Here our apostle begins. comparison between gifts and graces, and shows how much more excellent and desirable the saving graces of the Spirit are, than all those pompous and miraculous gifts, in which there is no real excellency, and nothing for which we should desire them, but only upon the score o... [ Continue Reading ]
Farther, Suppose. had the spirit of prophecy, and could speak by inspiration of things present, and things to come, and could understand deep and difficult points in God's word and works, what is this more than BALAAM had? And suppose. have all faith, that is, the highest degree of miraculous faith... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That alms amy be given without true love to God, or our neighbour for God's sake; they may be given out of mere natural pity to the poor, out of. desire to be well thought of, and well spoken of by men, out of an opinion of merit, and obliging God, or from some other cause, which in... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle enters upon the description and commendation of the grace and duty of charity, and declares several excellent effects and properties of it; namely, IT SUFFERETH LONG, AND IS KIND; that is, the charitable man is kind to all, patient towards all; he can bear injuries and reproaches ve... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, charity, or true love to our neighbour, will restrain us from all uncomely deportment towards him; it will not suffer us to do an ill or indecent thing to any one; it breaks not forth into violent and ungovernable passions upon any provocations, how just soever, how great soever. SEEKETH N... [ Continue Reading ]
Charity rejoices not in any evil done, either, 1. By ourselves, in the commission or after-contemplation of it; or, 2. By others. Lord, how sad it is when it becomes matter of mirth and sport, to see another stab at once the Christian name, and his own soul! Or, 3. It rejoices not in any evil don... [ Continue Reading ]
Charity or love has strong shoulders to bear wrongs and injuries with patience, though very hard and grievous to be borne, without returning evil for evil: it will enable us to forbear one another in love, and not cease to be kind, notwithstanding provocations. BELIEVETH ALL THINGS; that is, charit... [ Continue Reading ]
CHARITY NEVER FAILETH. Holy love is an everlasting quality and employment; it shall not fail at death, as other graces do, but be perfected at death. Repentance should accompany us to the gates of heaven, but repentance ceases for ever in heaven; for no need of repentance where there is entire inno... [ Continue Reading ]
As the imperfect twilight is done away by the opening of the perfect day; so at death, when that which is perfect takes place, then that which was imperfect shall be done away. Blessed be God for the hopes of that blessed place and state, where all imperfections shall cease, especially the imperfec... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle compares the Christian's imperfect state of knowledge and holiness in this life to. state of childhood; his perfect state of holiness and happiness in heaven to. state of manhood. As. child conceives, thinks, and speaks, of things suitable to his childish state; but when he comes t... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, Now in our minority we see divine revelations, as the prophets did of old, in. dark enigmatical manner, and by symbolical representations of things upon the fancy, as in. glass; but then in the adult state of the church we shall see them after the Mosaical manner, in. way... [ Continue Reading ]
The design of the apostle in these words is, 1. To inform the Corinthians, that the sanctifying graces of faith, hope, and charity, are far to be preferred before all the fore -mentioned extraordinary gifts of prophecy, miracles, tongues, healing the sick, and raising the dead, not excepted. The le... [ Continue Reading ]