"God will not leave us in any self-deception
or any doubt as to whether we have love or not. He gives a very plain
description by which love can be known, wherever it exists, and by which
its absence can be known wherever love is lacking. Love has fifteen
marks, not one of which is ever wanting where love exists. We cannot
dwell at great length upon each one, nor do we need to."
1. The first mark of love is that it
"suffereth long."
2. The second mark of love is, it "is
kind."
3. The third mark of love is, "love
envieth not."
4. The fourth mark of love is that it
"vaunteth not itself."
5. The fifth mark of love is that it
is "not puffed up."
6. The sixth mark of love is that it
"doth not behave itself unseemly,"
7. "Love seeketh not its own."
8. "Love is not provoked."
9. "Love taketh no account of evil."
10. Love "rejoiceth not in unrighteousness."
11. Love "rejoiceth with the truth."
12. "Love beareth all things."
13. "Love believeth all things."
14. "Love hopeth all things."
15. Now comes the fifteenth and last
mark of all, "Love endureth all things."