CHARITY SEEKETH NOT HER OWN --- 1 Corinthians 13:5, 8.
"Charity seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, and never faileth." --- 1 Corinthians 13:5, 8.
O my dear, heavenly Father, I desire to love thee and my neighbour with a pure heart fervently, and beg thou wouldst let me know and enjoy thy love in Christ, as the only means of producing this love in me.
For how can my heart be cold, when resting at the cross of Christ, and feeling the virtue of his blood? Or how can it be hard, when lying in thy bosom, richly tasting thy grace, and sweetly experiencing thine everlasting love to me a vile, miserable sinner? O may a sense of thy love melt my hard heart into love, and change it thoroughly.
Had I tongues of Greeks and Jews,
And nobler speech than angels use,
If love be absent, I am found
Like tinkling brass, an empty sound.
Were I inspired to preach, and tell
All that is done in heaven and hell;
Or could my faith the world remove,
Still I am nothing without love.
Should I distribute all my store
To feed the bowels of the poor;
Or give my body to the flame,
To gain a martyr's glorious name--
If love to God and love to men
Be absent, all my hopes are vain;
Nor tongues, nor gifts, nor fiery zeal,
The work of love can e'er fulfil.