Charity and its fruits by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Lecture II (Charity more excellent than the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit).
Firstly Edwards explains what is meant by the gifts of the Spirit:
(i) the common gifts are those that are common to both the godly and ungodly (e.g. sorrow);
(ii) the saving gifts are peculiar to the godly (e.g. faith and love);
(iii) the extraordinary gifts are tongues, miracles, prophecy etc;
(iv) the ordinary gifts are those that are peculiar to the godly but are ordinarily bestowed on the church.
Secondly we are shown that the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit of God are indeed great privileges. This is shown from evidence in the Old and New Testaments.
Thirdly Edwards teaches that though the extraordinary gifts are great privileges, yet the ordinary influence of the Spirit of God, working the grace of charity in the hearts, is a far more excellent privilege than any of them because:
(i) love is inherent in the nature of him that is the subject of it;
(ii) the Spirit communicates himself much more in bestowing love;
(iii) love is that wherein the spiritual image of God consists and not in these extraordinary gifts of the Spirit;
(iv) love is a privilege which God bestows only on his own favourites and children;
(v) the fruit of love is infinitely more excellent;
(vi) happiness itself does much more immediately and essentially consist in love;
(vii) love is the end of all the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit;
(viii) the extraordinary gifts will be so far from profiting with love that they will but aggravate the condemnation of those that have them;
(ix) love will not fail but the other gifts will.
So many good quotes to choose from. This one is particularly good: 'So if anything appears to persons, as though they had a vision of some visible form, and heard some voice, such things are not to be taken as signs of grace, for if they are real and from God, they are not grace, for the extraordinary influence of the Spirit, producing visions and dreams, such as the prophets of old had, are no sure signs of grace. All the fruits of the Spirit, which we are to lay weight upon as evidential of grace, are summed up in charity, or Christian love ; because this is the sum of all grace. And the only way, therefore, in which any can know their good estate, is by discerning the exercises of this divine charity in their hearts, for without charity, let men have what gifts you please, they are nothing. '
Don't crave the extraordinary gifts, crave the ordinary gift of love which is better by far!
Next week's reading
Read
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
1 comment:
This section was very timely for me, as I've been trying to sort out the implications of a heavy emphasis on the charismatic gifts, and Edwards has some brilliant insights into their place in the Christian life. Specifically this section on them being common gifts, whereas charity and its fruits are always and only bestowed upon believers.
"And the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit are common gifts. The gifts of tongues, of miracles, of prophecy, &c., although they are not ordinarily bestowed on the Christian church, but only on extraordinary occasions, yet are not peculiar to the godly, for many ungodly men have had these gifts, Matt. vii. 22, 23: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity.""
Charity is the gift we should most pray for!
Post a Comment