The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 229

marvellous that this condition of life on which the very continuation of the human r~ce depends should remaiu thus _open and optional. Suppose that to-day every indi- vidual of the human race determmed not to enter into this relationship and to have no intercourse with the opposite sex, sixty years hence at most, the r;ce would be extinct; no man, woman, or child would be found on the' earth. The earth would be- as it once ":as, without a 1:nan, a school without a student, a theatre without a spectator, a temple without a worshipper. The answer to the question which some may give is this, that there is no reason for a written command on this subject-it is a law of nature. God does not command us to cat and drink, because it is not necessary-the law of our nature u:rges us to_ it: For the same reason he does not command us to marry. How- ever, so 1t 1s, and 1t 1s a wonderful thought that upon the volition of this generation on this question, depends the continuation or non-continuation of the race. II. That marriage is PRIMARILY FOR SPIRITUAL ENDS. "'l'he unbelievina husband is sa:nctifi~d," etc. (ver. 1~). The _view :ziv:eu o_f the end of marriage in th~ Marriag~ Service, viz. the "procreation of children," 1s evidently not the idea that Paul had and it is a somewhat degrading one. Paul's idea throughout seems to be that the iand purpose of marriage is mutual spiritual influence, correctina faults removina unbelief ~stablishing faith! serving the Lord.. Those who enter on this relationship fr°om fleshly impulses and with fleshly ends misunderstand the ordinance and are never truly married. There is not only no union of soul, but an inner division. True marriaae -means such a mutual spiritual affection as welds two souls into one moral personality. III. That marriage INVOLVES MUTUAL OBLIGATIONS THE MOST SACRED. 1. Mutual benevolence. "Let the husband rtnder unto the wife due benevolence : and likewise also the wife t-0 the husband." Benevolence, a hearty well-wishing, each wishing the well-being of the other. The New Version drops the word" benevolence." •2. Mutual identification. "The wife bath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband bath not power of his own body, but the wife." The both are one. The equal rights of wife and husband are everywhere recognized in the Bible. 3. Mutual honesty. • "Defraud ye not one the other." Deception is inimical to the true union of souls. Nothing cuts united hearts asunder so easily and effectively as- artfulness and deception. 4. Mutual forbearance. "If any brother have a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which bath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him" (vers. 12, 13). Should difference of opinion on religious subjects crop up, should the faith of one or the other in religious matters be shaken or wane, forbear, do not separate on that account, for the right may correct the wrong, the believing correct the unbelieving. 5. Mutual concession of personal freedom. "But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bundage in such cases: but God bath called us to peace" (ver. 15). If the wife feels it in her conscience to be a duty to leave her husband, he should not coerce her, nor should she employ compulsion, should he feel it his duty to withdraw. CoNCLUSIO?i!. Such are roughly and briefly some of Paul's personal opinions on the questio::i of marriage. '!'hey seem to be on the whole wise and_just. We have made marriage a civil contract, and we bind two persons together for life who never possessed those mutual affinities which are the essence of marriage. The essence of marriage is this-the strongest mutual sympathies and aims that one Leing can have for another; the bond of marriage is the solemn mutual pledge. '!'hose who are thus married are united by a cord stronger than adamant, finer than the finest web, too weak to fetter, yet too strong to break. Vers. 15-24.-Abide in Christliness, whatever the condition in life, "But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart," etc. As St. Paul seems desirous that most of his utterances in this chapter should not be regarded as the language of inspiration, but rather that·of his own private judgment (for twice he gives the assurance), we may be justified in criticizing his opinions. His opinions here refer to three conditions in man's existence on earth: matrimonial life, ecclesiastical connection, and domestic slavery; and concerning each of these, he says, "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." Now, if by" calling" here he means that condition of life in which we find ourselves, irrespective of our choice, or into which we have entered by on. vu. 1-40.] THE FJRS'l' EPISTLE 'l'O THE CORINTHI-4\,.NS. 231