November 5

But the greatest of these is charity.—1 Corinthians 13:13.

LOVE has the supremacy among all the graces of the Spirit. This, in the most proper sense, is the fire our Saviour came to kindle on the earth. The apostle declares that charity is greater than faith and hope; which are evangelical graces of eminent usefulness: For,

1. It is the brightest part of the divine image in us. God is love: it is the most adequate notion of the Deity, and more significant of his blessed nature than any other single attribute. The most proper and honorable conception we can form of the Deity is love directed by infinite wisdom, and exercised by infinite power. Faith and hope can not be ascribed to God; they imply imperfection in their nature, and necessarily respect an absent object. Now all things are present to the knowledge of God, and in his power and possession. But love is his essential perfection, the productive principle of all good. Love transforms us into his likeness, and infuses the divinest temper into the soul. In the acts of other graces we obey God; in the acts of love we imitate him.

2. Love is more extensive in its influence than faith and hope; their operations are confined to the person in whom they are. The just lives by his own faith, and is saved by his own hope, without communicating life and salvation to others. But it is the spirit and perfection of love, to be beneficial to all. Love comforts the afflicted, relieves the indigent, directs those who want counsel. It is the vital cement of mankind. In the universe, conversation and reciprocal kindness are the blood and spirits of society, and love makes the circulation.

3. Love gives value and acceptance to all other gifts and graces, and their operations. The apostle tells us, Though I have the gift of prophecies, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; though I have all faith, and could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Without charity, faith is but a dead assent; hope is like a tympany, the bigger it grows, the more dangerous it proves. The most diffusive beneficence, without love, is but a sacrifice to vanity. It is not the richness of the gift, but the love of the giver, that makes it accepted and rewarded in heaven. The widow's two mites, cast into the treasury of the temple, were of more value, in our Saviour's account, than the rich offerings of others; for she gave her heart, the most precious and comprehensive gift, with them. The giving our bodies to be burned, for the truth and glory of the gospel, is the highest expression of obedience, which the angels are not capable of performing; yet, without charity, martyrdom is but a vainglorious blaze; and the sealing the truth with our blood, is to seal our shame and folly. Sincere love, when it can not express itself in suitable effects, has this privilege, to be accepted in God's sight, as if it were exuberant and evident in outward actions; for God accepts the will for the deed: If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

4. Love is the perfection of the law, the sum and substance of every precept. All particular duties, though distinguished in the matter, are united in love, as their principle and centre. St. Austin observes, "That all other virtues, piety, prudence, humility, chastity, temperance, fortitude, are love diversified by other names. Liberal love gives supplies to the poor; patient love forgives injuries."

Love is the end and perfection of the gospel: Now the end of the commandment is charity, out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith unfeigned. Some restrain the word commandment to the law, thinking that the gospel is only compounded of promises; but they misunderstand the difference between the two covenants. It is not in that the one commands, and the other does not command, but in the nature of the duties commanded. The law commands to do for the obtaining of life; the gospel commands to believe for salvation; This is the command of God, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. The word parangelia—commandment, is, by the apostle, used for the doctrine of the gospel: as the end of a science or art, is the perfection of the understanding in those things which are the proper subject of the science. The end of philosophy, is knowledge, and moral virtue; the end of rhetoric, is eloquence: thus the end of the gospel, the divine doctrine of our salvation, is love, a celestial perfection. Faith in the redeeming mercy of God, is the product of the gospel, not of the law; and love is the end of faith. Now the end is more excellent than the means to obtain it:—in this respect love is greater than faith. Briefly; love is styled the bond of perfection, as it unites and consummates other graces, comprehends and fastens them. Love to God, draws forth all the active powers of the soul in obedience. He that with a full and fervent will applies himself to his duty, will more easily, pleasantly, and exactly perform it. The love of God will form the soul into a more entire conformity to his nature, and obedience to his law, and raise it to a greater eminency of holiness, than the clearest knowledge of all precepts and rules can do.

5. Love never fails. The gifts and graces of the Spirit are dispensed, and continued, according to our different states. Some are necessary in the present state of the church, with respect to our sins and troubles, from which there is no perfect freedom here. Repentance is a duty of constant revolution; for while we are clothed with frail flesh, in many things we offend all. He is the best saint, who seldom falls, and speedily rises. What Tertullian said of himself, is applicable to all: We are born for repentance. What is more becoming a Christian, while so many defects and defilements cleave to him, than a mournful sense of them? This, in our dying hours, will make our Redeemer more precious to us, and our reliance upon his merits and mediation more comfortable. Repentance should accompany us to the gates of heaven: but repentance ceases for ever, when there is entire innocence. Faith is as necessary as life; for we are justified by it from the condemnation of the law: but in the future state there is no use of it; for in heaven all sins are pardoned, and in hell no sins are forgiven. Faith gives us the prospect of heaven, hope waits for it, but love alone takes the possession. Faith resigns to fruition, hope vanishes in the enjoyment of our desired happiness, but love is in its exaltation. The graces requisite for our militant state, are spiritual armor: the shield of faith, the helmet of hope; and when our warfare is ended, they are useless. But love, and peace, and joy, are robes suitable to our triumphant state.

"This is the grace must live and sing, When faith and hope shall cease, And sound from every joyful string Through all the realms of bliss."