n.

This now brings me to the main point of my discourse, obedience to God
and its rewards. As God is infinitely good, and therefore wills
nothing beyond the good of his creatures; and as he is infinitely wise
to know in what the highest good of his creatures consists, it becomes
man's highest duty and privilege to know what God would have him to
do. But inside of all the externals of obedience there must be a state
of heart and mind conformed to God's will before any works can be done
acceptable to him. What _is_ this state of mind and heart? It is all
expressed in two words,--love and faith. Jesus says: "If ye love me,
keep my commandments." As much as to say, "Do not act the part of a
hypocrite by putting on the form of obedience with no love in the
heart." He continues the thought by saying: "He that loveth me will
keep my words." Obedience, you see, is the proof of love, true
obedience, I mean.

Some gravely ask, _Which is first in the heart, love or faith?_ This
question is very nearly like that of asking which is most necessary to
the growth of plants, heat or moisture? The truth is plain, that both
are necessary; and both together. Without both together no seed could
sprout, no plant put forth its leaves. Just so it is with the growth
of gospel seeds in the soul. There must be love and faith, both. But
this is very plain and easy to be understood. No one can believe in
Jesus truly without loving him; and no one can love him without at the
same time believing on him. "We love him because he first loved us:"
and faith is but a belief in and joyful acceptance of the words which
tell us how he has made known his love for us. Out of this love and
faith true obedience springs.

We must notice one particular in our thought upon this subject. It is
a matter of the deepest interest to every one of us. I now state it:
Our _love_ and _faith_ grow with our obedience. What class of children
love their parents most and repose the most confidence in them,
obedient children or disobedient children? Obedient children, you all
answer. Why is this? It is because obedient children receive daily
rewards for their good conduct in the expressions of appreciation and
love on the part of their parents, brothers, sisters and friends. Love
begets love. Just so it is with man and God. The Apostle James puts
this thought beautifully: "If a man be not a forgetful hearer, but a
doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." How