Gerhard's wisdom on "Faith and Love"

      In the December 25 1861 issue of Der Lutheraner, vol. 18, p. 79, I ran across the following reprint of John Gerhard's wisdom on the difference between "Faith" and "Love":

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Faith and love.

Faith listens to God's promises; love listens to God's commandments.

Faith deals with the works of God; love with our works.

Faith receives Christ's benefits; love returns benevolence.

Faith goes in and takes hold; love goes out.

Faith is, as it were, a beggar, but love is a generous benefactor.

Faith makes one God's child; love proves that one has become one.

Faith has Christ, as he is offered in the Gospel with all His benefits, as its object, love God and neighbor. (Johann Gerhard.)

Love wants to be deceived, but faith cannot be deceived.

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What a Christian lesson this is!