you nrny be a co-worker with God and .with his conscience in makinO' him a "templlJ of the Holy Ghost." Then comes the utterance of great-heartcduess~the declaration that be will cat no such meat for ever if it make his brother to offend. This \\'(1.s no sudden effervescence of sentimentality. It was genuine sentiment. It was orgnnic to the man's nature. Impulse was strong because conscience was stron"er. 'l'he current ?f fce)ing was no catara?t leap!ng from a rocky bed into rocky depths, and dashing itself mto foam, but a nnghty nYcr that could not become too full for its banks.-L. Ver. !.-Knowledge and love. In the Divine DeinO' himself both knowled"'e and love are perfect; he is lif!;ht; he is love. Man, made "'in God's image, is C(l.p~ble of both; but h:s knowledge 1s and must be very limited (1.nd partial, whilst he has vast capacities for love. Not only so; as the apostle here teaches love is better than knowledge, for whilst this puffs up, that edifies. We recogniz~ this superiority in several particulars. I. Ix ITS INFLuENCE UPON THE INDIVIDUAL'S OWN CHARACTER. Paul's observation convinced hitn that this was the case. There were at Corinth those who boasted of their knowledge, of their iutellectual powers of discrimination, of their superiority to the ignorant vulgar. Dut these very persons, although Christians in name, were very far from displaying the character of Christ himself, evincing little of consideration and forbearance towards their fellow-believers. In fact, they were "puffed up,'' their knowledge inflatmg them, but imparting to them no real stability or vigour of character. On the other hand, such as were animated by the purifying and elevating principle of love were, by the action of that principle, delivered from selfishness and self-seeking. They were "edified," i.e. built up, as a temple in stately proportions, upon a secure and ample foundation. This is a generalization, the justice of which is borne out by the experience of the Church of Christ. A show of knowledge is often unlovely when compared with the reality of love, which imparts a beauty and a radiance to the. character beyond what human effort and culture can possibly bestow. II. l!> ITS I!-FQ::;E:;:cE UPON HUMAN SOCIETY. It has ,been maintained in our own <lay (by Mr. Buckle) that moral beliefs have no influence in the development of society, which is due to the adrnnce of scientific knowledge. But facts are in contradiction to this theory. Ltarning, science, art, are all good in themselves; but they give no guarantee that they shall be wisely and beneficially used, and they may be far from a blessing to society. Dut where compassion and benevolence are prevalent and ruling principles, there society feels the benefit of their operation. The Church is maintained in peace and harmony; the world around is profited by the self-denying efforts made for the amelioration of its condition. We have only to compare the condition of ancient Rome with that of modern England to be assured of this. III. IN ITS ACCEPTABLENESS TO Goo. We are not to understand that our Divine Ruler is indifferent to the progress of knowledge. "That the soul be without knowledge is not 0"Ood." And there is a kind of knowledge which is near akin to love: to know God is life eternal. But mere intellectual activity, mern speculative acquaintance with truth are vain and worthless in his sight to whom all things are known from the begiu'ning. But love, as it is the highest expression ~f the Divine nature and character, is peculiarly congenial and acceptable ~o God. With the lovele_ss soul ~od has no sympathy; but tlie soul that is on fire with Joye to God and man 1s preparmg to dwell in the everlasting radiance which makes and blesses heavcn.-1'.
Ver. 3.-Intimacy between God and man. As the passage treats of man's knowledge._ professed, supposed, and real, we should expect in this verse to find a statement regarding man's knowled"e of God. And by some the second clause of this verse has been interpreted in this sense. If this somewhat strains the language, and if it is necessary to understand that we have here an assertion that the lover of God is known by God, all the same the apostle must be acknowledµ:cd hero to affirm a spiritual intimacy between the human spirit and the Father of s1,irits. I. THE co:s-DITIO!> m' THIS IXTllIACY. 1. lt is a condition which could sc(l.rcely cccur to man apart from revelation. Men fear Go<l, reverence God, worship God, seek to avert the wrath of God; but to love God is uot an exercise of mind which seems congruous to the relat;on between the Creator and his creatures. 2. It is a condition -cH. vm. 1-13.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 2il