him? (3) How sure the reward I Will God leave his follow-workers without a due recompense? Ill. BELIEVEilB ARE Goo's FIELD. The same idea is elsewhere expressed under tha figure of a garden (Isa. lviii. 11) and a vineyard (Isa. v.). Consider: 1. The Proprietor of the field. 'fhe Church is God's field. It is not the Church of Paul, or A polios, or any other; but "the Church of God, which he purchased with his own blood" (Acts xx. 28), It belongs to him; it exists for him; it is called by his Name. Hence the spirit 4lf faction, which ranges parties and sects under the names of rival leaders, robs God of his glory as the Church's Lord. 2. The labourers in the field, These are apostles, evangelists, pastors, teachers, etc. (see above). 3. The field itself. (1) Its original condition. Wild, untilled, full of merely natural ;growths. Believers are originally a part of the world, living in a state of sin, under no gracious culture. (2) The work bestowed upon it. Preparatory work : trenching, ploughing, ~athering out stones, fencing; and then the sowing of seed, planting, weeding, etc. Corresponding to this there is a preparation of heart for receiving the truth, an awakening to a sense of sin and need, a. quickening into spiritual life, a. culture of the cew life into fulness and streugth, etc. For these ends every true labonrer works, but always in dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit, who alone can make our labour fruitful. (3) Its produce. 'l.'he farmer looks for a. return from his field in the form of fruit in harvest; God expects his Church to yield fruit to his glory. Christian character, life, usefulness, productive- ness,-these a.re some of the returns for which the Lord of the lield looks (comp. Luke xiii. 6-9; John xv. 1, etc.).-B. Vers. 10-15.-The Foundalion and the superstructure. Under the figure of a building, the apostle continues to speak of the work of Christ's ministers, and specially of his own labours at Corinth. As the first to preach the gospel there, he had laid the fouudatioa, upon which the teachers that succeeded him were -to build. 'l'he reference is primarily to doctrine, but the principles apply to work and life as well. I. THE FOUNDATION. This is Jesus Christ the Mediator (Isa. xxviii. 16; 1 Pet. ii. 6). He is tpe ~'oundation of truth: the system of Christian theology is built upon him. All Christian tea.cbiug and preaching must have him for their basis. 'l'he entire structure of knowledge rests upon him who is the Source of all wisdom. He is also the Foundation of life. The Church is built upon him, believers being " living stones" in the great spiritual temple. In bot.h these respects Josus Christ is: 1. A Divine Foundation. "Behold I lay." The Church requires a basis laid by God himself. 2. A sure Foundation. No work of God can fail. Jesus Christ is a Foundation, not of sand, but of solid rock (Matt. vii. 24.-27). It will bear any strain, even the weight of a ~vorld. 3. The only Foundat-ion. This is the point emphasized here. Men build on other foundations when they rest their systems of belief on humau opinion, or base their hope of heaven upon their own works, the merits of others, the general mercy of God, etc. But " other foundation can (3ovaTa,) no man lay; " there is but one. IL THE B"GPERSTRUCTUBE. Having found the true Foundation, we must " take heed how we builu thereon." The work of ministers or of believers in general is here viewed as the superstructure. Two kinds of materials may be employed : "gold, silver, ::ostly stones "-the beautiful and lasting materials, suited for a temple; or "wood, hay, stubble "-the baser and more perishable materials, fit only for a temporary house. Apply this to: 1. Doctrine. 'l'he "gold," etc., represents pure, scriptural teaching. Take Paul's Epistles, e.g., as a noble structurn of truth built on Jesus Christ. Such doctrine is precious and abiding, like its Foundation. The "wood," etc., represeuts human opinions and speculations put in the place of God's truth. In Paul's time, Jewish tradition, Gnosticism, etc. ; in ours, Popery, Rit.nalism, etc. Such doctrines aro not truly edifying. 2. Life. 'l'he "gold," etc., is a. Christian life of the noblest kind, built out of faith, hope, love. Pure, unselfish, Christ-like character. Variety may be indicated in the three materials. Gold may denote the most brilliant service rendered hy consecrated genius, heroic faith, patient suffering. Silver may indicate a. work less Lrilliant, but useful-the honest doing of tho Lord's will. Oo5tly stones-marble ot granite, e.g.-a life of solidity and strength, on which others may lean. Each of these classes has its own place and value. All are genuine. The "wood," etc., is a Christian life of the poorest kind. Dull as wood, with little spiritual insight. Swayed by 118 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [err. m. 1-23'.
public opinion, as the gmss b_~· .every b~ceze. 1:3arren as stubble, bringing forth littie to the glory of God. \Vhat d1f!erences m the lives of Christians I Gold or stubble~ which? III. THE FIERY TRIAL. The true nature of our life and work is not always seen here. \Ve judge wrongly of ?tJ:ters and of ourse.lves. Men praise the wood as if it were gold; depreciate the gold as 1f 1t were wood. But "the day shall declare it "-Dies irie, dies ii/a-the day of fire, when Christ comes to judge (Mai. iii. 2, 3; iv. 1; 2 Thess. i. 8). Time tests but par_tially; the thorough test is the judgment-fire. Shall our work stand that? 1. The edifice (!{ "gold," ttc., shall stand. Truth will come throuc,h the fire• so will a g~nuine, unselfish, Christly life: Work for time perishes; work 1·or eternity endures. 'lhe fie~y ordeal Wil~ onlY: brm~ out mor~ clearly its true quality. '!'he bmlder shall receive a reward m seemg lus work abide (Phil. ii. 16), in bein"' reco"'- nized as a good workman (Matt. xxv. 21), and in wearing the crown of lifi~• (Jas.i. 12). Obser\'e, the reward is not for being on the Foundation, but for what is bnilt thereon. Salvation is of free grace; the reward is "according as his work" (Rev. xxii. 12). 2. The structure of" wood," etc., shall be burned up. Error, falsehood unreality• a life animated by a worldly, selfish spirit ;-these shall be consumed. 'l'h~ builder i; glad to get away with his life, as one escapes from a house in flames saved "so as through fire." Picture the consternation o_f t~e poor builder as he_ see~ the fire doing. its awful work, and hears the crash of his life-structure I He himself is saved for· Christ's sake, but his labour is lost. LEssoKs. 1. See to the nature of your life and work as Christians. Apply specially to Christian workers. 2. Be not satisfied with bare salvation at last. Build with materials that will endure. Have an eye to the "full reward" (2 John 8). 3. If many on the true Foundation shall be saved only "so as through :fire," how shall they escape that are building on a false foundation? (1 Pet. iv.17, 18).-B.