The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 268

portions of the mind; think how tangled it often is in the nerves, 9.nd imprisoned in the cells of the brain,-and can you wonder at the distrust that wise men have of its functions, unless controlled, and that ~ternly, by principle and sentiment? What ~ubtle poisons creep into the blood and thence into thought! A slight imprudence in eating, a bad dream last night, a household worry or a business vexation, distnrbed \Jreathing or accelerated heart-action, and the intellect is warped and enfeebled. Do what we may to curtail tbo evils, infirmities cling to all its activities. Yet much may be done, and it is done in no other way than that suggested by the apostle. "Charity [love] edifieth [bnilrlcth up]." By this he means that the heart must be under the influence of grace, and thus inspire the intellect so that it may be delivered from its selfishness and especially its self-conceit. And so fully bas Chris- tianity indoctrinated all our best thinkers with this idea, that they have come to believe that wisdom is the conjoint product of right thought and true feeling. "If tny man love God, the same is known of him," and the knowledge here predicated of God has a reflex agency on the man's kno,vledge. Instead of being "puffed up," instead of an immodemte and unjustifiable use of bis Christian freedom, instead of a vauntiug display of his superiority to prejudice and ignorance, be is rcgardful of the scruples of others, and, while aware of the difference between them and himself, turns the difference to the account of humility and forbearance. 'l'he idol is nothing, but its nothingness is no reason for insensibility to the claims of weak brethren on his manly sympathies. For the great doctrine of "one God, the Father, of whom are all thing~, and we in him," is so profoundly realized, that human brotherhood is its- complement in his character and conduct. "One Lord Jesus Christ, by whom arc all things, and we by him," the Mediator of the natural universe, in whose sovereignty ,~II laws aud institutions and objects have their reason and end; the Mediator of the spiritual universe, who has consummated the manifestation of humanity in the person and work of the Holy Ghost ;-this Jesus of Nazareth, who is tl,c Christ of God and Lord over all, has so embodied the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of humanity in his own incarnation and office, that henceforth the grandeur of the one is the strength and joy and glory of the other. St. Paul loses no opportunity to enforce- this supreme truth. Does he argue in behalf of Christian liberty"? Here is his basis. Docs he plead for expediency? Here is his warrant. Does he harmonize them a,; coexisting and co-operating sentiments? '!'hey are mutually supporting because their possessor has the knowledgo which comes from God in Christ. From thi,; sublime height he is never long absent. 'l'hitherward is he always tending, nor \\"iii he decide any question, whatever its bearings, with I\ judgment detached from the great truth Uhrist taught: "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be mado perfect in one." All, howeHr, have not this knowledge. 'l'be insight of some is partial and confused, "whose Christian faith is not yet so emancipated from the religious convict.ions of their old heathen state, and who are still in the bonds of their former conscience, moulded by heathen ideas" (Dr. Kling). Having this "conscience of the idol," looking upon the idol as a r(•ality, and forbidden by his conscience to cat the flesh offered to an idol, the "weak brother" is offended. 'l'hc meat itself is a matter of indifference, nor are you the "better" or the "worse" for the mere act of eating. A gmve question, howc\'Cr, lies at the back of the action. It concerns "this liberty of yours," and the spirit actu,1ting your mind in doing this thing. " Take heed;" this liberty may de;;eneratc into a haughty self-valuation, may become a "stnmbling-hlock," and may induce the "weak brother" to imitate your example, and thus sacrifice his conscience under your influence. 'l'hough the conscience be weak, it is conscience; it is his; its authority ove1· him is sacred; obey it ho must. "\Vorse than all, your conduct, taking effect upon him, may i"mperil the salvation of a man, "for whoru Christ died." Enlighten his conscience all yon can; help to make it truthful as well ns sincere; but, meantime, "talce heed" lest sympathy and conventionality embolden him to err. "·weak" now, you will only weaken him tho more if your liberty mislead him. 'l'he only element in him out of which strength r.an grow is the conscience. Use your freedom so as to liberate, not to eusla1·e, this highest authority in our nature. Use your knowledge to illuminato, not to darken, this divinest of all the organs personal to tho soul, through which truth reaches the man. Uso your Church relation to build up and not pull down your brother, that 270 THE FIRST El'IS'l'LE TO THE CORINTHlANS. [ea:. vm. 1-13.