Religion is love: the love of God shed abroad in the heart, transforming our nature into love. The blessing is bestowed to be exhibited; we are to let our light shine, and walk in love.
Under the influence of love to God, for His mercy towards us; and love to man for God's sake. By the rule of love, doing unto others as we would they should do unto us. Seeking their spiritual and eternal welfare. Letting it be clearly seen, that we indulge no envy, jealousy, malice, or ill-willin our hearts against any; but that we wish them well, and desire to promote their best interests in any way we can.
Love should run through the whole of our actions, and be the ruling motive in our souls. God acts towards us from love. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of love; and love is the brightest and surest evidence of regeneration.
Let us not be satisfied to feel that we love, but let us manifest it; let us "WALK IN LOVE"; this is the way to be happy, useful and honourable. Bitterness, wrath, censoriousness, and selfishness, prove that we are under sin; but love is of God; and he that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
May I from every act abstain, That hurts or gives my brother pain; Nay, every secret wish suppress, That would abridge his happiness; And this may I Thy follower prove, Great Prince of peace, great God of love!
Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.
James Smith was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841-1850. He also ministered with great blessing in Cheltenham. His devotional, The Believer's Daily Remembrancer, subtitled Pastor's Morning and Evening Visit, was very popular in its own day, and has received a new lease of life through recent republication.
Religion is love: the love of God shed abroad in the heart, transforming our nature into love. The blessing is bestowed to be exhibited; we are to let our light shine, and walk in love.
Under the influence of love to God, for His mercy towards us; and love to man for God's sake. By the rule of love, doing unto others as we would they should do unto us. Seeking their spiritual and eternal welfare. Letting it be clearly seen, that we indulge no envy, jealousy, malice, or ill-willin our hearts against any; but that we wish them well, and desire to promote their best interests in any way we can.
Love should run through the whole of our actions, and be the ruling motive in our souls. God acts towards us from love. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of love; and love is the brightest and surest evidence of regeneration.
Let us not be satisfied to feel that we love, but let us manifest it; let us "WALK IN LOVE"; this is the way to be happy, useful and honourable. Bitterness, wrath, censoriousness, and selfishness, prove that we are under sin; but love is of God; and he that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
May I from every act abstain, That hurts or gives my brother pain; Nay, every secret wish suppress, That would abridge his happiness; And this may I Thy follower prove, Great Prince of peace, great God of love!