CHAP. XXI.
1926 anthology with historical English translations and Crane introduction
William Wake and Frank Crane
CHAP. XXI.
1 The value which God puts upon love and unity: the effects of a true charity, 8 which is the gift of God, and must be obtained by prayer.
HE that has the love that is in Christ, let him keep the commandments of Christ.
2 For who is able to express the[466] obligation of the love of God? What man is sufficient to declare, and is fitting, the excellency of its beauty?
3 The height to which charity leads is inexpressible.
5 There is nothing base and sordid in charity; charity lifts not itself up above others; admits of no divisions; is not seditious; but does all things in peace and concord.
6 By charity were all the elect of God made perfect: Without it nothing is pleasing and acceptable in the sight of God.
7 Through charity did the Lord[470] join us unto himself; whilst for the love that he bore towards us, our Lord Jesus Christ gave his own blood for us, by the will of God; his flesh for our flesh; his soul, for our souls.
8 Ye see, beloved, how great and wonderful a thing charity is: and how that no expressions are sufficient to declare its perfection.
9 But who is fit to be found in it? Even such only as God shall vouchsafe to make so.
10 Let us therefore pray to him, and beseech him, that we may be worthy of it; that so we may live in charity; being unblameable, without human propensities, without respect of persons.
11 All the ages of the world, from Adam, even unto this day, are passed away; but they who have been made perfect in love, have by the grace of God obtained a place among the righteous; and shall be made manifest in the[471] judgment of the kingdom of Christ.
12 For it is written,[472] Enter into thy chambers for a little space, till my anger and indignation shall pass away: And I will remember the good day, and will raise you up out of your graves.
13 Happy[473] then shall we be, beloved, if we shall have fulfilled the commandments of God, in the unity of love; that so, through love, our sins may be forgiven us.
14 For so it is written,[474] Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth no sin, and in whose mouth there is no guile.
15 Now this blessing is fulfilled in those who are chosen by God through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.