The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 53

'l.'estament, where cities, lands, persons, and things were constantly "sanctified" in the sen~e of being devoted, or consecrated, to the Divine service. Manifestly the meaning" made actually holy" cannot be that required in our text, for this has never yet, in any age, been the fact concerning Christ's Church; and, indeed, the New Testament holds this forth only as the sublime attainment of the future. But it is true of each sincere member, and so of the whole Church, that they are sanctified in the sense of being "self-dedicated," " devoted to God,'' and so ideally a "holy people." A man is what he really wishes to be and endeavours to be; he is what he sets before himsell' as his highest attainment. Guard this truth against misrepresentation and misuse, and make it an incentive to the formation of high ambitions and patient effort for their attainment. Add that the pervading element, atmosphei·e, and tnne of Christ's Church is holiness. Christ present brings the surroundings of the" holy," and we are" called unto holiness." So, ideally, Christ's Church is" sanctified." JI!. THE CHURCH IS A BODY SEEKING TO BE PRACTICALLY WHAT IT IS MYSTICALLY. This opens the application of the subject. Our response to and acceptance of the call into Christ's Church puts us under a definite and distinct pledge and responsibility. We bind ourselves to win the personal holiness that will match our call and worthily follow it up. 'l'his involves due self-watching and self-mastery, as well as fitting use of the various "means of grace" provided for us. What we oughe to be we shall be found every day seriving to be, if we are true-hearted and sincere. In conclusion, revert to the practical bearings of the oneness and wholeness of Christ's Church. It involves a tender and helpful common brotherhood in rigrits, in seneiments, and in duties. Such brotherhood is " becoming to saints," to those "called to be saints."-R. T. Ver. 3.-The Hebraic and el1e Ghristi'.an salutaeions. The formalities of politeness have deep meanings, and bear important relations to the social and moral life of cities and nations. The heathen benediction was Salve, or" Health to you." The modern salutation, « Good morning," or "Good day," is a brief assertion of national and individual faith in the one God; for it really means "God bless you to-rlay ," and so is a perpetual witness against infidelity. The salutation in the text is a blending together of the characteristic points of the Hebrew and the Christian good wishes. l. FROM THE HEBREW POINT OF VIEW, WHAT \VAS INVOLVED IN WISH~G "PEACE UNTO YOU"? "Peace" to the Hebrew was the word gathering up the blessings of the keeping of the Jehovah-covenant. If faithful to the claims of that covenant and to the spirit of that covenant, they would realize peace in the heart, in the home, and in the seate. And to an industrial and agricultural people, " peace " would appear the most desirable of all earthly blessings, and the condition of enjoying all others. It may be noticed how the unsettled years of later Jewish history inteusified the common desire and prayer for" peace." As the prosperity of the whole land was bound up in the faithfulness of each member, it was befitting that each should wish for the other that "peace" which can alone attend on righteousness. So the formality of the salutation covered a real anxiety for brotherly faithfulness to Jehovah. IJ. FROM THE CHRISTIAN POINT OF VIEW, WHAT WAS I~VOLVED I~ WISHING" GRACE AND PEACE UNTO YOU'"? The addition is most characteristic, seeing that Christianitv declares the" grace of God that bringeth salvatiou." Man discovers' that the adequato keeping of covenant, and so securing "peace," is not within his own power. It is this discovery that prepares him to welcome the revelation of grace/or his need. ·with tbe grace he can attain the righteousness which ensures the peace, and so he recognizes that both the grace and the peace come/rom God. Then the wish of the early Christian is that a special manifestation of Divine grace may be made to the individual. '!'he salutation, in effect, is this: May you enter fully into the blessings of tho gospel, into tho grace brought unto men in Jesus Christ; and so may you know the gospel peace, which you will find a hallowing influence resting on nil your life! How may we put iut<> modern Christian languacre tho Pauline bene<iiction? And how should we so watch over even the formalities ~f every-day speech that our common good wishes should bu filled with rich and fervent 0/iriseian meanings 1-R. T. Ver. 3.-Tlie Father and the Lord. From the Gospels it may be efficiently set forth  THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [en. 1.1-31.