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SERMON I

1 COR. xiij. 1, 2, 3.

Though I speak with the Tongues of Men and of Angels, and have not Charity, I am become as founding Brafs, or a tinkling Cymbal.

2

And though I have the gift of Prophefie,
and understand all Myfteries, and all
Knowledge and though I have all
Faith, fo that I could remove, Moun-
tains, and have no Charity, I am no-
thing.
And though I beftow all my Goods to feed
the Poor, and though I give my Body
to be burned, and have not Charity, it
profiteth me nothing.

I

N this Chapter, which I purpose (God enabling) to go thorough, the Apostle treats of the Commendation of Charity. This excellent Grace he commends unto us feveral ways.

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I

1. From the abfolute Neceffity thereof in order to Salvation, in the first, fecond and third Verfes.

2. From the Nature, Properties, and Effects thereof, in the fourth, fifth, fixth and seventh Verses.

3. From the durableness of it, in the remainder of the Chapter.

The Neceffity of Charity he fheweth by a double Comparison.

1. He compares it with Gifts, and thofe of all common Gifts the most excellent, and the most admired; and he affirms the Neceffity of Charity to be fuch, that without it all those rare and extraordinary Gifts fignifie nothing.

2. He compares it with Sufferings, and Doings, or Performances, and both thefe alfo fuch as are of greatest account among Men, and have the highest accep tance with God, if they be duely qualified; that is, if they proceed from Love; and he affirms that these likewife avail nothing without Charity.

I fhall first briefly explain the words, and then speak to that which is principally intended in them.

Though

Though I Speak with the Tongues of Men and of Angels: With the Tongues of Men, that is, with whatever Tongues there are found among Men; if I had all the feveral Languages of all the Nations in the World, and could understand and speak them all exactly: and though I fpeak with the Tongues of Angels, that is, though I had the most excellent Faculty of Speech, Angelical Language or Eloquence, though I fpake with fuch a Tongue as Angels might make use of, if they needed any fuch Instrument of Speech, as that with. which we fpeak. In this Sense it seems to be that the Pfalmift fpeaking of Manna, calls it Angels Food fo excel- Pfal. 78. lent a Food, that if Angels needed 25. Food, they might eat of it. But to go on with the Text.

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If I Speak with the Tongues of Men and of Angels, and have not Charity, I am become as founding Brafs, or as a tinkling Cymbal: That is, all my Tongues, excellency of Speech, and admired Elo quence, without Charity, are but an empty and useless found, that can be of no real Advantage to me. All be it these Endowments may be of some use to others though they be separated from Charity,

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B 2

Charity, yet can they not in the leaft be beneficial to the Perfon himself, in reference either to his acceptance with God here, or the Salvation of his Soul hereafter.

And though I have the Gift of Prophefie. In the holy Scriptures Prophefie fometimes fignifies the foretelling of Things to come, and fometimes only expounding, teaching, or declaring the Truths of God, or publishing and fetting forth the great Works of God, to the Glory of his Name, and the Edification of the Hearers. In this Sense we are to understand Prophefie, when we read that Jeduthun, and Afaph, and 1 Chron. Heman, with their Sons, were by the appointment of David, to prophefie with Harps, and Pfalteries, and Cymbals; that is, to praise the Lord finging unto thofe Mufical Inftruments. So we read of the words of King Lemuel, Prov. 31. the Prophefie which his Mother taught

25.1,2,3.

I.

him. By which Prophefie we are to understand nothing elfe but thofe holy Instructions, afterwards recorded in that Chapter, which Bathsheba gave unto her Son Solomon. In this Senfe is the word ufed no less than ten times in 1 Cor. 14. And this is most probably the fignifica

tion of the word in my Text; though we may, if we think that better, take it in the greatest latitude, under Prophefie comprehending as well the foretelling of Things to come, as publishing and declaring the Truths, the great Works, and the Praises of God: For the Gift of Prophefie, take it in what fense you will, is nothing to a Man's fpiritual and everlasting Estate, without Charity.

Though I have the Gift of Prophefie, and understand all Myfteries; that is, facred and heavenly Myfteries, the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God, the most abstruse and deep Things of the Gospel; and though I have all Knowledge, all kinds and all the measures and degrees of facred Knowledge, of the Knowledge of heavenly Things And though I have all Faith; which we are to understand not of justifying or faving Faith, but of the Faith of Miracles ; for fo it follows, Though I have all Faith, so that I could remove Mountains; that is, though I have the highest measure of that Faith, though my Faith in that kind were fo ftrong that I could do the most strange and even incredible Things, yet if I have not B 3 Charity

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