Sixthly : Surrounded as the Corinthians were by idolatry, whose institutions pervaded all the relations of society, it be- came a question how far Christians might conform to the usages connected with heathen worship. The most important question was, whether it was lawful to eat meat which had been offered in sacrifice to idols. On this point Paul agreed in principle with those who took the affirmative side in this controversy. He admitted that the idols were nothing, and that what was offered them was nothing, i. e. received no new character from its having been a sacrifice, and that the use of it involved no communion with idolatry. A regard, however, to the spiritual welfare of others, should lead them to abstain from the use of such meat under circumstances which might encourage others to act against their own convictions, 8, 1-13.
In exhorting them to exercise self-denial for the benefit of others, Paul urged them to nothing which he was not himself willing to do. Although he enjoyed all the liberty which be- longs to other Christians, and had all the rights belonging to ministers or apostles, he had abstained from claiming them whenever the good of the church required. For example, al- though entitled on all the grounds of justice, usage, and of divine appointment, to be supported by those to whom he preached, he had sustained himself by the labour of his own hands ; and so far as the Corinthians were concerned, he was determined still to do so. He was determined that his ene- mies in Corinth should not have the slightest pretext for ac- cusing him of preaching the gospel from mercenary motives, 9, 1-18. This, however, was not a solitary instance. In aU things indifferent he had accommodated himself to Jews and Gentiles, to the strong and to the weak. He had exercised the self-denial and self-control which every combatant in the ancient games was obliged to submit to who hoped to win the prize, 9, 19-27. What he did, other Christians must do. The history of the church shows that the want of such self-denial was fatal even to those who were the most highly favoured. The ancient Israelites had been delivered out of Egypt by the