The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 159

great powers of sympathy; a mind ma~culine in its power, feminine in its tenderness; humbleness; wisdom to direct; that knowledge of the world which the Bible calls the wisdom of the serpent; and a knowledge of evil that comes rather from repulsion from it than from personal contact with it. Ilut those qualifications which adapt a man for the merely showy parts of the Christian ministry are of an inferior order-fluency, self- confidence, tact, a certain histrionic power of conceiving feelings, and expressing them. Now, it was precisely to this class of qualities that Christianity opened a new field in places such as Corinth. Men who had been unknown in their trades suddenly found an opportunity for public addresses, for activity, and for leadership. They became fluent and ready talkers; and the more shallow and self-sufficient tliey were, the more likely it was that they would become the leaders of a faction." The correction of this e,il is indicated in our text. The humble sense of grace received, and the burden of responsibility in so high a trust, should keep all Christian teachers in their right place. Recognizing the differences of men's gifts according to the grace they have received, we should ,alue each man for what gift and grace he may have; but we should take care ne"rer to make contrasting estimates, nor allow ourselves to be "puffed up for one against another." The follo"ll"ing points may receive illustration from other portions of St. Paul's Epistles, especially from the two to the Corinthians, and from those known as the "I>astoral Epistles" (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus):- 1. TrrE DIVERSITY OF GIFTS ENTRUSTED TO CHRISTIAN TEACIIERS. The work to which they are called is very various in its forms and demands. In the family there must be a .ariety of services, and ability for each; and in the state a variety of offices, and a fitness for each. So in the Christian Church. For its upbuilding there is needed the gift of architect, and carver, and mason, and labourer, and carpenter. The gift of the preacher differs from that of the teacher, and that again from tli.e gift of the organizer. If we once fully admit that all gifts are of grace, and each an unspeakable honour and an overwhelming responsibility for him to whom it is entrusted, envy of each other would 1,ass for ever away, and we should thankfully use each man for the service God has fitted him to render.· II. ALL DIVINE GIFTS ARE u~"TO EDIFICATION. God never bestows anything on any man that he may get praise of men or worldly honour for it. All God's gilts are for use. All are entrusted to us for the sake of others. All bear upon the "fully furnish- ing of our fellow-men unto all good works." Ill. ALL, TOGETHER, WILL BE FOUND TO MAKE UP A COMPLETE CIBCLE OF. THE MEANS OF GRACE. We fail in : 1. The effort to bring out the various gifts of men into use. The Church is everywhere rich with the gifted unknown, and the gifted idler. 2. In the due recognition of the spiritual completeness which God, in his providential leadings, brincrs to our Churches. 3. In the consequent freeing of men from duties for which they°are unfitted, that they may fully cultivate and use their special gift. Impress that the thankful recipiency and use of the Divine provisions for our spiritual needs should master all personal feeling towards individuals. We should honour the Master who arranges the gifts, and honour the servants only for his sake.-R. T. Vers. 8-12.-Suffering for others a proef of interest in their welfare. Recall Paley's argument from the sufferings of the early Christians as to the sincerity of their belief. Similarly, St. Paul urges here that the troubles and persecutions which he and the other teachers had endured in ministering to the Churches, ought to convince the people of his love and zeal for their highest welfare ; and should also be felt to set him in such intimate and confidential relatioas with them that he might claim the right to reprove and correct. We all know that reproof cannot be easily or usefully accepted, save from 1 those whom we know love us truly and sincerely seek our highest well-being. From these verses two subjects may claim consideration- L Goo's MISSION FOR APOSTLES, LOOKED AT, KINDLES ENTHUSIASM, "We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." Watching such a devoted, self- sacrificiag, heroic life as that St. Paul lived ought to stir us up to enthusiastic efforts to follow so noble an example. Illustrate how the story of great martyrs and great missionaries has, in all ages, been used to inspire lesser men to noble things. "Lives of great men all remind us," etc. II. Goo's MISSION FOR APOSTLES, CARRIED OUT, AWAKENS SYMPATHY. (Vera. 11, 12.) •011. 1v. 1-21.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 163