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biceps muscle； and if a man does not exercise his soul； he acquires
no muscle in his soul； no strength of character； no vigor of
moral fibre； no beauty of spiritual growth。 Love is not a thing
of enthusiastic emotion。 It is a rich； strong； manly； vigorous
expression of the whole round Christian characterthe Christlike
nature in its fullest development。 And the constituents of this
great character are only to be built up by
Ceaseless practice。
What was Christ doing in the carpenter's shop？ Practising。 Though
perfect； we read that he LEARNED obedience； and grew in wisdom
and in favor with God。 Do not quarrel； therefore； with your lot
in life。 Do not complain of its never…ceasing cares； its petty
environment； the vexations you have to stand； the small and sordid
souls you have to live and work with。 Above all； do not resent
temptation； do not be perplexed because it seems to thicken round
you more and more； and ceases neither for effort nor for agony nor
prayer。 That is your practice。 That is the practice which god
appoints you； and it is having its work in making you patient； and
humble； and generous； and unselfish； and kind； and courteous。 Do
not grudge the hand that is moulding the still too shapeless image
within you。 It is growing more beautiful； though you see it not；
and every touch of temptation may add to its perfection。 Therefore
keep in the midst of life。 Do not isolate yourself。 Be among
men and among things； and among troubles； and difficulties； and
obstacles。 You remember Goethe's words： 〃Talent develops itself
in solitude； character in the stream of life。〃 Talent develops
itself in solitudethe talent of prayer； of faith； of meditation；
of seeing the unseen； character grows in the stream of the world's
life。 That chiefly is where men are to learn love。
How？ Now； how？ To make it easier； I have named a few of the
elements of love。 But these are only elements。 Love itself can
never be defined。 Light is a something more than the sum of its
ingredientsa glowing； dazzling； tremulous ether。 And love is
something more than all its elementsa palpitating； quivering；
sensitive； living thing。 By synthesis of all the colors； men can
make whiteness； they cannot make light。 By synthesis of all the
virtues； men can make virtue； they cannot make love。 How then are
we to have this transcendent living whole conveyed into our souls？
We brace our wills to secure it。 We try to copy those who have
it。 We lay down rules about it。 We watch。 We pray。 But these
things alone will not bring love into our nature。 Love is an EFFECT。
And only as we fulfill the right condition can we have the effect
produced。 Shall I tell you what the CAUSE is？
If you turn to the Revised Version of the First Epistle of John
you find these words： 〃We love because He first loved us。〃 〃We
love；〃 not 〃We love HIM。〃 That is the way the old version has
it； and it is quite wrong。 〃WE LOVEbecause He first loved us。〃
Look at that word 〃because。〃 It is the CAUSE of which I have
spoken。 〃BECAUSE He first loved us；〃 the effect follows that we
love； we love Him； we love all men。 We cannot help it。 Because He
loved us； we love； we love everybody。 Our heart is slowly changed。
contemplate the love of Christ； and you will love。 Stand before
that mirror； reflect Christ's character； and you will be changed
into the same image from tenderness to tenderness。 There is no
other way。 You cannot love to order。 You can only look at the
lovely object； and fall in love with it； and grow into likeness to
it。 And so look at this Perfect Character； this Perfect Life。 Look
at
The great sacrifice
as He laid down Himself； all through life； and upon the Cross of
Calvary； and you must love Him。 And loving Him； you must become
like Him。 Love begets love。 It is a process of induction。 Put
a piece of Iron in the presence of an electrified body； and that
piece of iron for a time becomes electrified。 It is changed into
a temporary magnet in the mere presence of a permanent magnet； and
as long as you leave the two side by side； they are both magnets
alike。 Remain side by side with Him who loved us； and
Gave himself for us；
and you； too； will become a permanent magnet； a permanently attractive
force； and like Him you will draw all men unto you； like Him you
will be drawn unto all men。 that is the inevitable effect of Love。
Any man who fulfills that cause must have that effect produced in
him。
Try to give up the idea that religion comes to us by chance； or
by mystery； or by caprice。 It comes to us by natural law； or by
supernatural law； for all law is Divine。
Edward Irving went to see a dying boy once； and when he entered
the room he just put his hand on the sufferer's head； and said；
〃My boy； God loves you；〃 and went away。 The boy started from his
bed； and called out to the people in the house；
〃God loves me！ God loves me！〃
One word！ It changed that boy。 The sense that God loved
him overpowered him； melted him down； and began the creating of a
new heart in him。 And that is how the love of God melts down the
unlovely heart in man； and begets in him the new creature； who is
patient and humble and gentle and unselfish。 And there is no other
way to get it。 There is no mystery about it。 We love others； we
love everybody； we love our enemies； BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US。
III。 The Defence。
Now I have a closing sentence or two to add about Paul's reason
for singling out love as the supreme possession。
It is a very remarkable reason。 In a single word it is this： IT
LASTS。 〃Love；〃 urges Paul； 〃never faileth。〃 Then he begins again
one of his marvelous lists of the great things of the day； and
exposes them one by one。 He runs over the things that men thought
were going to last； and shows that they are all fleeting； temporary；
passing away。
〃Whether there be PROPHECIES； they shall be done away。〃 It was the
mother's ambition for her boy in those days that he should become
a prophet。 For hundreds of years God had never spoken by means
of any prophet； and at that time the prophet was greater than the
king。 Men waited wistfully for another messenger to come； and hung
upon his lips when he appeared； as upon the very voice of God。 Paul
says； 〃Whether there be prophecies； they shall fail。〃 The Bible
is full of prophecies。 One by one they have 〃failed〃； that is；
having been fulfilled； their work is finished； they have nothing
more to do now in the world except to feed a devout man's faith。
Then Paul talks about TONGUES。 That was another thing that was
greatly coveted。 〃Whether there be tongues； they shall cease。〃
As we all know； many； many centuries have passed since tongues
have been known in this world。 They have ceased。 Take it in any
sense you like。 Take it； for illustration merely； as languages in
generala sense which