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VOL.
XXXIV
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
JULY
1,
1913
No.
13
THE
GREATEST
THING
IN
THE
UNIVERSE-PART
I
"Covet
earnestly
the
best
gifts:
and
yet
I
show
unto
you
a
more
excellent
way.
"-1
Cor.
12
:3l.
The
Apostle
James
has
declared
that
every
good
and
every
should
discern
and
seek
especially
the
best
gift.
They
should
perfect
gift
cometh
down
from
the
.b~ather
of
lights,
with
whom
not
only
discriminate
amongst
these
gifts
and
choose
the
best,
is
no
variableness
or
shadow
of
turning.
Hence
every
gift
but
they
should
be
looking
beyond
these
to
a
developed
con-
from
God
would
be
a
blessing.
Even
those
upon
whom
God
dition
of
heart
which
would
be
specially
pleasing
to
the
Lord,
will
execute
the
sentence
of
the
second
death
may
be
said
to
and
would
bring
them
into
eloser
relationship
with
him.
receive
something
that
is
not
really
an
injury
to
their
best
He
proceeds
to
explain
that
this
is
love.
They
might
have
interests.
the
gift
of
prophesying,
of
working
miracles,
of
healing
the
In
thinking
over
these
different
gifts
of
God,
the
Apostle
sick,
of
speaking
with
tongues,
of
interpretation,
and
yet
come
Paul
enumerates
some
of
those
that
were
given
to
the
church
short
of
ever
attaining
the
highest
blessing
of
the
Lon},
in
the
beginning
of
this
Gospel
age.
We
read
in
the
psalms:
unless
they
should
incorporate
into
their
lives
this
better
"Thou
hast
received
gifts
for
men;
yea,
for
the
rebellious
thing-LOVE.
No
matter
how
well
able
they
might
be
to
also,
that
the
Lord
God
might
dwell
amongst
them."
(Psalm
speak
with
tongues
or
to
interpret
or
to
work
miracles,
etc.,
68:
18)
Some
of
those
gifts
were
given
to
the
men
who
became
this
love
was
a
far
more
important
thing
for
them
to
have.
followers
of
the
Lord
Jesus.
After
Jesus
had
ascended,
all
Then
he
enumerates
the
various
qualities
of
love-meekness,
his
followers
were
to
particularly
wait
until
he
would
send
patience,
brotherly
kindness,
etc.
The
SUIll
of
them
all
is
them,
from
the
Father,
the
power
and
blessing
of
the
holy
love.
It
is
love
for
the
brethren,
love
for
friends,
love
for
Spirit,
which
was
to
come
to
each
sincere
believer,
and
which
neighbors,
love
for
our
enemies,
which
would
do
them
good,
was
to
be
accompanied
by
gifts-by
some
outward
gift
and
and
not
at
all
wish
to
sec
them
suffer
injury.
'rhis,
then,
manifestation,
useful
and
to
be
used.
is
the
more
excellent
thing.
In
our
context
the
Apostle
enumerates
some
of
these
gifts
Though
the
elements
of
love
are
developed
qualities
and
-apostles,
prophets,
evangelists,
teachers,
pastors;
other~
may,
therefore,
properly
lIe
called
fruits,
they
lIlay
he
called
received
gifts
of
tongues,
healings,
power
to
perform
mira-
gifts
also.
From
the
apple-tree
we
get
gifts
of
apples;
froll1
cles,
power
to
cast
out
Satan,
power
to
interpret
tongues,
power
the
peach-tree
we
get
gifts
of
peaches;
from
the
pear-tree,
to
discern
spirits.
Some
reeeived
one
of
these
and
some
an-
gifts
of
pears,
etc.
Since
,ve
have
to
do
with
the
develop-
other;
some
received
several.
St.
Paul
had
various
gifts,
and
ment
of
these
qualities
of
the
Spirit,
they
aI','
styled
fwits
deelared
that
he
spoke
more
tongues
than
they
all.
(1
Cor.
of
the
Spirit.
And
they
arc
far
more
eX(,plll'llt
alld
far
more
14:18)
It
would
appear
that
the
early
church
thought
very
to
be
desired
than
the
lIlerdy
meehanical
gifts,
whieh
at
the
highly
of
the
gift
of
tongues.
They
heeame
very
anxious
to
first
eame
to
all
of
God's
people,
beeause
of
tlleir
spceial
need,
have
God
give
them
this
particular
gift.
but
many
of
which
passed
away
shortly
after
the
apostlcs
dicd.
But
the
Apostle
tells
them
that
God
had
still
more
valuable
LOVE-VARYING
IN
KIND
blessings
tha~
this
of
speaking
wi.th.
ton~ues,
whieh
they
.so
The
question
naturally
and
properly
arises,
"What
is
love
i
earnestlJ:
desned.
They
were
to
~IstmgUlsh
between
the
dlf-
The
Bible
answers,
"God
is
love."
As
it
is
impossible
to
ferent
gIf~s,
a~d
t.hey
w?re
to
de.sne,
were
to.
prefer,
the
best
fully
describe
God
in
his
greatness,
so
it
seems
impossible
-to
e:,erelse
dlscnmlllatlOn
of
mmd
as
to
whIch
would
be
the
to
fully
deseribe
all
that
would
be
comprehended
in
the
word
?est
gIft.
He
declares
that
he
would
rather
sp.eak
five
words
love.
Love
is
the
most
powerful
thing
in
the
world;
there-
1Il
a
known
tongue
than
to
~peak
ten
thousand
III
an
unknown
fore
love
most
nearly
represents
God,
beeause
he
is
the
Su-
tongue,
and
not
be
able
to
lllterpret.
He
told
them
that
they
preme
Almicrhty
One.
We
milTht
say
that
God
is
not
this
not
should
pray
for
interpretation-that
they
should
not
only
that
~ot
th~
other.
And
so
~vith
love-we
micrht
describe
it
?esire
to
s~eak
in
unknown
tongues,.
but
.also
desire
to
give
the
hy
;aying
what
it
is
not.
Nothing
ean
be
right
that
is
out
of
lllterpretatlO~,
or
the
proper
meamng,
I~
order
to
be
under-
harmony
with
love,
as
nothing
can
be
right
that
is
out
of
har-
stood.
In
hIS
letter
to
the
ehureh
at
Con~th,
chapters
12
and
many
with
God.
The
Apostle
says,
in
describing
love,
that
it
l~,
he
expresse~
the
thought
t.h~t
these
dIfferent
tongues
an.
d
does
not
think
evil,
does
not
vaunt
itself,
has
not
the
disposi-
gIfts
were
all
llltended
to
nUlllster
to
the
ehurch
for
then
tion
to
be
puffed
up,
is
not
easily
provoke<1,
does
not
take
benefit
as
a
whole.
pleasure
in
iniquity,
ete.
PURPOSE
SERVED
BY
THE
GIFTS
We
may,
of
course,
rememlJPr
tlwt
our
word
love
is
made
'fhe
gift
of
tongues
was
given
at
that
time
to
supply
their
to
cover
a
variety
of
spntiments;
for
inst:mce,
the
lovc
of
a
laek
otherwise.
The
early
ehureh
had
no
Bible.
Being
put
hen
for
her
ehickens,
her
eare
over
them;
thp
love
of
a
father
out
of
the
synagogues,
they
had
no
access
to
the
Old
Testa-
and
mother
for
their
children,
amI
their
ea
re
over
them.
Love,
ment,
and
the
New
Testament
was
not
yet
written.
Therefore
then,
ineludes
this
intprest
in
an
that
are
llIl<ler
one's
care.
God's
people
without
these
gifts
would
have
had
very
little
God
has
this
quality
of
sympathy
which
lealls
him
to
look
out
to
help
them-to
teach
them.
None
were
qualified
to
teach
for
the
whole
universe-all
sentient
creatures,
an
that
have
the
brethren.
Only
the
power
of
God
could
give
them
this
life.
He
is
bound
by
Love
to
look
out
for
a11
these.
ability
to
teach.
Therefore
the
Apostle
Paul
urged
them
not
In
human
love-natural
love-we
find
sympathy
a
very
to
forsake
the
assembling
of
themselves
together.
As
they
~trong
quality.
Then
we
have
a
higher
than
mere
sympa-
saw
the
great
day
of
Christ
drawing
on,
they
should
have
great
the
tic
love-we
have
esteem,
apprceiation
of
some
admirabll~
desire
to
come
together
and
to
discuss
these
things
of
God's
quality.
We
say
that
we
love
pertain
traits
in
the
charaeter
plan.
of
some
one.
Again
we
have
somdhing
more
than
mere
sym-
And
when
they
were
assembled,
it
was
of
great
advantage
pathy
and
esteem;
we
have
affeetionate
love.
This
is
a
vpry
to
them
that
some
one
should
rise
to
speak.
And
they
might
real
and
deep
interest
in
evpry
affair
of
the
one
we
love-
desire,
or
pray,
as
the
ease
might
be,
that
God
would
send
them
a
deep,
sympathetie
love
which
would
stop
at
nothing-even
some
interpretation.
In
this
way
the
church
was
drawn
to-
though
it
is
an
earthly
love.
The
only
tlling
that
could
be
gether
and
held
together.
They
did
not
know
what
message
superior
to
it
would
be
our
love
for
the
Almigllty,
whieh
would
eome
in
this
way
from
the
Lord.
should
dominate
us
as
superior
to
this
affeetionate
love.
We
are
not
to
suppose
that
God
would
thus
give
any
very
Later
comes
in
the
spiritual
love
for
the
Lord's
people
deep
doetrinal
matters.
But
it
does
appear
that
in
this
way
which
seeks
to
avoid
all
fleshly
prl'fprences,
speking
merply
he
gave
his
people
some
milk
of
the
Word,
until
the
New
Testa-
to
live
as
a
new
creature,
and
to
look
after
the
we1fnre
of
the
ment
should
be
arranged-written
and
eollected
in
an
avail-
new
creatlll'e.
Thus
doing,
we
beeome
elosely
united
to
the
able
form.
The
Apostle
Paul
led
off
with
these
gifts
to
the
things
of
God
and
to
all
who
are
associatel}
with
us
in
tlh"
church.
The
g'ifts
of
tongups,
nevertheless,
were
surpassed
work
of
this
Gospd
age.
This
is
the
highest
type
of
lo\'e
on
hy
highpr
gifts,
some
higher
arrangements'
for
them.
St,
any
plane
of
being-this
into
which
we
have
entere<1.
God
is
Paul
would
rather
that
they
should
he
orators,
puhlic
speak-
love.
'fhe
more
Wl~
grow
up
into
this
proper,
spiritual
love,
ers,
or
have
an
interpretation
of
an
unknown
tongue.
rfhi~
the
more
we
are
growing
up
into
the
eharactpr-likeness
of
our
would
mean
more
of
personal
contaet
with
the
Lord.
There-
Father,
of
which
we
read,
"Be
ye
therefore
per
feet,
even
as
fore
they
should
desire
such
a
gift
in
preferenee
to
one
of
less
your
Father
which
is
in
heaven
is
perfect.
"-Matt.
5
:48.
importance.
This
lovp
,loes
not
stop
\vith
those
who
arc
appreciative
of
it,
Then
the
A
postle
proepeds:
"Yet
show
I
unto
you
a
more
but
also
goes
out
to
those
who
are
unapprp(·iati,"e,
knowing
exeellent
way!
"
something
still
better
than
those
sppeial
gifts
that
something
is
11indering
them
from
attaching
a.ny
value
to
which
he
had
been
discusRing-hetter
than
speaking
with
suc·h
love.
Love,
then,
is
so
mndl
of
God's
likeness,
tIle
thine(
tongnes,
better
than
working
miraeles,
better
than
interpreting.
to
be
most
appn'(·iatetl,
the
thing
withont
whieh
all
else
in
life
He
goes
on
to
show
that
these
things
wonld
pass
away,
and
is
ns(']ess.
To
be
(levoid
of
love
is
to
be
(levoil1
of
God-likeness.
be
no
longer
necessary
to
the
ehnreh,
but
he
was
going
to
tell
AmI
so
the
Apostle
goeR
on
to
enumerate
the
characteristies
them
of
things
that
would
never
pass
away.
Therefore
they
of
this
love-meekness,
gentleness,
long-suffering,
hrotherly
[5265]
(195-
1
96
)
Vout. XXXIV BROOKLYN, N. Y., JULY 1, 19138 No. 18 THE GREATEST THING IN THE UNIVERSE—PART I “*Covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet I show unto you a more excellent way.’’—1 Cor. 12:31. The Apostle James has declared that every good and every perfect gift cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness or shadow of turning. Hence every gift from God would be a blessing. Even those upon whom God will execute the sentence of the second death may be said to receive something that is not really an injury to their best interests. In thinking over these different gifts of God, the Apostle Paul enumerates some of those that were given to the church in the beginning of this Gospel age. We read in the psalms: ‘¢Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell amongst them.’’ (Psalm 68:18) Some of those gifts were given to the men who became followers of the Lord Jesus. After Jesus had ascended, all his followers were fo particularly wait until he would send them, from the Father, the power and blessing of the holy Spirit, which was to come to each sincere believer, and which was to be accompanied by gifts—by some outward gift and manifestation, useful and to be used. In our context the Apostle enumerates some of these gifts —apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, pastors; others received gifts of tongues, healings, power to perform miracles, power to cast out Satan, power to interpret tongues, power to discern spirits. Some received one of these and some another; some received several. St. Paul had various gifts, and declared that he spoke more tongues than they all. (1 Cor. 14:18) Jt would appear that the early church thought very highly of the gift of tongues. They became very anxious to have God give them this particular gift. But the Apostle tells them that God had still more valuable blessings than this of speaking with tongues, which they so earnestly desired. They were to distinguish between the different gifts, and they were to desire, were to prefer, the best —to exercise discrimination of mind as to which would be the best. gift. He declares that he would rather speak five words in a known tongue than to speak ten thousand in an unknown tongue, and not be able to interpret. He told them that they should pray for interpretation—that they should not only desire to speak in unknown tongues, but also desire to give the interpretation, or the proper meaning, in order to be understood. In his letter to the church at Corinth, chapters 12 and 14, he expressed the thought that these different tongues and gifts were all intended to minister to the church for their benefit as a whole. PURPOSE SERVED BY THE GIFTS The gift of tongues was given at that time to supply their lack otherwise. The early church had no Bible. Being put out of the synagogues, they had no access to the Old Testament, and the New Testament was not yet written. Therefore God’s people without these gifts would have had very little to help them—to teach them. None were qualified to teach the brethren. Only the power of God could give them this ability to teach. Therefore the Apostle Paul urged them not to forsake the assembling of themselves together. As they saw the great day of Christ drawing on, they should have great desire to come together and to discuss these things of God’s plan. And when they were assembled, it was of great advantage to them that some one should rise to speak. And they might desire, or pray, as the case might be, that God would send them some interpretation. In this way the church was drawn together and held together. They did not know what message would come in this way from the Lord. We are not to suppose that God would thus give any very deep doctrinal matters. But it does appear that in this way he gave his people some milk of the Word, until the New Testament should be arranged—written and collected in an available form. The Apostle Paul led off with these gifts to the church. The gifts of tongues, nevertheless, were surpassed by higher gifts, some higher arrangements’ for them. St. Paul would rather that they should be orators, public speakers, or have an interpretation of an unknown tongue. This would mean more of personal eontact with the Lord. Therefore they should desire such a gift in preference to one of less importance, Then the Apostle proceeds: ‘‘ Yet show I unto you a more excellent way!’’ something still better than those special gifts which he had been diseussing—hetter than speaking with tongues, better than working miracles, better than interpreting. He goes on to show that these things would pass away, and be no longer necessary to the church, but he was going to tel] them of things that would never pass away. Therefore they [5265] should discern and seek especially the best gift. They should not only discriminate amongst these gifts and choose the best, but they should be looking beyond these to a developed condition of heart which would be specially pleasing to the Lord, and would bring them into closer relationship with him. He proceeds to explain that this is love. They might have the gift of prophesying, of working miracles, of healing the sick, of speaking with tongues, of interpretation, and yet come short of ever attaining the highest blessing of the Lord, unless they should incorporate into their lives this better thing—LOVE. No matter how well able they might be to speak with tongues or to interpret or to work miracles, etc., this love was a far more important thing for them to have. Then he enumerates the various qualities of love—meekness, patience, brotherly kindness, ete. The sum of them all is love. It is love for the brethren, love for friends, love for neighbors, love for our enemies, which would do them good, and not at all wish to see them suffer injury. This, then, is the more excellent thing. Though the elements of love are developed qualities and may, therefore, properly be called fruits, they may be called gifts also. From the apple-tree we get gifts of apples; from the peach-tree we get gifts of peaches; from the pear-tree, gifts of pears, etc. Since we have to do with the development of these qualities of the Spirit, they are styled fruits of the Spirit. And they are far more excelent and far more to be desired than the merely mechanical gifts, which at the first came to all of God’s people, because of their special need, but many of which passed away shortly after the apostles died. LOVE—VARYING IN KIND The question naturally and properly arises, What is love? The Bible answers, ‘‘God is love.’’ As it is impossible to fully describe God in his greatness, so it seems impossible to fully describe all that would be comprehended in the word love. Love is the most powerful thing in the world; therefore love most nearly represents God, because he is the Supreme, Almighty One. We might say that God is not this, not that, not the other. And so with love—we might describe it by saying what it is not. Nothing can be right that is out of harmony with love, as nothing can be right that is out of harmony with God. The Apostle says, in describing love, that it does not think evil, does not vaunt itself, has not the disposition to be puffed up, is not easily provoked, does not take pleasure in iniquity, ete. We may, of course, remember that our word love is made to cover a variety of sentiments; for instance, the love of a hen for her chickens, her care over them; the love of a father and mother for their children, and their care over them. Love, then, includes this interest in all that are under one’s ¢are. God has this quality of sympathy which leads him to look out for the whole universe—all sentient creatures, all that have life. He is bound by Love to look out for all these, In human love—natural love—we find sympathy a very strong quality. Then we have a higher than mere sympathetic love—we have esteem, appreciation of some admirable quality. We say that we love certain traits in the character of some one. Again we have something more than mere sympathy and esteem; we have affectionate love. This is a very real and deep interest in every affair of the one we love— a deep, sympathetic love which would stop at nothing-—-even though it is an earthly love. The only thing that could be superior to it would be our love for the Almighty, which should dominate us as superior to this affectionate love. Later comes in the spiritual love for the Lord’s people which secks to avoid all fleshly preferences, seeking merely to live as a new creature, and to look after the welfare of the new ereature. Thus doing, we become closely united to the things of God and to all who are associated with us in the work of this Gospel age. This is the highest type of love on any plane of being—this into which we have entered. God is love. The more we grow up into this proper, spiritual love, the more we are growing up into the character-likeness of our Father, of which we read, ‘‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’’—Matt. 5:48. This love does not stop with those who are appreciative of it, but also goes out to those who are unappreciative, knowing that something is hindering them from attaching any value to such love. Love, then, is so much of God’s likeness, the thing to be most appreciated, the thing without which all else in life is useless. To be devoid of love is to be devoid of God-likeness. And so the Apostle goes on to cnumerate the characteristics of this love—meekness, gentlencss, long-suffering, brotherly (195-196)
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