276 I. CORINTHIANS 13, 13.

faith and hope. It is said that we believe those whom we love, and hope for what we delight in. According to Scrip- ture, however, the reverse is true. Faith is the root of love. It is the believing apprehension of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, that calls forth love to him. Others say, the ground of superiority is in their effects. But we are said to be sanctified, to be made the childcen of God, to overcome the world, to be saved, by faith. Christ dwells in our hearts by faith ; he that believes hath eternal life, i. e. faith as inclu- ding knowledge, is eternal Ufe. There are no higher effects than these so far as we are concerned. Others say that love is superior to faith and hope, because the latter belong to the present state only, and love is to continue for ever. But, ac- cording to the true interpretation of the verse, all these graces are declared to abide. The tnie explanation ig to Ke found in the use which Paul makes of this word greatef^ or the equiva- lent term better. In 12, 31, he exhorts his readers to seek the better gifts, i. e. the more useful ^nfes^Ji.^And in 14, 5, he says, ' Greater is he that prophesies, than jfe that speaks with tongues ; ' i. e. he is more useful. Tj&rou^hout that chapter the ground of preference of one gift to others is made to con- sist in its superior usefulness. This is Paul's standard ; and judged by this rule, love is greater than either faith or hope. Faith saves ourselves, but love benefits others.