SERMON VIII. 279 1 COR. xiij. 8. Charity never faileth : But whether there be Prophesies, they shall fail: Whether there be Tongues, they shall ceafe: Whether there be Knowledge, it shall vanish away. T HUS at length I have done with the Properties of Charity. In the remainder of this Chapter the Apostle commends this excellent Grace, partly from its duration, and partly by preferring it before Faith and Hope. The duration of Charity is first abfolutely afferted, and then comparatively illustrated in the 8th verfe. Its duration is afferted in the first words of that verse, Charity never faileth. And then 'tis illustrated by comparing it with Prophefies, Tongues, and Knowledge, in the words following But whether there be Prophefies, they shall fail; wheT 4 ther ther there be Tongues, they shall ceafe 3 whether there be Knowledge, it shall vanish away. Now as for those words, Charity never faileth, they must be understood with Relation to the Life to come, for the Apostle therein fhews the preheminence of Charity, that whereas many excellent Gifts ceafe after this Life, as having neither place nor use in Heaven, Charity still remains, and fhall to Eternity. Now in handling this verfe, I fhall first fhew, that Prophefies, Tongues and Knowledge, are of no longer duration than while we are here; and then that Charity accompanies us into the other World, and abides for ever, I must fpeak of those three,Prophefies, Tongues and Knowledge, feverally. And first of Prophefies. The word Prophefie in Scripture (as I have formerly thewed) is diverfly taken; fometimes it notes the Gift of foretelling of things to come, and fometimes the Gift of explaining and applying Scripture, or the Act of either of them. Now in which Sense foever it be here taken, whether it be taken for the prediction of things to come, or for explaining and applying Scripture, and fpeaking out of Scripture to the Edification Edification of the Hearers, it hath place no longer than while we are here in this World. If Prophefie be taken for the prediction of things to come, 'tis evident that it can have place no longer than while we are here. For, 1. Prophefie in this Sense taken, neceffarily implies fuch a variety and mutability of difpenfations, fuch as acceffion of Events, Alterations and Changes, as the condition of the Church and the World is fubject to here; but in the other World where the Eftate of all Men whether good, or bad fhall be everlastingly unchangeable, there will be no place for the prediction of future things. 2. The ends of this kind of Prophefie fhall then ceafe, and confequently the thing it felf. The chief ends of the foretelling of things to come, are according to the different matter of fuch Prophefies, either the warning, comforting, fupporting, and encouraging of the Church of God, or the Terror and restraining, and fometimes the humbling and Converfion of the Enemies thereof. Now 'tis apparent that none of these ends of Prophefie are confistent with the Estate of good and bad Men in the other World, And And if Prophefie be taken in the o-· ther Senfe for Explaining, Interpreting, and applying Scripture, 'tis as evident that it must cease after this Life. For the Holy Scriptures themselves, and all thofe Ordinances which God hath арpointed in his Church here, fhall then be of no further ufe. The main end of the Word and Ordinances is, to convert and build up, comfort, guide, and lead us on in our way to Heaven: In a word, to make us meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light, and to fit us for the Eternal enjoyment of God in the World to come. But now all these ends fhall cease when we come to Heaven. Then there fhall be none to be Converted, the Day of Grace being over and all belonging to the Election of Grace being already Converted: Then there will be none to be Edified or Built up, for all shall have attained unto Perfection; then there shall be no need of any other Comfort than that which perpetually flows from the immediate vifion and fruition of God, in whofe prefence there is fullnefs of Joy, and at whofe Right Hand there are pleasures for evermore. Then we shall have attained, the end of our |