Rom. xii. 4 — 8. As we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office : so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith ; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering : or he that vol. xv. i i
teacheth, on teaching ; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation : he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity ; he that ruleth, with diligence ; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness,
TO have the mind well instructed in religious prin- ciples is good : but we must never forget that the end of principle is practice ; and that all the knowledge, whether of men or angels, will be of no service, if it do not operate to the renovation of our souls after the Divine image. Hence St. Paul, having established with irresistible force all the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel, proceeds to urge upon the Church at Rome a practical improvement of them. The first improvement of them is, to surrender up ourselves unfeignedly and unreservedly to God in a way of devout affection. The next is, to employ ourselves diligently for him in every office whereby we can benefit his Church and people. To the former of these the Apostle calls us in the first verse of this chapter : and to the latter, in the words which we have just read. But to this latter we are yet further called by the relation which we bear to the Church of God, whereof we are members : and in this view it is inculcated by the Apostle in our text.
Let us then consider,
I. The relation which we bear to one another —
As descendants of Adam, we are all members of one family, of which God is the universal Parent : but, as the redeemed of the Lord, we are brought into the nearest union with Christ, so as to be mem- bers of his body, and consequently to be " members also one of another." To elucidate more fully this important truth, we will distinctly notice,
1. Our general connexion —
[All true Christians are parts of one great whole, even as the different members of our corporeal body are. All have their appropriate sphere of action, and ought to fulfil the peculiar duties for which they are fitted. Those who have a higher office in this mystical body have no ground for pride, seeing that " they have nothing which they have not received :" their place in the body, and their faculties, having been fore- ordained and given by Him " who divideth to every man