tionable ; that is, every thing which lies upon the border of what is allo\/able, or which approaches the confines of sin ; and secondly, avoiding the occasion and temptations to sin ; keeping at a distance from every thing which excites evil pas- sion, or which tends to ensnare the soul.
15. I speak as to wise men ; judge ye what I say.
TInto wise men ; i. e. as to men of sense ; men capable of seeing the force of an argument. Paul's appeal is not to authority, whether his own or that of the Scriptures. The whole question was, whether a given service came within the scriptural definition of idolatry. He was willing, as it were, to leave the decision to themselves ; and therefore said, judge ye what I say^ i. e. sit in judgment on the argument which I present. Should they difler from the apostle, that would not alter the case. The service was idolatrous, whatever they thought of it. But he takes this way of convincing them.
16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
It is here assumed that partaking of the Lord's Supper brings us into communion with Christ. If this be so, partaking of the table of demons must bring us into communion with demons. This is the apostle's argument. It is founded on the assumption, that a participation of the cup is a participa- tion of the blood of Christ ; and that a participation of the bread is a participation of the body of Christ. So far Roman- ists, Lutherans, and Reformed agree in their interpretation of this important passage. They all agree that a participation of the cup is a participation of the blood of Christ ; and that a participation of the bread, is a participation of the body of Christ. But when it is asked, what is the nature of this par- ticipation, the answers given are radically difierent. The Re- formed answer, negatively, that it is " not after a corporal or carnal manner." That is, it is not by the mouth, or as ordi- nary food is received. Aflirmatively, they answer that it is by faith, and therefore by the soul. This, of course, deter- mines the nature of the thing partaken of, or the sense in which the body and blood of Christ are received. If the re-