“She rejoiceth not in iniquity”; she loveth equity and godliness.  And again, she is sorry to hear of falsehood, of stealing, or such like, which wickedness is now at this time commonly used.  There never was such falsehood among Christian men as there is now, at this time; truly I think, and they that have experience report it so, that among the very infidels and Turks there is more fidelity and uprightness than among Christian men.  For no man setteth anything by his promise, yea, and writings will not serve with some; they are so shameless that they dare deny their own handwriting; but, I pray you, are those false fellows in the livery of Christ?  Have they His cognizance?  No, no; they have the badge of the devil, with whom they shall be damned world without end, except they amend and leave their wickedness.

“She suffereth all things; she believeth all things.”  It is a great matter that should make us to be grieved with our neighbor; we should be patient when our neighbor doth wrong, we should admonish him of his folly, earnestly desiring him to leave his wickedness, showing the danger that follows, everlasting damnation.  In such wise we should study to amend our neighbor, and not to hate him or do him a foul turn again, but rather charitably study to amend him:  whosoever now does so, he has the livery and cognizance of Christ, he shall be known at the last day for his servant.

“Love believeth all things”; it appears daily that they who are charitable and friendly are most deceived; because they think well of every man, they believe every man, they trust their words, and therefore are most deceived in this world, among the children of the devil.  These and such like things are the tokens of the right and godly love; therefore they that have this love are soon known, for this love can not be hid in corners, she has her operation:  therefore all that have her are well enough, tho they have no other gifts besides her.  Again, they that lack her, tho they have many other gifts besides, yet is it to no other purpose, it does then no good:  for when we shall come at the great day before him, not having this livery (that is love) with us, then we are lost; he will not take us for His servants, because we have not His cognizance.  But if we have this livery, if we wear His cognizance here in this world; that is, if we love our neighbor, help him in his distress, are charitable, loving, and friendly unto him, then we shall be known at the last day:  but if we be uncharitable toward our neighbor, hate him, seek our own advantage with His damage, then we shall be rejected of Christ and so damned world without end.