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The Knowledge of God
light of the world” ; and this light must ever be reflected in the life of His disciples, as He said, “Ye are the light of the world; let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify God”. This holiness is not merely freedom from moral contamination; but such a sensitive aver sion to sin as makes it impossible for God to look with com placency upon any creature who is defiled by it. Hence the appeal to the cultivation of a holy life; since “without holiness no man shall see God”. Out of this atmosphere of holiness proceed two attributes which, like opening arms, embrace the world. One of them is Justice, or regard for law. No teacher ever lived, not even Moses, who emphasized as deeply as did Jesus the integrity of the moral law. He defended not only the law itself but the penalties affixed to its violation. The Decalogue is not so severe an arraignment of sin as the Sermon on the Mount, which rings with the inviolability of law. The other of the outstretched arms is Love. The fullness of Divine love is set forth in the words of Jesus: “When ye pray say, ‘Our Father’ ”. I t was wisely observed by Madame de Stael that if Jesus had never done anything in the world except to teach us “Our Father” He would have conferred an inestimable boon upon all the children of men. God’s love is manifest in the unceasing gifts of His providence; but its crowning token is the grace of salvation: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. And the reconciliation between Love and Justice is found at the Cross. Here “mercy and truth are met together; right eousness and peace have kissed each other”. As law is sacred and inviolable, its penalty must be inflicted; it must be inflicted either upon the malefactor or upon some competent substitute who shall volunteer to suffer for him. It is the only begotten Son who volunteers, saying, “Here am I, send Me!” The justice of God is shown in the suffering inflicted upon His only begot-
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