It is all one in which sense we expound the apostle, for all cometh to the same issue. This premised, let us next explain the several clauses.
1. ' Charity sufifereth long,' /laXpodu/xel ; that is, maketh a man long- suffering. This being the first and principal act of charity, it con- cerneth us to state it aright ; and so it meaneth that where christian love prevaileth in the heart of any, he doth not presently break out into anger when he is injured by another, but patiently expecteth his repentance, and his own deliverance by the Lord. This fiuKpoOv/Mta, long-suffering, signifieth a slowness to anger : James i. 19, 'Be slow to wrath.' This agreeth with the pattern : Kom. ix. 22, ' What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruc- tion ? ' And it agreeth with the nature of love ; for we are not easily offended with those whom we love. Love and anger are contrary; love would profit, anger would hurt and offend others ; therefore love will not easily give place to its contrary. Charity doth pass by and wink at causes of offence ; and therefore a quick resentment of injuries is quite opposite to christian love. Paul requireth of the servant of the Lord, that he be patient, ave^UaKw, 2 Tim. ii. 24, ' The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient ; ' to which he adds, ver. 25, ' In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.^ And in the context here he speaketh of using gifts in an edifying manner, but to all christians he saith, ' Charity suffereth long.' It is meant that they should be long-suffer- ing, not easily drawn to a fury or revenge of injuries. So that this first property of charity is, that it restraineth wrath and a desire of revenge, notwithstanding reproaches and injuries: Kom. xiii. 19, 'Deaily beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath ; ' that is, bear with it ; leave it to God, who will in time con- vince the party of his wrong, or recompense it unto him ; which is according to the example of the Lord Jesus : 1 Peter ii. 23, ' Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again ; when he suffered, hs threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.' When foul crimes were laid to his charge, he did not give the least ill word for the worst usage, but only resigned himself to his righteous Father, to deal with him and his persecutors as he saw fitting. Now therefore we should be patient, and long patient. Alas! how many injuries doth God put up at our hands ! Whence is it that he hath not long since dissolved the world, and put an end to the wickedness of man ? We can only render the reason of the text, ' Love suffereth long.' If we cannot suffer long, we are like that naughty servant that, when his Lord had forgiven ten thousand talents, and his fellow-servant, to whom he owed an hundred pence, said, fiaKpodvfirjcrov eV i/xol. Mat. xviii. 29, ' Have patience with me ; ' that is, setting aside thy present anger, bear a little, and see what I can do to pacify thee. An instance of this rash anger, which is contrary to this suffering long, we have in David : 1 Sam. xxv. 22, 'God do so to me, and more also, if I leave off aU that pertain' to him by the morning light any that pisseth
308 SERMON UrON I CORINTHIANS XIII, 4-8.
against the wall/ But he behaved himself better towards Saul, whom he spared when he had him in his power ; which was not the manner of men in those times, as Saul confesseth : 1 Sam. xxiv. 18, ' For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away ? '
2. ' And is kind,' 'x^prjarevera; that is, tender and compassionate, ready to do good. We have a pattern of both in God, not only of forbear- ance, but of goodness. Therefore it is said, Rom. ii. 4, ' Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance ? ' Now, charity, that is of divine original, infuseth into man's nature a benig- nity which moveth a man to consider others as well as himself, that he may do good to them. It is a godlike quality : 1 Peter ii. 3, ' If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious,' on xPV<^'^o^> that he is kind. This is a quality by which they are inclined and ready to do good to every one, even to enemies. Well, then, it is not enough jxavpoOvfjielv, to bear long, and not to hurt, but 'x^pT)aTeveTaL, it disposeth us to do good. This is fitly coupled to the former. The perfection and strength of Christianity lieth in these two things — mala pati, et bona agere ; to suffer evil, and do good for it. To return good for good, and evil for evil, the heathens knew this, and publicans will do this. To render evil for good is the property of the devils, and men inspired by them ; but to do good for evil, and to overcome evil with good, this is proper to Christians. And therefore by these two pro- perties doth heavenly charity bewray itself, by long-suffering and kindness. Therefore if you would know whether the love of God doth dwell in your hearts, are you made ready to suffer, and to do anything for the glory of God, and the salvation of your neighbour ? If so, then you are sincere with God. He that loveth, suffereth long ; he that loveth, is kind, and doth all the good he can to others, delights in doing good ; and that not only to friends, in which there is nothing eximious ; they do nothing but what the carnal world would do : Mat. V. 46, 47, ' For if you love them that love you, what reward have ye ? do not even the publicans the same ? And if you salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not the publicans so ? ' But to those that deal frowardly with us, as Joseph to his brethren. Gen. xlv.