It is related of one of Dr. Doddridge's children, who was a general favorite, that she was one day asked by her father why everybody loved her? when she simply but beautifully replied, "I do not know, unless it be because I love everybody.”
Is not this sweet child's answer the very reason why everyone should love Jesus, because He loves everybody? Was it not a great proof of His love shown in a wonderfully earnest way when He came down from heaven, took upon Himself our sins; yea, verily, bore our sins in His own Body on the tree, so that by His stripes we are healed?
Let us add to this the remembrance that, while we were yet sinners, rebels, coldhearted towards Him; when not a spark of holy love lodged in our hearts, nor a thought was lifted up towards Him; even then He loved with a yearning love, and "gave Himself for us.”
"I SAW THE DEAD,
SMALL AND GREAT
STAND BEFORE GOD:
AND THE BOOKS
WERE OPENED:
AND ANOTHER BOOK
WAS OPENED, WHICH IS
THE BOOK OF LIFE:
AND THE DEAD WERE
JUDGED OUT
OF THOSE THINGS
WHICH WERE WRITTEN
IN THE BOOKS,
ACCORDING TO THEIR
WORKS.
AND WHOSOEVER WAS
NOT FOUND WRITTEN
IN THE BOOK OF LIFE
WAS CAST INTO THE
LAKE OF FIRE."