The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 45

of the cross. The one is carnal, vain, selfish, revengeful, self-indulgent; the other i8 ,piritnal, lowly, benevolent, forgiving, self-abaudoning. The cross to every one of us means submission, humiliation, self-sacrifice, it may be reproach and shame; and these, 11re h:ird to bear. It is hard to say, with Paul," God forbid that I should glory," etc. 'l'he cross may occupy a prominent place in our creed, our worship, our sermons aml songs, may decorate our churches, may be made a favourite instrument of personal adornment; but to have its spirit filling our hearts, moulding and governing our whole lieing and life, is another thing. 3. " Unto them that are culled," etc. The" called" arc they who "are being sa.ved" (ver. 18). In the case of all snch the Divine purpose in the gospel is answered. They arc called, and they obey the call. The heavenly voice falls on their ears, penetrates the secrecy of their souls, and there is life for them in the sound, because, like the still, small voice that breathed in the hearing of Elijah at the mouth of the cave," the Lord is in the voice." The proof they have that the gospel is the embodiment of the power and wisdom of God is the infallible seal of the Spirit, the unanswerable witness of a Divine and heavenly life. Is it a" sign" that you ask for'? Believe in Christ, and you shall have within you that mightiest of all wonders, the miracle of grace by which a soul is translated from darkness into light, and from the death of sin to the lire of holiness. Is it "wisdom" you seek after? Believe in Christ, and he will unlock for you the unsearchable riches of the mind and heart of God.-W. Ver. 7.-The patience. of hope. "Waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ." Old 'l'estament worthies waited for the advent of Messiah and the consolation of Israel. New Testament saints wait for the second coming of the Lord, the completion of the Church in holiness, and its entrance into his glory at his appearing. They already possess Christ by faith. He answers for them in order to their justification, and he dwells in them in order to their sanctification. They love him as their Saviour unseen, and therefore they long to see him as he is. Men who are afraid of judgment hope for acquittal; men who are weary and worn hope for rest; men whose earthly course has been disappointing hope fur a better world; but none of these wishes or expectations come up to the blessed hope which is distinctively Christian. We look for the Saviour. We wait for the apocalypse of our Lord. I. 'l'HE GROUND ON WHICH WE CHERISH THIS EXPECTATION. It is simply the word of promise. In parables, and in plain statements. also, Jesus Christ assured his disciples that he would return in an unexpected hour. At his ascension the heavenly messengers," men in white apparel," said explicitly to the "men of Galilee" that "this Jesus" would return from he:i.ven. Accordingly the apostles infused this hope into the early Church ; all the Epistles refer to it; and the last book of the Bible closes with a repetition of the Lord's promise : "Behold, I come quickly;" and the response of the Church: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" We do not entertain any question of probability. For Christians the matter rests on a sure word of prophecy and promise, pledgin~ the truth of the Son of God. If any persons are capable of believing that the Son of God spoke at random or kindled by his words expectations that are never to be fulfilled, we cannot prove to them that Christ will come again. llut all who reverence him as One in whose mouth no guile was ever found, are bound to believe that he will be revealed in his glory; and all who love him will look for his appearing. II. REASONS FOR OUR WAITING FOR THE LORD, 1. "We see not yet all things put under him," and we long to do so. Promises of universal sovereignty and honour made to Christ in the Psalms wait for fiilfilment. Prayers of many generations made "for him" as well as through him, wait for the answer. Therefore the Church, believing the promises and continuing the prayers, above all, loving him to whon1 such things are promised and the ardour of such prayers is devoted, cannot but wait for the Lord as night-watchers wait for the morning. Ever since thti Ascension, Christ has had, by appointment of the Father," all authority in heaven and earth." The glory in heaven is hidden from us, but all may see that since the day of his ascension his Name has been rising continually above all other names known to mankind, and has so ex.tended the area of its fame and influence that it is beyond question the mighties~ name upon earth. Still Christ has many enemies. They are not yet made "his foot stool." And many of those who are called Christians are at heart indifferent to his cause, disobedient to his Word, apathetic about his kingdom and glory. Then the.  THE FIRST EPISTLE 'l'O 'l'HE COltlNTHIANS. [cu. 1. 1-31.