Love Hopes the Best
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. ―
I Corinthians 13:7
“Love ‘hopeth all things.’ Is any evil related of any man? Love hopes that the relation is not true, that the thing related was never done. Is it certain it was? But perhaps it was not done with such circumstances as are related; so that allowing the fact, there is room to hope it was not so ill as it is represented. Was the action apparently, undeniably evil? Love hopes the intention was not so. Is it clear the design was evil too? Yet might it not spring, not from the settled temper of the heart, but from a start of passion, or from some vehement temptation, which hurried the man beyond himself? And even when it cannot be doubted but all the actions, designs and tempers are equally evil, still love hopes that God will at last make bare his arm and get himself the victory; and that there shall be ‘joy in heaven over [this] one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance.
Prayer: Let thy unwearied and tender love to me make my love unwearied and tender to my neighbor, zealous to pray for and to procure and promote his health and safety, ease and happiness. Make me peaceable and reconcilable, easy to forgive, and glad to return good for evil. Amen.”
~John Wesley
I Corinthians 13:7
“Love ‘hopeth all things.’ Is any evil related of any man? Love hopes that the relation is not true, that the thing related was never done. Is it certain it was? But perhaps it was not done with such circumstances as are related; so that allowing the fact, there is room to hope it was not so ill as it is represented. Was the action apparently, undeniably evil? Love hopes the intention was not so. Is it clear the design was evil too? Yet might it not spring, not from the settled temper of the heart, but from a start of passion, or from some vehement temptation, which hurried the man beyond himself? And even when it cannot be doubted but all the actions, designs and tempers are equally evil, still love hopes that God will at last make bare his arm and get himself the victory; and that there shall be ‘joy in heaven over [this] one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance.
Prayer: Let thy unwearied and tender love to me make my love unwearied and tender to my neighbor, zealous to pray for and to procure and promote his health and safety, ease and happiness. Make me peaceable and reconcilable, easy to forgive, and glad to return good for evil. Amen.”
~John Wesley
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