The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-21

our lesson Paul considered the subject
OF spiritual gifts, about which 1t is evl-
dent tho Corinthians had some dispute.
Many OF them aspired to lie chief places
+. In the church, DESTROYS of the honor that
might come therefrom. Extraordinary Of
fees and powers, conferred upon minis
ters for the conviction OF unbelievers and
the propagation Of the gospel. were coy-
eted as investing the holders with dignity
and emitting them to reverence. The
apostle shows the origin and design Of
such bestowmeuts, and urges that all the
members OF The church are entitled TO
consideration only as parts OF one great
whole. the body OF Christ He closes the
chapter by proposing to show them a
more excellent way of life. That way he
unfo!ds in the thirteenth chapter, where
.. ne represents the excellence or Charity,
by which he means not almsgiving, but
love in Its fullest and most extensive
< sense. -,@-5-l44..l.
EssENTIAL-The value OF any dispo.
sition or quality readily appears when 1t
IS taken away. Paul selects five Of those
graces which may be justly esteemed,
and shows that unless love is Joined with
them they are utterly worthless oversees
to 80 The gift Of tongues and the ab4l-
ity TO speak all the languages on the
earth with the greatest propriety and
fluency: the gift of prophecy (Matt, VII:
% and understanding OF all the mys-
teries and knowledge OF Divine things IL
lumtned by the Spirit OF God; the GIT
OF faith. the faith that works miracles
ozark xi: 80, the wonderworking power
displayed by men Of God; the nlltwa ri
act OF charity, even the bestowment of
ones goods to the poor; the act Of suf
fering, even to allow the body 10 be
burned-all these are profitless unless
prompted and governed by love. Ti,ey
them. to the world In general, and to
God and His cause 30 that, according TO
this teaching In oil these traits and ac-
tvities Of the Christian life. SO bcauti-
full in themselves. the one essential is q
BENEVOLENT mind,
present can and does accomplish oversees
4 to ~ 1t trlumphs over oil evil. It is.
long-suffertng In the midst Of injury and
provocation, restraining resentment, m
dlgnation and revenge u Pet. w: 81 It
Is kind. benign, courteous and obliging,
seeking to be useful. SELLING opportunity
to do good. It suppresses envy, is not
grlcyed at the good fortune Of Others,
neither at their honors or estates. 1t
subdueH pride and vain glory (Phil., II:
q. ts not bloated with selt-conceit. does
not swell upon It's acquisitions, nor ar
rogate to Itself that which does not BIO,
long to It, IT does not pass the bounds
OF decency or propr!ety, but behaves to-
ward all men, as becomes their i'an1 ard
station. with reverence to Supporters and
tCOtlueSCeHSlCtlNS 10 ltllEFlurb. IS III teile-
my to seltishness and has not inordinate
desire for praise. 1t restrains the pas
stons, aweetens and sottens the mind ana
thinks not evil. 1t finds pleasure not In
doing injury to any (Rom., !: 32). but In
promoting truth 1t bears burdens and
Of others, cherishlng kind opinions Of
an until forced to change them BY we'll
known facts.
,.ENDURING-Th excellence of Chris
tan love is next exhibited by contrast
verse 81 Other states and actions arc
I h%t . 'o TINE destined to fall after while
NV love never fails-It endufes forever
through all time and circumstance In
this life and through the endless ages
OF J. the next life. Paul draws his contrast
WIN lhree OF the most coveted gifts
INDIE me Corinthians endeayorlnG 10
was vastly better than what they de-
sired, because It had the element or nec.
5maHeilce, Prophesy, whether understood
as predlotlon OF the future. Or as is
more appropriate, as the delivery Of In
Holy Ghost; public Speaking in unknown
tongue conveying ideas to Others who
might otherwise remain in isnorance:
knowledge, stories Of informant ton, laid
up, e!asslIea. available at pleasure for
VARIOUS aTe ser assa ~ the shureh-these three
mon seeking them might he pardoneJ for
their ambitions q Cor, XII: si.j Ana YET yst
they are all short lived glores-they shall
fall or cease. or vanish away, How much
Is to be preferred that beautiful grace Ynr
holy affection, which Is perpetuai, which
adorna and Blesses your after years, ana
grows brighter as the successive yenrs
take their flight. '.'' B, = ( !.
Il PER GNECsrl ON--Love not only outllyesS
knowledge and proplesy. but It works On
after them for the completion Of eaal-
acter, The ministry, Important whllo it
continues, IL tor time and purpose, ana,
when that ministry ~ accomplished, love
carries forward ma perfeets what they
IN part (verss o.. necessarily llmi4ed, INT
love knows. no Limitation, ana under ils
Influence all that was partial shnll DO
done away lYersa 1o,) The ap,sIIe has
here struck the doctrine Of perfsntlon
which has provoked 80 much discussion,
In the modern church. There Ia a state to !
which our y Lord invited His followers
(Adatt., ", da, and toward which tho whcle
5phurch "a urged TO press (IIeb,. M: II. as
The goal 9of all holy desire ana efgart,
But that Is merely. the love slate An