Cleveland County herald., 1919-06-19

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 GOLDEN TEXT-Now abideth faith hope. love- these three but the greatest of these is loVe.-I Cor 1918.
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Lev. 1918; Deut GA, 5; John 1O:27; 3:16; I John 4:7-21
 PRIMARY TOPIC-How to Show Our Love-
 JUNIOR TOPIC-Whom We Should Love and How.
 INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-The Greatest Thing in the World
 SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-The Strongest Bond Between Men and Women
 The best gift of the Holy Spirit is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts. Not all can teach. preach. work miracles, speak with tongues i; but the gift of love is within reach of all. The more excellent way" of the last verse of chapter 12 is the way Of love. Love is not a mere senti- ment or emotion, but a mighty dy- mamie which transforms the life, ex pressing itself in practical service to men.
 l. The Pre-emlnence of Love (vv. 1-3).
 It transcends:
 CD Speaking with tongues. For men to possess the loftiest eloquence, to be able to speak in other languages, and to be lacking in love is to be as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. Pleasing and powerful speaking is de- sirable, but to love is better.
 (2) The gift of prophecy. To dis close the events of the future. to be able to unfold all mysteries-of nature and providence-is good but to love Is better.
 (3) Faith of the most vigorous kind. Such as would remove mountains.
 t4) Philanthropy of the most gen erous sort, prompting one to surren- der all earthly goods for the sake of the poor.
 (5) Heroism which leads even to martyrdom without love is proftless.
 II. The Attributes of Love [vv. 4-7).
 l. It is long-suffering and kind. It means not only to bear long but to be kind all the while. Patience is a re markable virtue. It is much easier to bear long than to show the spirit of kindness all the while.
 2. It is free from envy. Those who love are free from that envy which is engendered because of the good, or the success of others.
 3. It is free from empty boasting. Love has as it's supreme aim the doing of good to all and does not seek their admiration and applause.
 4. It is well behaved. Love is po- lite and mannerly. It knows how to behave at all times.
 5. It is unselfsh. Love seeks the good of others and is forgetful of self.
 6 Does not give way to passion. It is not quick tempered. It is not easily aroused to resentment.
 '. It takes no delight in. evil; does not impute evil motives to others; is not suspicious. but forgiving
 8. It rejoices in the truth. It sym pathizes with that which is true and has common joy with it.
 9. It beareth all things-that is, it incases itself with it's own mantle and shuts all evil out.
 10 It is trustful hopeful and firm.
 III. The Permanence of Love (vv. 8-13).
 Prophecy, as prediction, will be full filled; prophecy, as teaching, will be brought to an end in the day when teaching is not needed And they shall not teach every man his neigh bor, and every man his brother say ing, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the great est'' (Heb. 9:11; Of. Jer. 31 :34). Tongues shall cease, for as the lan- guages of earth were caused by Gods judgment for sin so shall Christ's redemption bring the nations back to one tongue. Knowledge shall be done away with by wider and nobler in- telligence. The twilight shall be lost in the day. Childhood shall be lost in maturity, for at Christs coming we shall see him face to face and be like him. Love will always abide, for God is love.