Love is not premeditated, it is spontaneous, i.e., it bursts up in extraordinary ways. There is nothing of mathematical certainty in Paul's category of love.

We cannot say - "Now I am going to think no evil; I am going to believe all things." The characteristic of love is spontaneity. We do not set the statements of Jesus in front of us as a standard; but when His Spirit is having His way with us, we live according to His standard without knowing it, and on looking back we are amazed at the disinterestedness of a particular emotion, which is the evidence that the spontaneity of real love was there. In everything to do with the life of God in us, its nature is only discerned when it is past.

The springs of love are in God, not in us. It is absurd to look for the love of God in our hearts naturally, it is only there when it has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

If we try to prove to God how much we love Him, it is a sure sign that we do not love Him. The evidence of our love for Him is the absolute spontaneity of our love, it comes naturally. In looking back we cannot tell why we did certain things, we did them according to the spontaneous nature of His love in us.

The life of God manifests itself in this spontaneous way because the

I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.—Comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Let us not . . . judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.—We . . . that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourelves.

Charity . . . rejoiceth not in iniquity.—Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.