This is "myself," not what I think should be:
And what is that I hunger for but God?
My God, my God, let me for once look on thee
As though naught else existed, we alone.
And as creation crumbles, my soul's spark
Expands till I can say: "Even from myself
I need thee and I feel thee and I love thee."
I do not plead my rapture in thy works
For love of thee, nor that I feel as one
Who cannot die: but there is that in me

Which turns to thee, which loves or which should love.

Which one of the religions which we have discussed can meet this test? Islam cannot, for its God is a capricious, austere, absentee ruler who cares naught for human life. Buddhism cannot, for it denies the existence of any God at all. Hinduism, though its contemplative method comes nearer than any other, cuts off any final satisfaction, for there cannot be any real communion, since there are no persons to enter into that relationship. There is only one; that is God, and even his is not a person, but a vague, pantheistic essence that pervades the universe.

Those who have studied the peoples in the mission fields tell us that the souls of these men are hungry. There is a great unrest, a great longing which finds no final satisfaction through the non-Christian faiths. That these religions have value cannot be doubted; but that they are not able to meet the needs of men is equally clear to any careful student.

STUDY IV.

THE DISTINCTIVE MESSAGE OF CHRISTIANITY.

STUDY IV. THE DISTINCTIVE MESSAGE OF
CHRISTIANITY.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John xiv. 23.)

"When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. Yet I taught Ephraim to walk; I took them on my arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that lift up the yoke on their jaws; and I laid food before them. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I cast thee off, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, my compassions are kindled together. . I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man: the Holy One in the midst of thee; and I will not come in wrath." (Hos. xi. 1, 3, 4, 8, 9.)

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (John iv. 24.)

PART 1. THE CHRISTIAN'S CONCEPTION OF GOD.

We have seen the failure of the non-Christian religions. In perfect fairness of spirit we must now inquire whether Christianity has any better religious message. Let us turn to the Christian conception of God. A later study will attempt to justify this conception.

First of all, the God of Christianity is personal—that is, he is a conscious being, possessed of intelligence, will, and emotional life which enables him to be related with other beings. To say that God is personal does not mean that he is limited, for the Christian conception (that presented by the New Testament) distinctly denies all limitation. He is complete in intelligence, will, and emotional possibilities. He knows all

truth; he is able at all times to control his actions. He always does that which is worthy.

Not only is God personal, but he is self-consistent. He cannot act otherwise than in accordance with his own nature —that is, in accordance with the reasonableness and essential truth in things. There is no arbitrariness here, no whimsical capriciousness. His character (and character inheres only in personality; nothing else has character) is righteously self-consistent.

Still further, Christianity sets forth the conception of a God who is a Father, and who sustains toward men the loving relation of Fatherhood. No other religion outside Christianity has such a conception. Judaism has it in embryo, though not well developed. This Father is ambitious to give to each child his largest and truest life. To this end he cares for each individual human soul, and nothing touches the life of man which does not touch also the heart of God. God is no absentee Creator of the universe who sits outside the universe and sees it go. He is intimately connected with the daily and hourly movements in the world. Although distinct in personality, yet he pervades all life in a more real sense than the life of my friend pervades my life when we are in conscious communion.

Thus he dwells in all

From life's minute beginnings up at last

To man-the consummation of this scheme of being.

-Browning's "Paracelsus."