Too many regard the father of their spirits as their governor! They yield the idea of the Ancient of Days, “the glad creator,” and put in its stead a miserable, puritanical martinet of a God, caring not for righteousness, but for his rights; not for the eternal purities, but the goody proprieties. The prophets of such a God take all the glow, all the hope, all the color, all the worth, out of life on earth, and offer you instead what they call eternal bliss—a pale, tearless hell. Of all things, turn from a mean, poverty-stricken faith. But, if you are straitened in your own mammon-worshipping soul, how shall you believe in a God any greater than can stand up in that prison chamber?

I desire to wake no dispute, will myself dispute with no man, but for the sake of those whom certain believers trouble, I have spoken my mind. I love the one God seen in the face of Jesus Christ. From all copies of Jonathan Edwards’ portrait of God, however faded by time, however softened by the use of less glaring pigments, I turn with loathing. Not such a God is he concerning whom was the message John heard from Jesus, that he is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Commentary

by Dale Darling

And so MacDonald's sermon transitions from Justice to Light, as our friend, a kindred spirit for any that turn from a mean, poverty stricken faith, continues.

His quest is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, to know as he is known, to be transformed by the renewing of his mind and know the perfect will of God.

In doing his duty, in spite and regardless of the circumstances he faced, MacDonald left us purposeful encouragement to love the one God seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

How shall we then live?

Do the very next right thing in the Light.