[December 14th, 1877.]
These words come after an exhortation to the practice of the Christian virtues of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forgiveness. In addition to all these put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Not perfect bond, but that which renders perfect. Love is that which unites all the other virtues into one complete whole. It is compared to the outer garment which completes the array of the person.
Another interpretation. As in 11th v. Paul has said in the Church and in Christ: “There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free; but Christ is all, and in all;” he is understood to say here v. 14, that love is this unifying principle, which binds together all the otherwise discordant members of the Church. , in Greek Scriptures used, 1st. of love, benevolence, kindness to our fellow-men. 2. of God’s love to us. 3. of our love to God. 4. Of brotherly love among Christians. 5. Of love in general as a Christian grace, without specification of its object. It is spoken of in 1 Cor. 13. Its characteristics are 1. Suffereth long. 2. Is kind. 3. Does not envy. 4. Vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. 5. Doth not behave itself unseemly. 6. Seeketh not its own. 7. Is not easily provoked. 8. Thinketh no evil. 9. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. 10. Beareth all things, believeth all things hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Of this love it is taught, 1. That without this all other passions are worthless, all professions, all hopes, are empty and vain. No amount of knowledge, or orthodoxy, or of power, natural or supernatural, no almsgiving or devotion to the poor, no church membership, no assiduity in all religious duties, is of any avail.
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That this love is the fruit of faith. It cannot exist without it, and faith without it is dead. Why?
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It is the bond of perfectness. (a.) It unites all the Christian virtues, (b.) It unites all the members of Christ’s body.
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It is the image of God. It makes us like Christ.
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It is the beauty and blessedness of heaven. Perfection of the religion of the Bible.
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Not Ritualism.
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Not mere benevolence.
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Not orthodoxy.
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But faith in the doctrines revealed, which faith produces love and all its fruits.
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