The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 123

our calling. 3. Variety. 'fhere are various courts, wings, towers, and porticoes in this great building. To our minds there may seem to be confusion and incongruity; but the Rupreme Architect knows how to adjust and reconcile all in a building" fitly framerl together." Variety is not desultoriness. The mere heaping of stones together gives no temple, far less the making of little groups or heaps here and there over a wide field. They must be built and knit together in love. And then, too, there is variety in the places assigned to individual Christians. Some "seem to be pillars.'r They are like those vertical columns which supported a horizontal entablature in those· classical temples with which the Corinthians were familiar. Others must be content to fill a niche or fit into a corner. It is an honour to be anywhere in the spiritual house. III. A WARNING AGAINST INJURING THIS TEMPLE. One may mar the temple by not taking heed to what he builds. It may be called very liberal and tolerant to make no distinctions, and bestow Christian privileges on all; but St. Paul would call it the building of "wood, bay, and stubble," which cannot abide the fiery trial that comes on every man's work. One may also mar the temple by introducing the· temper of the market-place, anrl of the tables of the money-changers into its courts .. Such things call again and again for censure and a whip of small cords. One may destroy the temple, i.e. aim blows at its very life, by striking at its holiness, its unity, or its variety. Not that any one can actually demolish it; for it is an ever-living. Church: "'l'he gates of hades shall not prevail against it." It is a capital crime against Christ and the Church, either (1) to bring unholy teachings and practices into the temple (" deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also bate," Rev. ii. 6); or (2) to disunite the living stones, striking the pick-axes of dissension and a "separating humour" into the temple wall; or (3) to forbid in a bigoted spirit all variety in Christian organiza- tion, and say, "The temple of the Lord are we," instead of looking with an eye 0£ charity on all who love the Saviour and breathe his Spirit, saying, "'l'he temple of the Lord are these."-F. Vers. 21-23.-.A Christian's possessions, It is a folly under the sun to live above one's means. It is the folly of very many Christians that they live spiritually far below their means of grace and godliness. They are like poor people who have come into a large estate, and cannot for some time adapt themselves to their altered position or comport themselves as befits their fortune. 'l'hey still betray the narrow ideas and awkward manners of their former condition. So Christians are assurerl that they have unsearchable riches in Christ, but cannot elevate their ideas and modes of life to th" high level of their spiritual privilege. They still betray tho narrow estimates and unworthy habits of their time of unregeneracy and unbelief. To correct this teuucncy and raise the standard of Christian sentiment and conduct, let us look into this inventory of a believer's possessions, and the right or charter by which they are bis. I. THE PROPERTY, "All things are yours.'' It is at once real and movable estate. It has the most permanent character ; and yet it may be taken by the Christian whitbersoever he goes, and enjoyed anywhere. A man rich in this world's g00ds bas necessary limits to his possessions. His real estate is irremovable and his personalty or movable wealth is perishable. But he whose riches are intellectual and spiritual has property everywhere. Cast him naked and shipwrecked on an unknown coast ; yet he is rich. Spoil him of all earthly goods ; reduce him to the very almshouse; and yet he is rich. When he has nothing, he still possesses all things. 1. The Ohristictn ministry, represented by Paul, Apollos, and Cephas. The Church is not for the ministry, but tbo ministry for the Church. The Corinthian Cl,ristians did nut belong to the great preachers here named, hut the great preachers belonged to them. Often the isolation of particular flocks under their own pastors is carried to an extent which virtually brings the doctrine to nought, and gives them no enjoyment of other gifts bestowed by the Head of the Church for the perfecting of his saints. But some are best for planting, others for watering. Let ministers and teachers of the Word, variously qualified, be welcomed and cherished. All of them are yours. 2. '17ie world. It is a bad ma~ter, but a useful servant. All things in it that are not sinful may Le rna<le scrvicea!Jle to the happiness and progress of the Christian, and to the glory of liod. "Use this world as not abusing it." 3. Life, with all its vicissitudes and ro~si-  0.26 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cH. m. 1-23,