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The following are excerpts from the sermon entitled, The Three Divine Sisters, by Thomas Adams (1583–1652), an English clergyman and preacher. Words within parentheses are either definitions of the word preceding the parentheses, or updated English that better helps the reader understand the antiquated meaning of a word. Roman numbers have been update to the current numeric style of writing.
Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.-1 COR, 13:13.
“Here are three celestial graces, in a holy emulation (The act of attempting to equal or excel in qualities or actions; rivalry), if I may so speak, striving for the chiefdom; and our Apostle gives it to love. 'The greatest of these is charity.' Not that other daughters are (not as good), but that Charity excels in beauty. We may say of this sister, as it was said of the good woman, 'Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all,' Prov. 31:29. Paul doth not disparage any when he saith, 'Charity is the greatest.' All stars are bright, though 'one star may differ from another in glory,' 1 Cor. 15. We may say of graces, as of the captains of the sons of Gad, 'The least a hundred, the greatest a thousand;' or as the song was of Saul and David: 'Saul hath slain his thousands, David his ten thousands.' Faith is excellent, so is hope; but 'the greatest of these is charity.'”
I. FAITH is that grace which makes Christ ours, and all his benefits. God gives it:
1. 'Faith is given by the Spirit,' 1 Cor.12:9.
2. By the word preached :Faith cometh by hearing,' Rom. 10:17.
3. For Christ's sake: 'To you it is given for Christ's sake, to believe in his name,' Phil. 1:29.
4. This virtue is no sooner given of God, but it gives God. So soon as thou believest, Christ
is thine, and all his : 'For he that gives us Christ will also with him give us all things,' Rom. 8:32.
5. 'Without this (faith) it is impossible to please God,' Heb. 11:6 (whole chapter speaks of faith). Let us not otherwise dare to come into his presence. There is nothing but wrath in Him, for sin in us.
II HOPE is the sweetest friend that ever kept a distressed soul company; it beguiles the tediousness of the way, all the miseries of our pilgrimage...
1. It tells the soul such sweet stories of the succeeding joys;
a) what comforts there be in heaven;
b) what peace,
c) what joy,
d) what triumphs, marriage songs, and hallelujahs there are in that (heavenly) country whither she is travelling (journeying to), that she goes merrily away with her present burden.
2. It holds the head whilst it aches, and gives invisible drink to the thirsty conscience.
3. It is a liberty to them that are in prison, and the sweetest physie (that which builds up the body) to the sick.
4. St Paul calls it an anchor, Heb. 6:19.
a) Let the winds blow,
b) and the storms beat,
c) and the waves swell, yet the anchor stays the ship.
5. It breaks through all difficulties, and makes way for the soul to follow it.
6. It teacheth Abraham to expect fruit (children) from a withered stock (himself being old); and
7. Joseph in a dungeon, to look for the sun and stars' obeisance (the vision God gave Joseph before his brethren sold him into slavery-Gen 37:9)...
8. It speaks of future things as if they were present:
a) We are saved by hope,' Rom. 8:24...
b) We have our inheritance in hope;
III. CHARITY is an excellent virtue, and therefore rare; if ever in this contentious age,wherein...the unfeigned love of brothers is strange. This is the great commandment, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy strength.'...He poorly loves God, that loves anything besides Him, which he doth not love for Him...
1. Blessed is he that loves...—his friend in the Lord, his enemy for the Lord.
2. Owe nothing to any man, but this, that ye love one another,' Rom. 13:8.
a) Other debts, once truly paid, are no more due;
b) but this debt (love/charity), the more we pay it, the more we owe it;
c) and we still do acknowledge ourselves debtors to all, when we are clear with all (owe no man any payback): proverbially, 'I owe him nothing but love.'
3. The communication of this riches doth not impoverish the proprietary (the one who owns it); the more he spends of his stock, the more he hath: 'There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth,' Prov. 11:24.
4. But he that will hoard the treasure of his charity shall grow
a) poor,
b)empty,
c) and bankrupt:
5. There is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth unto poverty.' Love is the abridgment (summary) of the law, the new precept (law-Jn 13:34) of the gospel. Luther calls it the shortest and the longest (lasting) divinity (nature of God): short, for the form of words (l-o-v-e); long, yea, everlasting, for the use and practice; for 'charity shall never cease." (And because it never ceases—it is the greatest of the three celestial graces). 'They shall not want (lack spiritual) prosperity, that keep faith, hope, and charity.'
Sources:
The Works of Thomas Adams, Volume 2, sermon 17, The Three Divine Sisters: Faith, Hope, and Charity (1 Corinthians 13:13)
