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ST. Paul, faith, 1 Cor, 13, 1, 2, 3. Tho' I speak with the Tongues of Men and Angels, and have not Love or Charity, I am become like a sounding-Brass, or a loud Cymbol; and tho' I have the gift of
Prophesie, and understand all Mysteries and Knowledge; and tho I have all Faith, so that I could remove Mountains, and have no Charity, I am nothing: Moreover tho I bestow all my Goods to feed the Poor, and though I give my Body to be burned, if I have not Charity it profiteth me nothing. Yea, what's still more, where Love is not, it is to a persons Hurt and Loss, that ever he was born a Man, and the highest Gifts or Benefits God hath be∣stowed upon him serve only for his grea∣ter condemnation. It had been better for Judas, he had neverbeen born (as Christ himself testifies) that he had never been an Apostle, that he had never wrought a∣ny Miracles, that he had never seen or heard of Jesus, and had never eaten the sweet Food with him at the same Table, than that after such great and inestimable Favours received, he should become his Betrayer, sell him and deliver him to the Jews. From whence we may take notice, that our dearest Lord God, be∣stows that often in his Wrath, which he denies in his Love. From whence also follows, that the higher the Gifts are, we receive from God; the more they engage us to the Duty of loving God
above all things, tho they cannot make us to Love God so; and therefore are rather Poyson than Gifts, if Love does not come along with them, neither can they certainly assure us of that love, wherewith God loves us to Salvation. Moreover these Gifts when they ate separate from Love, are the cause of a puft up Spirit, Pround Mind, censorious judging, arrogant Actions, imprudent Behaviour and converse, Self conceited∣ness, Hypocrisie, and Contempt of the simple and single hearted, and other such like. Wherefore also Jesus said to his Disciples, when they boasted themselves because of the High gifts of God, be∣stowed upon them; and more espicially because the Devils were subject and obe∣dient to them through his Name: I be∣held Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven: and added this following Lesson; true it is, I have given you Power to tread upon Serpents and Scorpions, and over all the Power of the Enemy; notwithstanding for this rejoyce not, nor in particular for that the Evil Spirits are subject to you, but ratherrejoyce because your Names are written in Heaven. Luke 10.17, 18, 19. It is very proba∣ble
that Judas, as well as Peter, healed the fick, cast out Devils, and wrought other Miracles, but forasmuch as he wanted Love, all this was of no avail to him. Wherefore it behoves us always to walk with Fear and Trembling, and to be so much the more humble, as we enjoy more of these Divine Gifts and Graces, whereof we must give an Ac∣count to God, how we have employ'd them.