Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Corinthians 13:4

4 Charity suffereth long , and is kind : charity envieth not , charity vaunteth not it self , is not puffed up ,

Lest the Corinthians shou[illegible: 1 letter]d say to the Apostle, What is this Love you discourse of? Or how shall we know if we have it? The Apostle here gives thirteen notes of a charitable person. By Love or Charity he either meaneth a charitable person, a Soul possessed of that love, which he had been commending: Or if we take the term plainly, to signifie the habit it self; the meaning is, it is an habit or power in the Soul, inabling and inclining it to do these things: To suffer long, not to be too quick and [illegible: 1 letter]eachy with brethren that may offend or displease us; the charitable man will withhold and restrain his wrath, not be rash in the expressions of it, and hasty to revenge.

And is kind, it disposeth a man to desire to deserve well of all, and to do good to all, as he hath occasion and opportunity, so as it is impossible there should be in a man any thing more opposite to this Grace, than a currish, churlish temper, with a study and desire to do others mischief.

Though a charitable person seeth others in an higher and more prosperous condition than himself, yet it doth not trouble him, but he is glad at the preferment, good, and prosperity of other men, however it fareth with himself. Every envious man, that is displeased and angry at anothers [illegible: 1 letter]aring well, is an uncharitable man, there is no true root of Love to God or to his Neighbour in his heart.

He doth not prefer himself before others, ambitiously glorying or boasting, and acting rashly to promote his own glory, and satisfie his own intemperate desires or lusts.

He is not puffed up, proudly lifting up himself above others, and swelling with high conceits of himself.

Marginal references: Prov. 10.12. 1 Pet. 4.8.; Or, is rash.