Not the love which is satisfied with sitting still and enjoying itself, as long as nothing puts it out, and turns its love to anger -- what we call mere good nature and good temper; not that, not that, my friends: but love which will dare, and do, and yearn, and mourn; love which cannot rest; love which sacrifices itself; love which will suffer, love which will die, for what it loves; -- such love as a father has, who perishes himself to save his drowning child.
Now the cross of Christ is a token to us, that God's love to us is like that: a love which will dare anything, and suffer anything, for the sake of saving sinful man.