The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 175

of G0d himself. In the sacrament of the Supper, they who eat and drink in faith participate in the provisions of Divine bounty and love. IV. IT WAS SUGGESTIVE OF DiDIVIDUAL, OF HOUSEHOLD, OF NATIONAL, PURITY, Jn connection with the Paschal meal, several circumstances may be noted. 'fhe lamb was 'lllithout blemish; the house was freed from leaven; all were careful to avoid ceremonial defilement. These arrangements symbolized "holiness unto the Lord," and they remind us that those who regard the Christ of God as their Passover are bound by every sacred consideration to seek that purity of heart, that sanctification of nature, which can alone render a man and a society acceptable to a holy and heart-searching God.-T. Ver. S.-The Christian festival. The apostle seems to represent the whole of the Christian life as one long Passover festival and solemnity, and to invite his readers to unite with him in an appropriate and perpetual observance. I. THIS FESTIVAL IS BASED UPON THE SACRIFICE AND REDEMPTION OF CHRIST JESUS, ~s the events ?onnected wi_t~ Isra~l's emancipation from Egypt constituted the founda- t10n of the national and rehg10us hfe of the Hebrews, so we Christians date our fellow- ship, our standing, our privileges from the redeeming and mediatorial work of our Divine Saviour. Apart from him there would have been no foundation for our new life and hallowed communion; he accounts for all, and is himself " all and in all." !I. THE OBSERVANCE OF THIS FESTIVAL MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE PURPOSE AND WITH THE CHARACTER OF OUR LORD. "The leaven of malice and wickedness" has no place in the household of faith and holiness. As the Israelites ate,the unleavened bread dnring the celebration of the Passover festival, so are Christians called to make their daily spiritual feast upon the purity, the sincerity, the truth which are the appropriate aliment of the consecrated Israel of God. In the Church which Christ has purchased with his precious blood, nothing impure, corrupt, defiling, should be tolerated. The Eucharistic meal should impart something of its character to all meals; and the holy and public observances of the Church should cast something of their glow and beauty upon the daily employments of the Lord's consecrated people. III. THIS IS AN UKBROKEN AND PERPETUAL FESTIVAL. The times and seasons, the sabbaths, new moons, and festivals, which were observeJ among the Jews, were doubt- less designed to inculcate the practice and to familiarize with the idea of holiness. And they were intended to prepare for the dispensation which teaches that all days and all scenes, all relationships and all actions, are holy unto God. The spiritual festival to which Christians are bidden is one which never ends, the viands of Divine grace are never exhausted, the fellowship of the saints never wearies, and the Master of the banquet never departs.-T. Vers. 9-11.-Tlie limits of fellowship. "No man liveth unto himself." Attempts have been made to build a science of human nature and a scheme of human life upon the foundation of the individual existence, but such attempts have failed. Man is born into society and lives in society, and is inexplicable apart from society. For good or for evil we are with one another. "As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend ; " " Evil co=unications corrupt good manners; " " He that walketh with wise men shall be wise." I CHRI6T1ANS ARE KOT LIMITED TO THE SOCIETY OF THEffi FELLOW-CHRISTIANS. St. Paul possessed no small measure of what has been humorously called "sanctified common sense." He saw clearly and at once that if a man set out with the determina- tion to have no intercourse with those of different principles and sentiments from , himself, he would be driven in consistency to "go out of the world." So far from forbidding such intercourse, he permitted it, and even in some instances encouraged it. 1. The example of the Lord Jesus and of his apostles sanctions intercourse with general society. Jesus talked with persons of all sorts and conditions, accepted in vita- tions to the houses of strangers, and even of enemies. And we find the apostles seeking introduction to Jews and Gentiles, to the virtuous and the vicious. 2. Such conduct exercises a power of attraction over all who are affected by it. 'l'he assumption of superior sanctity repels, whilst the kindly sympathy of neighbourhood, the good offices of social life, may lead to a desire to know and enjoy the blessings of the gospel. 3. Opportunities occur in social intercourse for introducing, either directly or indirectly, <:H. v. 1-13.] 'l'HE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. li9