1 Corinthians 13:7
Beareth all things…
The burdens of fellow Christians,
and so fulfils the law of Christ, which is the law of love; the
infirmities of weak believers, and the reproaches and persecutions
of the world: or "covers all things", as it may be rendered, even a
multitude of sins, as charity is said to do, (1 Peter 4:8) not by
conniving at them, or suffering them to be upon a brother; but
having privately and faithfully reproved for them, and the offender
being brought to a sense and acknowledgment of them, he freely
forgives them as trespasses against him, covers them with the mantle
of love, and industriously hides and conceals them from others;
believeth all things;
that are to be believed, all that God says in
his word, all his truths, and all his promises; and even sometimes
in hope against hope, as Abraham did, relying upon the power,
faithfulness, and other perfections of God; though such a man will
not believe every spirit, every preacher and teacher, nor any but
such as agree with the Scriptures of truth, the standard of faith
and practice; nor will he believe every word of man, which is the
character of a weak and foolish man; indeed, a man of charity or
love is willing to believe all the good things reported of men; he
is very credulous of such things, and is unwilling to believe ill
reports of persons, or any ill of men; unless it is open and
glaring, and is well supported, and there is full evidence of it; he
is very incredulous in this respect:
hopes all things;
that are to be hoped for; hopes for the
accomplishment of all the promises of God; hopes for the enjoyment
of him in his house and ordinances; hopes for things that are not
seen, that are future, difficult, though possible to be enjoyed:
hopes for heaven and eternal happiness, for more grace here and
glory hereafter; hopes the best of all men, of all professors of
religion, even of wicked men, that they may be better and brought to
repentance, and of fallen professors, who declare their repentance,
and make their acknowledgments; he hopes well of them, that they are
sincere, and all is right and will appear so:
endureth all things;
that are disagreeable to the flesh; all
afflictions, tribulations, temptations, persecutions, and death
itself, for the elect's sake, for the sake of the Gospel, and
especially for the sake of Christ Jesus.
Printer friendly version
HOME 
TOP
