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How often have I said,
"Blessed that John who on thy breast
Laid down his head."
It was that contact all divine
Transformed him from above,
And made him amongst men the man
To show forth holy love.
CHRISTINA G. ROSSETTI.

Love is regenerating the world. It is the love of God that is working
this mighty transformation. The world was cold and loveless before
Christ came. Of course there always was love in the
race,--father-love, mother-love, filial love, love for country. There
have always been human friendships which were constant, tender, and
true, whose stories shine in bright lustre among the records of life.
Natural affection there has always been, but Christian love was not in
the world till Christ came.

The incarnation was the breaking into this world of the love of God.
For three and thirty years Jesus walked among men, pouring out love in
every word, in every act, in all his works, and in every influence of
his life. Then on the cross his heart broke, spilling its love upon
the earth. As Mary's ointment filled all the house where it was
emptied out, so the love of God poured out in Christ's life and death
is filling all the world.

Jesus put his love into human hearts that it might be carried
everywhere. Instantly there was a wondrous change. The story of the
Church after the day of Pentecost shows a spirit among the disciples of
Christ which the world had never seen before. They had all things
common. The strong helped the weak. They formed a fellowship which
was almost heavenly. From that time to the present the leaven of love
has been working. It has slowly wrought itself into every department
of life,--into art, literature, music, laws, education, morals. Every
hospital, orphanage, asylum, and reformatory in the world has been
inspired by the love of Christ. Christian civilization is a product of
this same divine affection working through the nations.

Perhaps no other of the Master's disciples has done so much in the
interpreting and the diffusing of the love of Christ in the world as
the beloved disciple has done. Peter was the mightiest force at the
beginning in the founding of the Church. Then came Paul with his
tremendous missionary energy, carrying Christianity to the ends of the
earth. Each of these apostles was greatest in his own way and place.
But John has done more than either of these to bless the world with
love