Chapter 23—Love—a Divine, Eternal Principle
Love, the Principle of Action—When the heavenly principle of
eternal love fills the heart, it will flow out to others, ... because love
is the principle of action, and modifies the character, governs the
impulses, controls the passions, subdues enmity, and elevates and
ennobles the affections.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:223
(1876).
Distinct From Any Other Principle—Pure love is simple in
its operations and is distinct from any other principle of action.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:136
(1868).
A Tender Plant to Be Cultivated and Cherished—Love is a
tender plant, and it must be cultivated and cherished, and the roots of
bitterness all have to be plucked up around it in order for it to have
room to circulate, and then it will bring in under its influence all the
powers of the mind, all the heart, so that we shall love God supremely
and our neighbor as ourselves.—
Manuscript 50, 1894.
(HC 173.)
Satan’s Substitution—Selfishness for Love—Through disobe-
dience man’s powers were perverted, and selfishness took the place
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of love. His nature became so weakened that it was impossible for
him to resist the power of evil; and the tempter saw being fulfilled
his purpose to thwart the divine plan of man’s creation and fill the
earth with misery and desolation.—
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and
Students, 33
(1913).
Love Springs Forth Spontaneously When Self Is Submerged—
When self is submerged in Christ, true love springs forth sponta-
neously. It is not an emotion or an impulse but a decision of a sanc-
tified will. It consists not in feeling but in the transformation of the
whole heart, soul, and character, which is dead to self and alive unto
God. Our Lord and Saviour asks us to give ourselves to Him. Surren-
dering self to God is all He requires, giving ourselves to Him to be
employed as He sees fit. Until we come to this point of surrender, we
shall not work happily, usefully, or successfully anywhere.—
Letter
97, 1898
(
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 6:1100, 1101
.)
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