1 Corinthians 13:13

REFLECTIONS

Who can read this sweet Chapter, in the relation of Charity, and in the many lovely qualities, with which the Apostle hath so beautifully set it forth, without having the mind at once directed to Jesus, who is all that is here said, and abundantly more, even Charity in the fall, complete, and finished representation of it. Yes! thou dear Lord! everything of love, lovely, and loving, shines in thee, in one rich constellation. What love, what charity, was that of thine, which prompted thine infinite mind, before all worlds, to set thine affections upon our nature; and at the call of God thy Father, to betroth thy Church to thyself forever! And, what charity, what love, passing all knowledge, when after creation-work had taken place in the earth, and thy Church had treacherously departed from thee, to assume our nature, and die the just for the unjust to bring us to God! And, what an everlasting, unwearied, boundless affection, of love and charity; in cleansing, sanctifying, washing in thy blood, cloathing in thy righteousness, making comely in thy comeliness, and bringing thy Church through all the time-state here below, until thou shalt bring her home to the eternal world above, to present her to thyself, a glorious Church, to her joy, and thy praise, forever! Oh! for grace, to contemplate the God - Man, in whom alone, all love and charity centers; and from whom alone, all the manifestations of both, must be derived.

Blessed Lord! let it be my happiness to learn, from the contemplation of thyself, and from what is said in this sweet Chapter; that the most splendid talents, and most showy services, no pompous language or head-knowledge of all mysteries, neither the largest display of alms-giving, no, nor the martyrdom of the body, can recommend to God: nothing short of the love of God in the heart, can profit the soul. Oh for that washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, shed upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Lord!