1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13:1

Such is the transcendent excellency and necessity of that true Christian love, which, from regard to Christ and in obedience to his commands, earnestly seeks the good of others, that, though I or any other could, by the special gift of the Holy Ghost, speak all the languages of mankind with the eloquence of angels, we should be as a mere empty noise or useless shew if we were destitute of this

1 Corinthians 13:2

Had we the gift of prophecy, qualifying us to foretell all future events, or explain and apply all the predictions of the Old Testament; or had we the clearest insight into the sublime mysteries of the gospel or revelation, and the greatest compass of human knowledge that ever a mere creature attained; and had we the strongest faith of miracles, that we could remove mountains at pleasure; yet, without this true Christian love to God, and to men for his sake, we could not exercise these gifts for his glory and their good; nay, could have no real grace, no true Christianity

1 Corinthians 13:3

And, though we were so liberal as to dispose of all that we have in the world for the relief of the poor, and shewed so much zeal, fortitude, and self-denial, as to suffer the most cruel martyrdom for the truths of Christ, yet, if we had not sincere love to him, and his members, interests, and honour, it would be of no advantage to our spiritual or eternal happiness, but merely procure a transient and empty character among men

1 Corinthians 13:4

This true Christian love of which I speak, is a most amiable, generous, and operative, grace: it endures injuries, affronts, and provocations, with great patience and long-suffering: it is always courteous, affable, and beneficent; ready on every occasion to do good: it never grudges, nor murmurs at, the prosperity, riches, honours, gifts, or graces, of others: it never behaves with insolence, contempt, or scorn, towards persons of inferior rank or attainments; nor acts rashly or perversely to the hurt of others; nor does it fill a man with proud conceit of his own person, gifts, graces, or worldly privileges: 5. It never disposes men to act any thing indecent, base, vile, or unsuitable to their station, age, calling, or Christian profession: it never aims at, nor pursues, any private personal advantage, to the hurt of others, nor inordinately seeks after riches, honours, or pleasures, at the expense of others: it is not angry without cause, nor easily provoked with the greatest injuries, nor disposed to any unchristian resentment: it is never ready to suspect evil of others, or to put the worst construction upon their conduct; much less does it seek to find fault, to aggravate what is really amiss, or to devise mischief of any kind: 6. It takes no pleasure in falsehood or unrighteousness, either in ourselves or others, but grieves at our and their sins and failures, and rejoices in their just and regular deportment, and in our own sincere and faithful behaviour towards God or men; and delights to see the truth of the gospel, and real, vital, and practical religion, flourish in ourselves or others

1 Corinthians 13:7

It covers the faults of others as far as can be done without sin; bears their infirmities, and suffers many injuries, rather than requite them. It is inclined to believe good of every one, till it have convincing evidence to the contrary; and even where things look suspicious it hopes the best as long as it can, and that, by the grace of God, what is wrong may be afterwards amended; and it continues stedfast, patient, and christianly brave, under all the hardships and ill usage it meets with

1 Corinthians 13:8

This superexcellent grace of love to God, to Christ, and to his people, is never utterly lost out of the heart, and is of perpetual use in every circumstance of life in this world: and in the other it will be perfected, and shine forth in all its glory; whereas the gifts of foretelling future events, speaking with divers tongues, or of immediate inspiration in the mysteries of the gospel for the instruction of others, are only useful for a little while in the church on earth, and will be of no use at all in the eternal state. 9, 10. For even the best and wisest of us have here but a very imperfect knowledge of the divine mysteries or future events represented to us in the word of God; but, when we arrive at the heavenly state of perfection, for which we are looking, hoping, and longing, all the defects which attend our own knowledge or communication of it to others, will be removed, and we shall have as plain and extensive views of things present and future as the most perfect happiness of the most exalted creatures can require

1 Corinthians 13:11

For, as when we grow up to manhood we put away our childish, weak, confused, crude, and mistaken, notions, and our silly and trifling manner of speaking of things, so, when we arrive at the state of perfect men in Christ, we shall correct multitudes of our present mistakes, and shall have inexpressibly more just and clear apprehensions of divine things than in our present state of childhood on earth

1 Corinthians 13:12

For, in this mortal state of imperfection, we obtain no more, through the word and ordinances of God, than an obscure, confused, and perplexing, view of the mysteries of his nature, perfections, purposes, and works of creation, providence, and redemption; but, in the state of glory above, we shall know these matters in the most immediate, clear, distinct, perfect, and satisfying, manner;—like to that in which we are now known by our most familiar friends, or shall be known by God, angels, and glorified saints

1 Corinthians 13:13

Not only is this Christian love preferable to every spiritual gift, but even to every saving grace; for, in this present life, faith, hope, and love, constantly reside in us, and ought to be exercised by us, as all absolutely necessary in our salvation: but love is the most excellent, as it relates not only to God and ourselves, but also to our neighbours: it is the evidence of true faith and hope: it is our brightest conformity to God, who is love: and when faith and hope shall, as it were, give place to immediate vision and full enjoyment, love to God, to Christ, to saints, and holy angels, will for ever flame with the most disinterested and delightful urdour, as a great part of our happiness

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XIII.—Men may make splendid and pompous appearances in the church, and yet be destitute of real principles of grace. No gifts, however miraculous, no liberality, however extensive, no sufferings for the cause of Christ can avail, unless they be connected with a principle of saving faith in Christ, and love to him and to his people. Marvellous is the excellency and usefulness of true evangelical love. What benevolence, meekness, patience, humility, forbearance, caudour, willingness to believe and hope the best; what disinterested sympathy and generosity; what tender and friendly care; it produces! It is much more durable than all spiritual gifts, and, in some sense, than its sister graces of faith and hope, which are so useful in this world. And thrice happy will it be when saints arrive at a perfect knowledge of God; and when love, for the promoting of which, faith and hope were but means, shall eternally flame in all our breasts to JERONAH, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as our ALL and IN ALL, and towards our fellow sharers in happiness on his account!