August 3

"The fruit of the Spirit is love." — Galatians 5:22.

THE Apostle places before us the wonderful contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruits of the Spirit, which proves to us the excellence of religion. The heart is not the seat of these spiritual depositions by nature; the Spirit must dwell in us, in order to produce this lovely train of Christian graces. The first fruit we are to examine is Love. Observe

THE OBJECTS TO WHICH IT IS DIRECTED.

GOD. "The carnal mind is enmity against God;" but love to him is a distinguishing mark of the new nature. There must be new principles implanted in our hearts, ere we can love a God of infinite purity, truth, and rectitude.

Our fellow Christians. If our love to God is genuine, we shall love the brotherhood — I John 3:14. How important is it for Christians to cultivate this spirit, that, instead of being severed from each other by hatred, they may be knit together in love!

Mankind in general. We are bound by the most solemn ties to love our brethren in Christ, but it must not be confined within such narrow limits: the laws of nature, as well as of God, bind us to love all.

THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS DISPLAYED.

In genuine devotedness. If we are sincere in our professions of attachment to God, we shall delight in pouring out our hearts to him in prayer, and giving up ourselves to him in self-dedication.

In cheerful obedience. This is the Divine test. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." If his Spirit resides in you, all his commands will meet your ready and cheerful compliance.

In active zeal. That zeal that can rise above party walls and denominational peculiarities, like the sun in the firmament, moving onward in its course, and giving light and heat to all around — not an ostentatious display, but an unassuming, calm, steady, persevering effort; well-tempered, well-timed, well-directed; not a timid feeling, that leads us to act the coward, when opposed; but a bold, intrepid spirit.

In Christian sympathy. We are to bear each other's burdens; and to serve one another in love. There must be fidelity as well as feeling. Love will not expose a friend's faults; but it will lead its possessor to go silently and secretly to him, and admonish and reprove him. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend."

In universal benevolence. It will regard the moral and spiritual interests of all mankind, co-operate in all plans of usefulness, and aid in those institutions that are formed for the circulation of the Scriptures, and the diffusion of the Gospel. Paul gives us the distinguishing marks and features of love — 1 Cor. xiii. Christians, let us lay hold on the golden chain of love, that it may unite us closer to each other, and bind us all to God.