in the thirteenth chapter of 1st Corinthians and have
this love that Paul is speaking of, the love of God burning in my soul
like an unquenchable flame, so that I may reach men and win them for
heaven.

A man may have wonderful knowledge, that may unravel the mysteries of
the Bible, and yet be as cold as an icicle. He may glisten like the
snow in the sun. Sometimes you have wondered why it was that certain
ministers who have had such wonderful magnetism, who have such a
marvelous command of language, and who preach with such mental
strength, haven't had more conversions. I believe, if the truth was
known, you would find no divine love back of their words, no pure love
in their sermons. You may preach like an angel, Paul says, "with the
tongues of men and of angels," but if you have not love, it amounts to
nothing. "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,"--a man
may be very charitable, and give away all his goods; a man may give
all he has, but if it is not the love of God which prompts the gift,
it will not be acceptable with God. "And though I give my body to be
burned, and have not charity"--have not love--"it profiteth me
nothing." A man may go to the stake for his principles; he may go to
the stake for what he believes, but if it is not love to God which
actuates him, it will not be acceptable to God.

LOVE'S WONDERFUL EFFECTS.

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil."

That's the work of love. It is not easily provoked. Now if a man has
no love of God in his heart, how easy it is to become offended;
perhaps with the church because some members of the church don't treat
him just right, or some men of the church don't bow to him on the
street, he takes offense, and that is the last you see of him. Love is
long-suffering. If I love the Lord Jesus Christ, these little things
are not going to separate me from His people. They are like the dust
in the balance. Nor will the cold, formal treatment of hypocrites in
the church quench that love I have in my heart for Him. If this love
is in the heart, and the fire is burning on the altar, we will not be
all the time finding fault with other people and criticising what they
have done.

CRITICS BEWARE.

Love will rebuke evil, but will not rejoice in it. Love will be
impatient of sin, but