7. ' Seeketh not her own,' 6u ^rjret ra 6avTr)<i. Self-love prompteth us merely to seek our own things, but charity seeketh the profit of others. It doth not drive on a seli-seeking trade, or mind these things which make for our own advantage, but the welfare of others, and is as sensible and zealous for other men's good as of its own. To take care of their safety, ra erepcov ^jjreLv, Phil. ii. 4, 'Look every man to the things of others.' To maintain our neighbour's good estate in his profit, honour, fame. Spiritual blessings should be aimed at by us by the same accuracy and diligence that we use in reference to our- selves. The law of charity here is, that we study not our own private profit so as to neglect others, or that any damage should thereby arise to others. Paul often presseth this : 1 Cor. x. 24, ' Let no man mind his own, but every man another's wealth.' Not so seek his private profit as to neglect the public. A man must mind his own affairs, but not with the neglect and damage of others ; first, in the use of his christian liberty ; secondly, in his calling ; wherein they sin greatly who seek to draw all to themselves.
8. ' It is not easily provoked,' 6v irapo^vveraL. If differences arise, it handleth them peaceably. It doth not draw on things to fervour, and acerbity of contention. A paroxysm is the sharp fit of a fever, and signifieth when anger is boiled to a height. But charity is not exasperated, or highly provoked to anger, or embittered into wrath and passion. This property is to show that it tempereth just anger, that men fall not into immoderate violent distempers of passion upon whatever provocation. It is hard to abstain from all anger when we meet with so many occasions of it in the course of our lives, but the violence is corrected by love. There was a hot fit between Paul and Barnabas: Acts xv. 39, 'And the contention was so sharp between them, that they parted asunder one from the other.' Paul's cause was more just. Those that love one another may find a temp- tation, but love should allay these -bitter gusts, for we should always remember that, ' Be angry and sin not ; ' that is, if ye be angry, beware of sin, Eph. iv. 26.
9. ' Thinketh no evil,' 6v Xoyi^erai to kukop. The word signi- fieth two things — to think or design, to impute or reckon. In the first acceptation the sense is that a charitable person plotteth not in^ his mind how he shall do his neighbour any evil. Now designing evil is so vile a thing, and so abhorred by heathens, that the apostle would not mention the forbearing of that as an effect of divine charity; therefore most probably we must pitch upon the latter sense ; not for
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not contriving hurt to others, but not to reckon or impute it to them. And so it is the property of charity not rashly to impute evil to any man. It suspects no evil in others, as long as their actions are capable of a good interpretation, or while other good is mingled with it. Envy ■ and detraction, like a fly, pitcheth on the sore place ; but charity doth not easily think evil of its neighbour, but interpreteth doubtful things in the better part. If wronged by others, they rather impute it to their inconsideration than their malice ; and if it cannot be excused, they do not impute, charge, or upbraid them with it, as brawling people do.
10. ' It rejoiceth not in evil,' 6v %a/pet eVt rfj dSiKia. Nothing is more abhorrent from the nature of charity than einx'^LpeKaKLa, rejoicing in the hurt of another. Now this may happen on two occasions — (1.) When any one doth that which is unjust ; (2.) When injustice is done to any one. In the first case, charity rejoiceth not that others fall into sin, which indeed is a pleasure to them that hate them, but charity will make a man heartily mourn and grieve for any sin that is committed by another. It is a joy to see others discharge their duty, but a grief that they offend God. The second case is, if our enemy be injured by others, we boastingly say, Oh, how well is this man served ! Now thus to rejoice in or applaud the misery of others will not stand with charity, which seeketh the reformation of others, not their ruin and disgrace. David, when he heard of the death of Saul, he rent his clothes and wept and fasted : 2 Sam. i. 11, 12, * And David took hold of his clothes and rent them, and all the men that were with him ; and they mourned and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the edge of the sword.' And Job saith, chap. xxxi. 39, ' If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him; neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul' Revenge is sweet to a carnal nature, but divine love checketh it, and purgeth out this old leaven of malice more and more.