In order to this, we continually declare (what should be frequently and deeply considered, by all who would not make void the law thro' faith) that faith itself, even Christian faith, the faith of God's elect, the faith of the operation of God, still is only the hand-maid of love. As glorious and honourable as it is, it is not the end of the commandment. God hath given this honour to love alone: love is the end of all the commandments of God. Love is the end, the sole end of every dispensation of God, from the beginning of the world, to the consummation of all things. And it will endure when heaven and earth flee away; for love alone never faileth. Faith will totally fail: it will be swallowed up in sight, in the everlasting vision of God. But even then love
"Its nature and its office still the same,
Lasting its lamp and unconsum'd its flame,
In deathless triumph shall for ever live,
And endless good diffuse, and endless praise receive."
2. Very excellent things are spoken of faith, and whosoever is a partaker thereof, may well say with the apostle, Thanks be to God, for his unspeakable gift. Yet still it loses all its excellence, when brought into a comparison with love. What St. Paul observes concerning the superior glory of the gospel, above that of the law, may with great propriety be spoken of the superior
