“The fruit of the Spirit is love” (Gal. v. 22).
HIS is the sum of all graces and the substance of all goodness. It has been finely shown that every one of the fruits mentioned in this verse is just a form of love. Joy is love exulting. Peace is love reposing. Long suffering is love enduring. Goodness is love ministering. Gentleness is love in society. Meekness is love yielding. Faith is love confiding. Temperance is true self love.
Truly, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” And love is a fruit. It is not the culture of benevolence. It is “the love of God shed abroad in our heart.” It is “the love of the Spirit” wrought in us by Him.
“Spirit of love, upon us shed
The oil that fell from Aaron’s head
And bathed his holy feet.
Oh, let our hearts, like censers, glow
And love, like burning incense, flow
In fragrant odors sweet.”