THE KING’S BUSINESS
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ter, seems much to the dispraise of this faith, and to the praise of love. These are his words, “Now abideth faith, hope and love, even these three; but the chiefest of these is loVe.” There are some learned men who expound the greatness of which St. Paul sp^aketh here as if it meant for eternity. For when we. come to God, then we believe no more, but rather see with our eyes face to face how He is ; yet for all that love remains still; so that love may be called the chiefest, because she endur- eth forever. And though she is the chief est, yet we must not attribute unto her the office which pertains unto faith only. Like as I can not say, the Mayor of Stamford must make me a pair of shoes because he is a greater man than the shoemaker is; for the mayor, though he is a greater man,'yet it is not his office to make shoes; so though love be greater, yet it is not her office to save. This much I thought good to. say against those who fight against the truth. PAUL THE TEACHER Now, when we would know who are in Christ’s livery or not, we must learn it of St. Paul, who most evidently described charity, which is the only livery, saying, “Love is patient, she suffereth long.” Now whosoever fumeth and is angry, he is out of this livery; therefore let us remember that we do not; cast away the livery of Christ our Master. When we are in sick ness, or any manner of adversity, our duty is to be patient, to suffer willingly, and to call upon Him for aid, help and comfort; for without Him we are not able to abide any tribulation. Therefore we must call upon God, He has promised to help: therefore let me not think Him to be false or untrue to His promises, for we can not dishonor God more than by not believing or trusting in Him. Therefore let us beware above all things of dishonoring God; and so we must be patient, trusting and most certainly believing that He will deliver us when it seems good to Him, who knows the time better than we ourselves. “Charity is gentle, friendly, and loving; she envieth not.” They that envy their
the number of the devil’s servants is greater than the number of Christ’s servants. IT IS NOT CARNAL LOVE Now St. Paul shows how needful this love is. I speak not of carnal love, which is only animal affection; but of this char itable love, which is so necessary that when a man hath it, without all other things it will suffice him. Again, if a man have all other things and lacketh that love it will not help him, it is all vain and lost. St. Paul used it so: “Though I speak with tongues of men and angels, and yet had no love, I were even as sounding brass, or as a tinkling cymbal. And though I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge; yet if I had faith, so that I could move mountains out of their places, and yet had no love, I were nothing. And though I bestowed all my goods to feed the poor, and though I gave my body even that I were burned, and yet had no love, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13). These are godly gifts, yet :St. Paul calls them nothing when a man hath them without charity; which is a great com mendation, and shows the great need of love, insomuch that all other virtues are in vain when this love is absent. And there have been some who taught that St. Paul spake against the dignity of faith; but you must understand that St. Paul speaks her6 not of the justifying faith, where with we receive everlasting life, but he understands by this word faith the gift to do miracles, to remove hills, of such a faith he speaks. This I say to confirm this proposition. Faith only justifieth; this proposition is most true and certain. And St. Paul speaks not here of this lively jus tifying faith; for this right faith is not without love, for love cometh and floweth out of faith; love is a child of faith; for no man can love except he believe, so that they' have two several offices, they them selves being inseparable. A WORD TO CRITICS St. Paul has an expression in the thir teenth chapter of the first of the Corinth ians which, according to the outward let
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