The love that covers all
Love me (but in a higher degree than you love the bulk of mankind) with the love that is long-suffering and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4): that is patient, if I am ignorant or out of the way, bearing and not increasing my burden; and is tender, soft, and compassionate still. That envies not, if at any time it please God to prosper me in his work even more than you. Love me with the love that is not provoked (1 Corinthians 13:5), either at my follies or infirmities, or even at my acting (if it should sometimes so appear to you) not according to the will of God. Love me so as to think no evil of me, to put away all jealousy and evil surmising. Love me with the love that covers all things, that never reveals either my faults or infirmities; that believes all things, is always willing to think the best, to put the fairest construction on all my words and actions; that hopes all things (1 Corinthians 13:7) — either that the thing related was never done, or not done with such circumstances as are related, or at least that it was done with a good intention, or in sudden stress of temptation. And hope to the end that whatever is amiss will by the grace of God be corrected, and whatever is wanting supplied, through the riches of his mercy in Christ Jesus.
1771 text
4. Love me (but in an higher degree, than thou dost the bulk of mankind) with the love that is long-suffering and kind, that is patient, if I am ignorant or out of the way, bearing and not increasing my burthen, and is tender, soft and compassionate still: that envieth not, if at any time it please God, to prosper me in his work even more than thee. Love me with the love that is not provoked either at my follies or infirmities; or even at my acting (if it should sometimes so appear to thee) not according to the will of God. Love me so as to think no evil of me, to put away all jealousy and evil surmising. Love me with the love that covereth all things, that never reveals either my faults or infirmities: that believeth all things, is always willing to think the best, to put the fairest construction on all my words and actions: That hopeth all things; either that the thing related was never done; or not done with such circumstances as are related: or at least, that it was done with a good intention: or in sudden stress of temptation. And hope to the end, that whatever is amiss, will by the grace of God be corrected, and whatever is wanting supplied, thro’ the riches of his mercy in Christ Jesus.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 39 in the 1771 Works. 2 Kings 10:15.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.