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32. There is no gift of God more excellent than this. It alone
distinguishes the sons of the eternal kingdom and the sons of eternal
perdition. Other gifts, too, are given by the Holy Spirit; but
without love they profit nothing. Unless, therefore, the Holy
Spirit is so far imparted to each, as to make him one who loves God
and his neighbor, he is not removed from the left hand to the right.
Nor is the Spirit specially called the Gift, unless on account of
love. And he who has not this love, "though he speak with the
tongues of men and angels, is sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal;
and though he have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all
knowledge, and though he have all faith, so that he can remove
mountains, he is nothing; and though he bestow all his goods to feed
the poor, and though he give his body to be burned, it profiteth him
nothing." How great a good, then, is that without which goods so
great bring no one to eternal life! But love or charity itself, for
they are two names for one thing, if he have it that does not speak
with tongues, nor has the gift of prophecy, nor knows all mysteries
and all knowledge, nor gives all his goods to the poor, either because
he has none to give or because some necessity hinders, nor delivers his
body to be burned, if no trial of such a suffering overtakes him,
brings that man to the kingdom, so that faith itself is only rendered
profitable by love, since faith without love can indeed exist, but
cannot profit. And therefore also the Apostle Paul says, "In
Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor
uncircumcision, but faith that worketh by love:" so distinguishing it
from that faith by which even "the devils believe and tremble."
Love, therefore, which is of God and is God, is specially the
Holy Spirit, by whom the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts,
by which love the whole Trinity dwells in us. And therefore most
rightly is the Holy Spirit, although He is God, called also the
gift of God. And by that gift what else can properly be understood
except love, which brings to God, and without which any other gift of
God whatsoever does not bring to God?
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