he is the Object. For love to God is nothing if it be not loyal. Ho commands us to love our brethren. Therefore, if we do not, we cannot truly love God. 5. It supplies a 'new and tender persuasive plea. "Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth." In every case our love is to become a practical power. If·a man, out of passionate love for his Lord, spends his strength in defending the doctrines of the gospel, it is so far well. But in doing this, his work is but half-done. He is equally bound to devote himself to insisting on the practice of the gospel, and to inspire men to practical philanthropy as well as to penitence and faith. And while the former ages have been those in which Christian doctrines had (1) to be formulated, and (2) then to be ddended, the great work for Christians and Churches in this age is practically to apply them,3 by exercising philanthropy in every needed form. Not by the lavish and indiscriminate distribution of alms, but by making 1icople strong enough to do without them (cf. Acts iii. 6). And he will best carry out 1 Of. Dr. Ublhorn's 'Cb.risti1m Charity in the Ancient Church,' the chapter entitled " A World without Love; " and also the Ven. Archdeacon Farmr's ' Early Days of Christianity,' vol. i. oh. i. • See Schmidt's 'Essai sur le. civilisation de !'empire Romaine, et sa tnu,sformation p&r la Christianisme;' also l\'.lr. Bruce's 'Gesta Christi,' and Dr. Starr's invaluable volume on the' Historical Effects of Christiunity.' Schmidt's work ho.s recently been tmn;;la.ted by Mrs. Thorpe ; the transhltion is published by Isbister and Co. • See Dr. Fo.irbairn's address as chairmnn of the Congregational Union, at Sheffield, O!l • Cbristicrnity in the Niueteenth Century' (Hodder).  84 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN, [cH. m. 1-24.