Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-02-19
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
February d.
Subject; Christian Love, | Cor l3-Golden
Text, Cor. xiii, l3-Memory Verses
l.3-COndensed Commentary on
the Days Lesson.

I. Love superior to gifts Tvs. l-3). l..
"Though l speak" The objector insists
that the cases cited in this and the two
has nothing to 10 with the apostles argu-
ment. He does not stop to discuss whether
it would or would not be possible for these
things to actually take place, but even If it
were possible, yet without charity there
would be no profit. Tongues" etc. That
is, though | were able to speak all the Ian.
guages spoken upon earth, and with the
eloquence of angels, and though have the
gift of tongues bestowed by the Spirit at
love to God and man which is shed abroad
in the regenerated and sanctifed soul by
the Holy Ghost (Rom. 5: 81. Love is a
word as impossible to define as it is impos.
sible to define life. Gas sounding brass"
No better than the sounding Instruments
of brass used in the worship of some of the
heather gods. Thinking cymbal." The
cymbals were two pieces Of hollow brass,
which, being struck together made tink-
ling, but with very little variety of sound.
So the highest eloquence even about the
love of God in the heart.
2. "Gift of prophecy" The knowledge
Of future events, and also ability to speak
Gods word (chap. IA: 81. "Al myster.
les" Though I understand the meaning
of all the types and figures of the Old Tes-
lament, and all the secrets of nature, and
the dark things in Gods providences. "All
knowledge Every human art and
science. Mysteries refer to the deep coun-
sells of God heretofore secret, but now re.
vealed to his saints. knowledge refers to
truths long known. "Remove mountains"
See Matt. II: 20; 2l: q. Removing mount
aims is phrase used to signify the re-
moving or conquering great difficulties, get
ting through perpieXities. Though l had
the highest kind of faith and could accom-.
phsh the greatest possible results: But
have not love- Notice that Paul does not
assert that one could have these things
am nothing" Nothing in myself, nothing
in the sight of God, nothing in the church
and good for nothing to mankind.
3. "All my goods" Though / distribute
them piece by piece with the greatest care.
Body to be burned" Men will fight for
Christianity, or die for Christianity, who
will not live its spirit, which is love. With
out the soul God rejects all else, and SO
rejects the man, who is therefore profted
nothing
IL. THE qualities of love Tvs. Az. 4.
Glove" Fifteen characteristics are here
pointed out. 1t cannot be defined. The
greatest minds can only describe it by its
qualities and results. "Suffereth long"
This is the negative side of love. 1t suffers
Nil the weakness, ignorance, errors and in
firmities of the children of God, and all
the malice and wickedness of the children
of the world, not only for time, but to
the end. "Is kind" This is the positive
side. 1t is mild, gentle, inspiring the suf-
ness and the most fervent and tender af.
fection. "Envieth not" Has no ill will;
does not eartake of that disposition which
Is q mingling of hatred and jealousy and
covctousncss. Love enves not the advan-
tages, gifts or graces which others possess,
but rather takes pleasure in them, and en-.
Joys or shares them as its own.
s. "Unseemly." ,Unbecomingly, haught.
lily. "Seeketh not her own" Love is an
seeks its own to the hurt of others, or
with the neglect of others, but prefers
their welfare to its own. rs not easily
provoked" But easily" does not appear
in the Revised Version. 1t is not in the
original. True love SIS not provoked"
Is not irritated or made sour or bitter.
There is power in. the blood of Christ to
cleanse the heart of all unholy tempers.
"Thnketh no evil" "Taketh not account
Of evil" -
6. "Rejoiceth not in unrighteousness."
1t is not love, but its opposite that rejoic.
eth in the downfall or injury or disgrace
of others, and in the triumph of wicked
ness. "But-in the truth" In the victory
of truth in the earth. "The truth" fre.
luent,y means ''the gospel" Love joys in
the triumph of virtue and is glad when the
gospel is extended, even though it be
through rivals or enemies. See Phil. l.:
l5-lS. -
7. "Beareth." Reproarhes and hard
rhi,s. onyoroth tha f,ilnnu Of at bor,
'Believeth." rs ever ready to believe the
best of every person, and will credit no
evil of any but on the most positive evil
dence." "Hopeth." Hope is desire, mingled
with expectation. "Endureth." Accepts
everything as from the Lord; faithful un-
der all circumstances.
III. Love enduring and abiding Tvs. g.
l3). s. Never faileth." 1t is eternal in
its very nature and must endure as long
ces." The gift of prophecy shall be done
away" The revelation given by God to
the church being completed the gifts Of
prophecy will be no longer needed. And
then, too, the time will come when the
prophecies will be "done away because
fulfilled and no longer of any value to us.
Tongues" (D Speaking with tongues
will be no longer necessary and will cease,
and (2) the many languages of earth vii!
De loSt Ill tHc Ohc uiiiNSisai iohSuo6S -
heaven. "Knowledge" Shall be brought
to an end because but partial and incom.
plete.
children knowledge far superior to what
He has revealed to them here. Their
greatest discoveries in nature and grace
are only the beginning of better things.
Perfect" The state of eternal blessed.
ness. "A child" Paul uses this as an il.
lustration. The present state is state OF
rhildbood; the future that Of manhood.
Such is the difference between earth and
i2. "For now" Tn this present life.
an mirror. darkly." Ancient mirrors
were not made of glass, but of polished
metal, and the reflections were very OBJ.
scure and imperfect. Chen" In the
life M to come. "Shall I know" That
is, there will be a thorough. complete
knowledge, as the original word signifies.
MYSTERIES will no longer trouble lis.
l3. "Now abdeth." Amid things
changeable and perishing the Christian re.
tains these principal saving graces both
here and hereafter. Faith" "The vision
of the unseen Heb; IL: y; with its conse-
Guent trust in God" "Hope." The ex.
pectation Of future good. Faith, and hope
will he stronger and more complete in the
newt world than in this. "That our happy
state will continue forever we shall know
simply because God has promised it, that
Il, bv faith similar to our present belief
in the gospel" "Greatest-is love-" Great
est in extent, in endurance, in manifesto
lion Greatest because without love the