Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/318

334 I had, during this time, the pleasure of reading, in my quiet chamber, the diary of Lavater, and thus making acquaintance with this spirit, which was vitalized and inspired by the light and love of God. He is not a strong, logical thinker, but a soul which, at one bound, embraces the central point of the Christian revelation, and presses it to his warm, deeply sensitive heart. Hence his ardent comprehension of the personality of Christ, as eternal life, eternal love, and eternal operative power; hence his rejoicing life in that divine love, even under the deepest consciousness of his own deficiency.

“Fear not!” he exclaims to the repentant; “fear not! You are already forgiven. Your sins are already swallowed up; God's Holy Spirit is already in your heart! You are more dear to God than you know of. God cannot hate the being he has created; he hates only that which destroys his most beautiful work. To eradicate this destructive element from human nature, is the work of Christ. Let us have faith and rejoice, even when we are compelled to despise ourselves a thousand and ten thousand times! This feeling of repentance is wholesome; but you must not stand still there. Have faith! have faith! A human being—for whom the Son of God has uttered a word of prayer, has permitted himself to be nailed to the cross—is of more value, in the sight of God, than ten thousand worlds without souls; and of what consequence is the whole world, in his sight, who numbers every hair of man's head, who takes heed of the sparrows which fall? Fear not, then; only have faith!”