Though I speak with all the tongues — Which are upon earth, and with the eloquence of an angel. And have not love — The love of God, and of all mankind for his sake, I am no better before God than the sounding instruments of brass, used in the worship of some of the heathen gods. Or a tinkling cymba... [ Continue Reading ]
And though I have the gift of prophecy — Of foretelling future events. And understand all the mysteries — Both of God's word and providence. And all knowledge — Of things divine and human, that ever any mortal attained to. And though I have the highest degree of miracle working faith, and have not t... [ Continue Reading ]
And though I — Deliberately, piece by piece. Give all my goods to feed the poor, yea, though I deliver up my body to be burned — Rather than I would renounce my religion. And have not the love — Hereafter described. It profiteth me nothing — Without this, whatever I speak, whatever I have, whatever... [ Continue Reading ]
The love of God, and of our neighbour for God's sake, is patient toward, all men. It, suffers all the weakness, ignorance, errors, and infirmities of the children of God; all the malice and wickedness of the children of the world: and all this, not only for a time, but to the end. And in every step... [ Continue Reading ]
It doth not behave indecently — Is not rude, or willingly offensive, to any. It renders to all their due — Suitable to time, person, and all other circumstances. Seeketh not her own — Ease, pleasure, honour, or temporal advantage. Nay, sometimes the lover of mankind seeketh not, in some sense, even... [ Continue Reading ]
Rejoiceth not in iniquity — Yea, weeps at either the sin or folly of even an enemy; takes no pleasure in hearing or in repeating it, but desires it may be forgotten for ever. But rejoiceth in the truth — Bringing forth its proper fruit, holiness of heart and life. Good in general is its glory and jo... [ Continue Reading ]
Love covereth all things — Whatever evil the lover of mankind sees, hears, or knows of any one, he mentions it to none; it never goes out of his lips, unless where absolute duty constrains to speak. Believeth all things — Puts the most favourable construction on everything, and is ever ready to beli... [ Continue Reading ]
Love never faileth — It accompanies to, and adorns us in, eternity; it prepares us for, and constitutes, heaven. But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail — When all things are fulfilled, and God is all in all. Whether there be tongues, they shall cease — One language shall prevail among all... [ Continue Reading ]
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part — The wisest of men have here but short, narrow, imperfect conceptions, even of the things round about them, and much more of the deep things of God. And even the prophecies which men deliver from God are far from taking in the whole of future events, or... [ Continue Reading ]
But when that which is perfect is come — At death and in the last day. That which is in part shall vanish away — Both that poor, low, imperfect, glimmering light, which is all the knowledge we now can attain to; and these slow and unsatisfactory methods of attaining, as well as of imparting it to ot... [ Continue Reading ]
In our present state we are mere infants in point of knowledge, compared to what we shall be hereafter. I put away childish things — Of my own accord, willingly, without trouble.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now we see — Even the things that surround us. But by means of a glass — Or mirror, which reflects only their imperfect forms, in a dim, faint, obscure manner; so that our thoughts about them are puzzling and intricate, and everything is a kind of riddle to us. But then — We shall see, not a faint r... [ Continue Reading ]
Faith, hope, love — Are the sum of perfection on earth; love alone is the sum of perfection in heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]