excuse, or vindication, is just that when God loves me I do not love
Him back again; and that when Christ pours out the whole fullness of
His heart upon me, nay dull and obstinate heart gives back so little
to Him who has given me so much.

'Without a cause.' Think of that Cross; think, as every poor creature
on earth has a right to think, that he and she individually were in
the mind and heart of the Saviour when He suffered and died, and then
think of what we have brought Him for it. De we not stand ashamed at-
if I might use so trivial a word,--the absurdity as well as at the
criminality of our requital? Causeless love on the one side,
occasioned by nothing but itself, and causeless indifference on the
other, occasioned by nothing but itself, are the two powers that meet
in this mystery-men's rejection of the infinite love of God.

My friend, come away from the unreasonable people, come away from the
men who can give no account of their attitude. Come away from those
who pay benefits by carelessness, and a Love that died by an
indifference that will not cast an eye upon that miracle of mercy,
and let His love kindle the answering flame in your hearts. Then you
will know God as only they who love Christ know Him, and in the
sweetness of a mutual bond will lose the misery of self, and escape
the deepening condemnation of those who see Christ on the Cross and
do not care for the sight, nor learn by it to know the infinite
tenderness and holiness of the Father that sent Him.



OUR ALLY