Love is the foundation of all obedience. Without it morality degenerates into mere casuistry. Love is the foundation of all knowledge. Without it religion degenerates into a chattering about Moses and doctrines and theories; a thing that will neither kill nor make alive, that never gave life to a single soul or blessing to a single heart, and never put strength into any hand in the conflict and strife of daily life.
Mourning after an absent God is an evidence of a love as strong, as rejoicing in a present one.
To love God, we must know Him as manifested in Christ,—know Him as incarnated in human form,—know Him as revealing His holiness, His tenderness, His pity, His yearning love, and condescending grace, in the suffering, glorified Redeemer.
Oh! make me Thine forever;
And should I fainting be,
Lord! let me never, never,
Outlive my love to Thee!
—Gerhardt.
When a man is told that the whole of religion and morality is summed up in the two commandments, to love God, and to love our neighbor, he is ready to cry, like Charoba in Gebir, at the first sight of the sea, "Is this the mighty ocean? is this all?" Yes, all; but how small a part of it do your eyes survey! Only trust yourself to it; launch out upon it; sail abroad over it; you will find it has no end; it will carry you round the world.
—Guesses at Truth.
