Vers. 29-31.-" The time is short." There is, and there ought to be, a marked difference between the conduct of the Christian and that of the unbeliever. 'l'his difference originates primarily in the new principles with which the mind of the disciple of Christ is possessed and by which it is governed; the faith and gratitude towards the Saviour which constitute and mark the man a Christian make him a new man. Yet there is another, beside this loftiest reason, for the outward differences. ·•ro this the apostle here refers; the rapidly approaching end of the present dispensation, when really expected, must exercise considerable influence over the Christian's life. l. 'fHE TRANSITORINESS AND PERISHABLENESS OF THE PRESENT STATE AND OF ALL THAT PERTAINS TO IT IS A POWERFUL MOTIVE OVER THE CHRISTIAN'S MIND AND LIFE. The apostle puts this matter in two lights. 1. The time is short, contracted into a small compass. This must be taken in connection with the eternity of God, with :whom "one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day ; " and also in ~nnectlon with the mortality of man, whose days on earth are as a shadow, whose life passes as the swift ships. The season, or dispensation, in which our earthly work is -to be done and our earthly witness borne, is fleeting. "The day and the hour knoweth no man;" yet our Lord's language is ever, "Watch I" 2. "The fashion of this world passeth away." It is like a cloud-shadow on the sea, a wind-wave on the corn, e. meteor in the sky. Of this pathetic truth all human history is a proof, and the events of every generation an illustration that to the reflective cannot fail to be impressive. Nothing continueth in one stay. The first Christians seem sometimes to have been possessed with the conviction that the end of the age and the advent of the Lord were very near. Nearer still are they to us, who are admonished to live under the influence of the sublime expectation. II. HUMAN LIFE ABOUNDS WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXHIBITmG THE PRACTICAL POWER OF THIS PRINCIPLE AND :MOTIVE. 1. Human relationships are influenced by the considerations adduced. The apostle refers especially to marriage, because it was the question concerning the expediency of matrimony which occasioned the introduction or the great principle of the passage. On account of present uncertainties and the pressure of the time, Paul thought it well for so!lle Christians not to marry, and for the married to be on their guard against absorption in family cares. 2. Human emotions should be moderated by the same considerations. There is no room for extreme joy or sorrow when the events which occasion these feelings are themselves upon the wing. 'l'he emotions are not forbidden, but excessive indulgence of them is deprecated. 3. Human business cannot be allowed to be too absorbillg; for property will soon be valueless, and the world itself will vanish and be no more seen. How obvious the duty to hol<l earthly possessions with a light hand, and to use the world and all it contains with a wise discretion, and to avoid misusing what is so litt1e able to afford a lasting ,satisfaction 1-T.
Vers. 1, 2, 7-9 25-35.-Celibacy and marriage. The Corir,thian Christians bad -written to the apostle for direction respecting the relative desirability and incumbency -of single and wedded life. Probably some of them regarded mamage as obligatory, and -others perhaps looked upon it as an evil. Amongst Gentiles there was at this period .a strong tendency towards celibacy. The reputation of Corinth was, moreover, unenviable for wantonness and uncleanness. There was therefore great need for full and -explicit statement, supplemented by apostolic authority. I. THE APOSTLE DECLARES EACH STATE TO DE LAWFUL. This is apparent from the -two opening verses of the chapter. In :tself it is no sin to marry; it is uo sin t0 ,remain unmarried. Perhaps specially to those regarding marriage a~ ubligatory, tlrn 244 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORIN1'HIANS. (cH. vu. 1-40.