| 20 the superior excellence of charity; without which, though they could speak with the tongues of men and angels, they would be as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. And though they might have the gifts of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and they might have all faith, so that they could remove mountains, and have not charity, they were nothing, &c.
But here it may, perhaps be said, that I have been so zealously laboring all this time, to be defeated in this very chapter. For it is here written by the same apostle, that "charity never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."
Therefore all which is herein contended for, is visionary and absurd. But I would observe in reply, that I was aware of what the chapter contained, and had well considered it before I began this letter. I know that this is the prevalent and popular doctrine of the day. Well do I remember hearing the last quotation above advanced, not a thousand miles from the "City of rocks," (Nashville, Tenn.,) by an able and eminent divine, distinguished for his profound knowledge and research, in support of his position that miracles and the gifts were done away, as having answered the end for which they were intended, and were therefore no longer needed. But as all men are personally accountable to God for the right use or abuse of what light they have respecting his will, I must be permitted to bring to bear the exercise and force of reason; the weapon of truth, before I yield in favor of such a position; and, unskilful [unskillful] as I may be, I doubt not but that I will be able to show, satisfactorily, to the unbiased mind, that it is, (and for want of proper consideration, I have the charity to believe,) a strange, and I had like to have said, inexcusable perversion of the original meaning. I was at one time, however, and before I had given it any especial attention, fairly routed by the verse in question; and I shall yield to the temptation to relate the circumstance. During my visit to the north last summer, I fell in company with one of the clergy of the Campbellite order, who engaged me in conversation about the doctrines herein advanced, which were attracting some attention in his neighborhood, and of which I had then but a very imperfect knowledge. But finding my mind somewhat inclined in their favor, he became very zealous to direct me in the right way, and to save me from deep delusion; and finally brought to bear this same verse;
But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;" &c. This was a knock-down argument at the time. I remembered of having both read it, and heard it from the pulpit. I felt defeated, and glad of it too, if found in error. I inquired where I could find the passage, that I might read it again at my leisure. He gave the desired information, and then we parted company; he feeling no doubt exalted at the conquest he had made. I made the reference, and read the chapter; and to my utter astonishment, and delight, more easily felt than described, and which I shall recollect to the end of my life, I found the passage had ever been misunderstood, and, taken together, taught an entirely different doctrine from the one, for the support of which it was brought into requisition. I felt that at least one link of the chain which, (as I discovered more fully afterwards,) had bound me was broken. A few days after this, in giving the true reading of the apostle's language, I made this same divine assume a superiority over Paul, as regards wisdom and knowledge in the doctrines of the gospel, in order to sustain himself in the argument. I leave it to your candor to say, whether this was not a most miserable subterfuge, or the utmost possible stretch of vanity? The great error lies in stopping short instead of reading the whole chapter; and thereby dividing and destroying the sense. It is true that the 8th verse declares that prophecies should fail; tongues cease; and knowledge vanish away. But when this shall be accomplished, is the grand question, and decides the whole controversy. Now, if a certain period is designated when they shall be done away, it follows that they were to continue, (by permission, for there is no compulsion in religion,) until that period should come. Let us now read the rest of the chapter, which as it would seem, has become obsolete. "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. But now abideth faith, hope, and charily, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
Although the precise period, according to the division of time into years, is not here given; yet the apostle is sufficiently explicit; so that we cannot, with proper deliberation, mistake the time alluded to. For in the 9th verse he declares that both he and his Corinthian brethren, with all their knowledge and spiritual
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