HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-3.-A twofold knowlerlge. "Now as tonchina thincrs offered unto idols we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puff<rth up~but charity edifieth: .And if any man think that he knoweth anythin", he kaoweth nothina yet as be OU"ht ~o _know. But if any man love God, the same i;'known of him." H~re a new subj~ct 1s rntroduced. Paul bad already touched on four difficult points in connection with the Corinthian Church-points on which it seems some of the members bad written, to him for information. One referred to matrimony, another to ecclesiastical ritualism·, another to slavery, and another to the eating of meats that were offered to idols. Meats. used f?r sacrificial purposes in the hea.tben temples were, according to custom, offered 111 Connth for sale as food. In that Church there were some who bad scruples about the• eating of such meat, and some who had not. Paul's counsel was sought on that sub- ject, and in this chapter he supplies it. In this sketch I shall confine my attention to• the tu-ofold knowledge to which he here refers. I. A PRIDE-GE:SEllATD:G KNOWLEDGE. "Knowledge puffeth up." By this know-- ledge he means, I presume: 1. A knowledge that is merely intellectual-a stock of mental conceptions concerning the various objects brought under attention: they might be material or spiritual, those referring to body or tbose referring to mind, to the· creature or to the Creator. Now, such knowledge, even though it be of a theological and ecclesiastical character, tends to self-conceit. 2. A knowledge that is essentially· superficial. Mere intellectual knowledge bas a tendency to generate pride, and the· more superficial that knowledge the stronger its tendency. The men who go furthest into the essence of things, take the widest view of the domain of knowledge, enter furthest into the arcana of nature, will be the least disposed to self-elation. 'l'he greater· the scientist the more bumble of his class. II. A MAN-EDIFYING KNOWLEDGE. "Charity edifieth. And if a.ny man think that, be knoweth anything, he kno\\"etb nothing yet as he ought to know. llut if any man love God, the same is known of him." It appears from this: 1. That" charity," or love- to God, is the true knowledge. Love is the life and soul of all science. Mere intel- lectual knowledge, however great, is a tree without sap, without moral beauty or· strengthening fruit; love is the root of the universe, and you must have love rightly to interpret it. 2. Tliat this true knowledge builds up the soul. It "edifieth." It.. builds it up, not as a house is built up, by putting dead stones and timber together, but as the oak is built up, by the world-appropriating force of its own life, compelling out- ward nature to deepen its roots, extend its bulk, multiply Hs branches, and push it higher towards the heavens. 3. That this true knowledge enmres the approval of God. "lf any man love God, the sarne is known of him." 'l'he word "known" must be taken in the sense of approval. In the last day, Christ will say to those who have not this love," Depart from me : I !lever knew you," that is, never approved of you. This love for God in the heart converts the tree of intellectual knowledge into the tree of life..
Vers. 4-13.-Aspects of responsibility. "As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols," etc. This paragraph suggests thr<e general remarks. I. 'l'I.IAT THE MOllAL ODLIGATIO:SS OF ALL MEN ARE DETERMINED DY THEIR RELATION -ro 'l'JIE ONE Goo AND ms SoN. "As concerning therefore the eating of those things that nrc offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world,. and that there is none other God but one." There arc many objects in the world that. men call gods, and treat as gods, but they are really nothing, their existence imposes on them no moral obligatipn. There is One, however, and only One, from your relation, to wh.:>IT. there grows up all moral obligations. "One God." ;,!onotheism is demon- cu. vm. 1-W.J THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 261