Yers. 8-10.-Irony in religion. I. ScnrPTURE WARRANTS THE USE OF IRONY IN CERTAIN CASES.. Scripture is here fully at one with common sens•~ and experience. Th_ere are certa)n con_d)tions w~ich can be m_ost successfully touched by the shafts of nd1cule: certam pos1t10ns which can be earned most effectually by light artillery. In tbe Old Testament the folly of idolatry is often exhibited in ludicrous lio-hts. Take f,.r example, Elijah's words on Carmel (1 Kings xviii. 27). Herti Pan! ~mploys th; "·eapon of satire. The Corinthians, in their carnality, conceive,i themselves to be at the ,ery height of spirituality. They had attained already-and that without much know- ledge of the daily cross. They had reached the goal suspiciously early. They were full; their knowledge was con,plete. They were rich; never wer-3 there such amply endowed Christians. They reigned as kings-none so high as th1,y-monarchs of all they surveyed. And all this without the insignificant aid of such 11 very commonplace teacher as P,rnl ! They bad far transcended their early master. They were now so wise that he in comparison n-as quite a fool (ver. 10). 'l'hey were 11trong, impregnable, triumphant; he evidently was weak, very weak still. Had he not been with them· "in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling" (eh. ii. 3)? Was not that a very common condition for him to be in? Upon them crowded honom, dignity; they were "all honourable men." He was despised and despicable; clearly they were in paradise. Jn the parailise of fools! and with majestic simplicity, but with keenest irony, Paul states the case as it appeared to them, and as it necessarily resulted from the position ,vhich they had assumed. If tliat did not open their eyes, they were blind for evermore. The Corinthians resembled the Laodiceans (Hev. iii. 17). II. BUT IBONY IS A KEEN AND DANGEROUS WEAPON, AND SHOIJLD BE EMPLOYED WITII GiiEAT CABE. A suitable weapon for the bands of Paul, nnt of necessity for ours. Appropriate for some occasions, not for all. 1. Its use should be limited. We may easily run to excess. Irony is rather a pleasant weapon to use. Its employment in Scripture is not frequent. In this Epistle it is, indeed, used, but only occasionally. 2. It may profitably be accompanied by sober argument. So we have it here. 3. It should be employed in a spirit of love and with sincere desire to benefit. Not to make men ridiculous for the sake of making them so. Not for our own diversion. It should not be bitter. Paul was intensely solicitous to benefit the Corinthians; he had no pleasure in causing them pain. Note how in the midst_ of i7onir,~l utterances h8 expresses his fervent longing, "Yea and I would that ye did rmgn ~ (ver. 8). The object of his irony is to lead them from a mock kingship to a true.-H.
Vers. 11-13.-The best and most useful often the most aifiicted. I. HISTORY AND PERSONAL ODSERVATI0N TEACH UB THIS. Read Heb. xi. 35-38. Paul's case is a striking illustration. Note the (1) variety, (2) painfulness, (3) strangeness, of the 11postolic afflictions. See also another list (2 Cor. xi. 23-27). II. LET us LEARN THAT: 1. Aifiiction is not always significant of Divine dis- pleasure. Often we have chastisement because of our sins, but sometimes sorrow comes to us when most firmly we tread the path of duty. Under such circumstances it should not dismay or depress us. 2. Euffering-even severe suffering-is not always. " oe1lid reason for relinquishing active .~ervice. Some people are too anxious 10 "retire." Work done unde!· suffering is sometimes marvellously effective. Our woe~- en. 1v. 1-21.J 'l'HE FinST EPISTLE 'JO 'l'IIE COUJNTHIANS. 1G3
fit us to deal with the woe-begone. When under great stress we feel that we can do nothillg, we sometimes become Samsons; when we feel that we can do everythino-, we are generally mere Philistines. 3. Much a.ffeiction nml not necessarily be even nu hindrance to u.9 in oui· wo1'lc. Paul's sufferings did not make him less active in the cause of Christ. He abounded in toil whilst he abonntled in sorrow. 4. Jj affiiction comes to us in the path·of duty, it should not drive us f/'Om th,it path. Most of Paul's sorrows were caused by his zeal and faithfulness. He would preach Christ. 'l'o choose an easier path would not have been wise for him-is not wise for us. 5. .Aiftiction is sanctified to God's faithful servants. Beyond all doubt Paul was greatly the better for his many sorrows. Humanly speaking, he could never have been Paul without them. 'l'hat which seems likely to hinder may help. Men who have to do much have generally to suffer much. Biography furnishes multitudinous illustrations. of this. 6. Extraordinary sufferings sometimes bear with them the promise of unusual usifulriess. Idlers have thus been made remarkably diligent, sleepers have been awakened, the· worldly have become consecrated. The first true and inspiring view of Christian service has been obtained from the flame of the furnace. 'l'he apprenticeship of some "of whorn the world was not worthy'' has been served in the fires. So rue great Ii ves have begun with martyrdom. 7. ..Affiiction should be received in a spirit of meekness, even when it comes directl!J from men wl,o have no reason to use us ill. Paul, when reviled, blessed; when persecuted, calmly endured it, without after-retaliation; when defamed, he entreated (perhaps God to pardon his enemies). Herein Paul was like Christ. He employed conqueriug kindness. To imitate him will require much grace. It is qften much easier to take a.ffeictionfrom the hands of God than from the hands of men.-H.