And above all things have fervent charity among
yourselves,
&c.] Not but that charity, or love, is to be exercised
towards all men, even towards enemies, but more especially
towards the saints, and that under such a consideration in which
it cannot be exercised towards others; namely, as their brethren
in Christ, and as belonging to him, as the children of God, as
redeemed by Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit; and these not
only such as are of the same nation, and belong to the same
particular church and community, or of the same denomination, but
all the saints everywhere, whether Jews or Gentiles, or of
whatsoever name, and in whatsoever state and condition: and this
love ought to be mutual and reciprocal, and to be warm and
fervent, and not lukewarm and indifferent, as it too often is;
and should be constant, "continued", and "perpetual", as the
Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions here read: and this the apostle
exhorts to above all things else; since outward sobriety, and
watchings, and prayer, and all other duties, are nothing without
this; this is the sum and substance of the law, and the
fulfilling of it; and without this a mere knowledge of the
Gospel, and a profession of it, are in vain, and therefore in the
first place to be attended to. And especially for the following
reason,
for charity shall cover the multitude of sins;
referring to ( Proverbs
10:12 ) not a man's own sins, but the sins of others; and not
from the sight of God, for from that only the blood and
righteousness of Christ cover sins, even all the sins, the whole
multitude of the sins of God's elect; but from the sight of men,
both of those against whom they are committed, and others; since
charity, or true love, thinks no ill, but puts the best
constructions upon the words and actions of fellow Christians,
and does not take them up, and improve and exaggerate them, but
lets them lie buried in oblivion: it takes no notice of injuries,
offences, and affronts, but overlooks them, bears with them, and
forgives them, so that they are never raked up, and seen any
more; which prevents much scandal, strife, and trouble. The
Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac,
and Arabic versions, read, "covereth", as in ( Proverbs
10:12 ) .