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I. THE LOVE OF THE FATHER AN INCENTIVE TO MUTUAL LOVE AMONG CHRISTIANS.

1. On the principle that like begets like —

(1) The primal source of real spiritual love is the Divine nature;

(2) The manifestation of Christly love is an evidence of spiritual regeneration;

(3) The incentive to mutual love among Christians thus becomes all-inspiring and important.

2. On the principle of Christian professions —

(1) Every professing Christian professes to "know" God;

(2) But "he that loveth not, knoweth not God";

(3) Not to manifest the spirit of love is thus inconsistent with the profession a Christian makes of knowing God.

II. THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IN ITS MARVELLOUS EXAMPLE.

III. THE POSSESSION OF THIS DIVINE LOVE IS AN ASSURANCE OF RICHEST SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS — the Divine indwelling and perfection of love. Lessons:

1. The revelation of the Divine love in Christ and in Christianity the highest truth, and its demonstration most scientific and clear.

2. The leading design of the manifestation of God's love in the new birth of souls into the same love the sublimest and most blessed of all possible objects.

3. The importance of each Christian being an exemplification of the reality of God's love and of the gift of His Son is thus seen to be most vital, as constituting one of the leading features in Christian apologetics — an unanswerable argument for the fundamental fact of Christianity.

4. As love is the most essential force for elevation and regeneration of the human race, Christianity is the only spiritual force yet discovered for that most-devoutly-to-be-wished-for consummation.

(D. C. Hughes, M. A.)

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KJV: Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

WEB: Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another.