of the questions of conscience which was answered differently by different parties, and no doubt contributed to promote the divisions existing among them.
The turbulent and independent spirit of the people also was conspicuously manifested in their public assembUes. Li- stead of following the instructions of the apostles and the usages of the church, they converted the Lord's Supper into a disorderly common meal ; in violation of the public sentiment and the custom of all the churches, they allowed women to appear unveiled in their congregations and to speak in pubUc ; and in the spirit of emulation and ostentation they exercised their gifts of prophecy and speaking with tongues, without regard to order or edification. Besides all this, under the influence probably of the heathen philosophy, some among them denied the doctrine of the resurrection, and thus sub- verted the very foundation of the gospel.
Such is the picture presented in this epistle of one of the most flourishing churches of the apostolic age, drawn not by an enemy but by the apostle himself. With all this, however, there were not only many pure and exemplary members of the church, but much faith and piety even in those who were more or less chargeable with these disorders. Paul therefore addressed them as sanctified in Christ Jesus, thanks God for the grace which he had bestowed upon them, and expresses his confidence that God would preserve them blameless imtil the day of the Lord Jesus. This shows us how the gospel works in heathen lands. It is Uke leaven hid in a measure of meal. It is long before the whole mass is leavened. It does not transform the character of men or the state of society in a moment ; but it keeps up a continual conflict with evil until it is finally overcome.
§4. Date. Contents op the Epistle.
The date of this epistle is determined by its contents. It was evidently written from Ephesus towards the close of