the judicious exercise of their miraculous powers ; but yet told them, that there was an object far more M^orthy of their ambition; namely, charity, which was the sum and substance of all Christian perfection. He does not altogether blame their desire of useful gifts : on the contrary, he says^ *' Covet earnestly the best gifts." But he would not have them satisfy themselves with any measure of such attainments, because without love or charity they were of no value whatever : and therefore he adds, " Yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."
Before I come to my subject, I would just observe, that, though some of high name would alter the translation in my text, (from an idea that the Apostle, when reproving the pride and emulation which had prevailed in reference to these gifts, could never encourage the Corinthians to covet them%) I feel no doubt but that the translation is correct : for the very same word occurs again at the commencement of the 14th chapter, (the whole of the 13th being only parenthetical, as an explanation of my text,) and it is incapable of being understood in any other way than as it is translated in my text : " Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy :" where, shewing the peculiar useful- ness of the gift of prophecy, which was the expounding of Scri2)iure, he recommends that they should affect that in preference to any other. Again, in verse 12 of the same chapter, he says, " Forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church" And again, at the close of the same chapter, he says, '* Brethren, covet to pro- phesy ; and forbid not to speak with tongues."
1 have judged it expedient to dwell somewhat upon this point ; because the Apostle's inculcating a desire after the best gifts will have an important bearing on my subject ; which is, to shew,
I. The value and importance of spiritual gifts.
II. The infinitely greater value of spiritual graces.
» Dr. Doddridge.
1984.] GIFTS AND GRACES COMPARED. 3lS
First, I will endeavour to mark the value and im- portance of spiritual gifts —
The miraculous powers with which many of the primitive Christians were endowed, the Apostle calls " spiritual gifts :" not because in thei?- nature they were spiritual, as emanating from the soul, and exer- cised about things that were altogether heavenly, but because they were spiritual in their source and temlency ; inasmuch as they were wrought in men by the Holy Spirit, and were imparted to the Church for the purpose of spreading and establishing Chris- tianity in the world. There was a great diversity of them, all proceeding from the same origin, and all conducing to the same end. Hence the Apostle says, " There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man, to profit withal. For to one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom ; to another, the word of know- ledge, by the same Spirit ; to another, faith, by the same Spirit ; to another, the gifts of healing, by the same Spirit ; to another, the working of miracles ; to another, prophecy ; to another, discerning of spirits ; to another, divers kinds of tongues ; to another, the interpretation of tongues ; and all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will^"
These gifts, at the first establishment of Chris- tianity, were necessary : for, unless God had im- parted to the Apostles a spirit of wisdom and of knowledge, they could never have known those *' mysteries which were hid in God from the founda- tion of the world'." Nor, if they had not been endued with the gift of tongues, could they have declared to foreigners the blessed truths which they had received. Nor could they have given sufficient evidence of their divine commission to preach those truths, if they had not been enabled to work miracles in confirmation of their word. To have argued with heathens, or even with Jews, would