The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 291

kingdom of Satnn to the kingdom of Chri,t. No work on earth equal to this, "He that cml\"ertelh a sinner from the error of lus ways," etc. This work which I e1Tectc1l in you "~n the Lord," or by the _Lo_rd, is a <lcmonstration of my apostleship. What work agarn, 1 ask, approaches this m grandeur and importance? It is the work of creating men "anew in Christ Jesns;" it is the work of cstablishincr that moral "mpire in the "·orld, which is "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." 'l'he man who succeeds in accomplishing tliis work thereby demonstrates the divinity ,!f his ministry. Hence Paul says, "Mine answer to them that do examine me is this." Those that question or deny my apostleship I refer to the spiritual work I have accomplished; "this is my answer," my defence. Truly it might be· said of Paul," No man can do the works that thou doest, except God be with him." The only way by which "·e can prove ourselves true ministers is, not by words, but by spiritual works. III. The grnater the minister of Christ, the MORE INDEPENDENT HE IS OF THE A!\--XMAL EXJOYMENTS OF LIFE. "Ha\'e we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?_" Pau~ claims the privilege to eat and drink as he pleased, and to marry or not accordmg to Ins pleasure, to be a celibate or a benedict. Perhaps some of the mcm bcrs of the Corinthian Church questioned Paul's apostleship because he was not married. Those who belonged to Peter's party-who was a married man-wouM. he likely to say," Paul cannot be an apostle, for Cephas, who is an apostle, has his wife, 11·hom he takes about with him in the prosecution of his mission." And then the "brethren of the Lord," too, they have their wives. Paul's reply to this is virtually," I have the power and the right to all connubial privileges and comforts, the right to feast at banquets, and to form domestic relations; but I forego them, I am independent of them, 1 have higher tastes and sublimer sources of enjoyment, '.For me to live is Christ.' He is the all and in all of my soul." 'l'he more brain and Christly inspira- tion a man has, the less carnal, and the less carnal the more independent of materia'l enjoyments. IV. The greater t'he minister of Christ, the MORE CLAIM HE HAS TO THE TEMPORAL SUPPORT OF THOSE WHOM HE SPIRITUALLY SERVES. The apostle goes on from the sixth to the fonrteenth verse to say that he and Barnabas would be right if they were to for- bear working for their livelihood, and claim their temporal support from those to whom they spiritually ministered. He goes on to indicate several reasons why be had a claim to their temporal support. 1. The general usage of mankind. " Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges?" etc. He draws three illustrations from human lifu to show the equity of the principle-from the soldier, the agriculturist, and the shepherd. 2. The principle of the Jewish Law. "Say I these things as a man? or saith not the Law the same also?" etc. On a space of hard ground called a threshing-floor the oxen in Jewish times were driven to and fro over the corn thrown there, thus separating the husk from the grain. "God,'' says Matthew Henry, "had therein ordered that the ox Bhould not be muzzled while he was treading out the corn, nor hindered from eating while: he was preparing the corn, for man's use, and treading it out of the car. But this law was not chiefly given out of God's regard to oxen or concern for them, but to teach mankind that all due encourao-ement should be given to those who are employed by us or labourino- for our good, that the labourers should taste of the fruit of their labours.'' "Doth God take care for oxen?" Yes. He enjoined that the mouth of the working ox should not be muzzled, but should have food to eat. Is not man greater than thu ox? And shall he work and be deprived of temporal supplies? 3. The principles of common equity. "If we have sown into you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal thincrs?" 'l'hey had given to them far higher things, infinitely more important than the t;mporal support which they required. He who ~ives to h_is race Divine ideas gives that which alone can secure the progress of humamty, both in temporal and spiritual good. 'l'rue ideas destroy bad institutions and create good ones. 4. Other apostles and their wives were thus supported. " Or I only and Barnabas, have· not we power to forbear working?" ... If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather?" This language implies that all the others who worked amongst them obtained their temporal support. Why should not we? Have we done less? Is our authority inferior? 5. The support of the Jewish priesthood. "Do )'0 not kno,v that tbey which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they CII. IX. 1-127.] '!'HE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE cor.rnTI-IIANS.