are, in relation to Christ himself, ministers. They serve him, and count it an honour so to d0. For his sake, and in his Name, they act as servants to their follow-men. 2. They arc, in relation to the truth they promulgate, stewards. That is to say, the- trnth is not rernalcd by them, but to them; it is held not as their property, but as- their trnst; it is not appropriat~d to their own use, but dispensed by them for the- benefit of others; they are not at liberty to do as they like with it-they are accountable- to the Lord ofall for the way in which they deal with it. 3. This being so, faithfulness- is the ,irtue they are bound to culti,ate and display. 'Whilst those who are indepen- dent am not especially bound to this duty, all who have derived from another, and are accountable to that other, are emphatically called to be faithful. Such is the position of all the ministers of Christ. - 11. TrrE TRUE DIGNITY OF SPIRITUAL SERVA~'TS ARISES FROM THEIR RELATION TO• THEIR LoRD AND TO BIS '\VoRD. 'l'here is a contrast between the service and the Master, between the stewardship and the mystery. The minister cannot think too lowlily of himself or too loftily of his theme and trust. 1. If they are ministers, they are ministers of Christ. An ambassador may be a person cf lowly birth and feeble- powers, but if be is an ambassador, his relation to his sovereign and the credentials- and commission be has received entitle his message to peculiar consideration. And. however the pastor, teacl~e•, or_ evangelist may in himself be lacking in claims upon- the respect of the superficial society called "the world," however he may be destitute of the shining gifts which command the admiration of the Church, still neither he nor those whose welfare he seeks are ever at liberty to foriret that he is an ambassador from hea,en, that he is commissioned and authorized by the King of kings. 2. If they arc stewards, they are stewards of the mysteries of God. By mysteries the apostle meant truths which had in the past been hidden but were now revealed. Revealed in Christ, the Divine purposes of grace, salvation and life to all mankind, were published by the apostles aud their fellow-labourers. And the declaration of the mind and. heart of God was well worthy of being regarded as the impartation of a mystery compared ,Yith which' all the wonde1s of Eleusis sank into insignificance. Of this Paul was conscious, and it would be well if every preacher of the gospel were ever to have this before bis mind. '\Ve have this treasure, though "in earthen vessels." 'l'be solemnity of publishing Divine truth and the responsibility of hearing it are alike by these considerations brought very vividly before the mind. 'l'hus are ministers unto some a savour of life unto life, unto others a savour of death unto death.-T.
Vers. 3-5.-Judgment, human and Divine. No man can work· entirely with reference to his own labours and his own opinion of them. We all need to live under the sense that others are taking some notice of what we do; and with most there is danrrer of attachinu exao-gerated importance to human criticism. But it is well for us to cherish the feelin(}'O of the nearness and the supervision of the omniscient Searcher of hearts. In this passage St. Paul represents the effect which both human and Di,·ine judgment should have upon the Christian's life. I. THE JuDGMENT WHICH IS DEPRECATED. This is the judgment: 1. Of our fallibl~ fellow-men. For they have not the necessary material or the due knowledge and opportunity for forming a just judgment. Men are influenced in the opinions they form of one another by their prejudices and prepossessions. We judge our friends too- favourabiy, and are too severe in our censure of our opponents. Hence our Lord has- warned us, "Judge not!" 2. That which is passed at this present time. This is the time for work, not the time for judging and for recompense. No man's work can be fairly judged until it is completed. And beside this, we cannot see life in its true- proportions when we look at it from a point of view so near. To judge now is to judge - " before the time." II. TnE JUDGMENT WHICH 1s ANTICIPATED. 1. This is God's judgment. He will, brinrr every work into judgment. His acquaintance with all who shall appear before his bar is perfect. His material for forming a judgment is complete. His mind is- unclouded by human prejudices. He is infinitely just. 2. This shall take place upon. our Lord's return. His parousia is what the Church looks forward to with affectionate interest and hope. Her children offer the frequent prayer : "That at thy, en. xv. 1-21.J THE FIRST EPISTLE TO 'l'HE CORINTHIANS. 147