shall love
Him because He is worthy of love. He would have them obey Him because they
have an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom, justice, and benevolence.
And all who have a just conception of these qualities will love Him
because they are drawn toward Him in admiration of His attributes.

The principles of kindness, mercy, and love, taught and exemplified by our
Saviour, are a transcript of the will and character of God. Christ
declared that He taught nothing except that which He had received from His
Father. The principles of the divine government are in perfect harmony
with the Saviour's precept, "Love your enemies." God executes justice upon
the wicked, for the good of the universe, and even for the good of those
upon whom His judgments are visited. He would make them happy if He could
do so in accordance with the laws of His government and the justice of His
character. He surrounds them with the tokens of His love, He grants them a
knowledge of His law, and follows them with the offers of His mercy; but
they despise His love, make void His law, and reject His mercy. While
constantly receiving His gifts, they dishonor the Giver; they hate God
because they know that He abhors their sins. The Lord bears long with
their perversity; but the decisive hour will come at last, when their
destiny is to be decided. Will He then chain these rebels to His side?
Will He force them to do His will?

Those who have chosen Satan as their leader, and have been controlled by
his power, are not prepared to enter the presence of God. Pride,
deception, licentiousness, cruelty, have become fixed in their characters.
Can they enter heaven, to dwell forever with those whom they despised and
hated on earth? Truth will never be agreeable to a liar; meekness will not
satisfy self-esteem and pride; purity is not acceptable to the corrupt;
disinterested love does not appear attractive to the selfish. What source
of enjoyment could heaven offer to those who are wholly absorbed in
earthly and selfish interests?

Could those whose lives have been spent in rebellion against God be
suddenly transported to heaven, and witness the high, the holy state of
perfection that ever exists there,--every soul filled with love, every
countenance beaming with joy, enrapturing music in melodious strains
rising in honor of God and the Lamb, and ceaseless streams of light
flowing upon the redeemed from the face of Him who sitteth upon the
throne,--could those