The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 313

is called to be tempemtc alike in all his thoughts, emotions, worc!s, and ways; in his joys and sorro,vs, his schemes and activitic's, his personal indulgences and personal mortifications; in his worldly ambitions, and even in the zeal of his religious life. But " the flesh" must needs be the chief occasion for the exercise of this self-regulating grace. "I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage." Nothing could be more expressive of that subjugation of our lower nature by which we can alone win the crown of the spirit, Not that there is any essential virtue in mere physical austerities and mortifications. "Pride may be pampered while the flesh grows lean," Asceticism is no natural outgrowth of Christianity, but rather of its unnatural alliance with that pagan philosophy which regarded matter and spirit as essentially antagonistic principles. Christ teaches us to honour the body that God's wonder-working hand has framed, and that he makes the temple of his Spirit. But then do we most honour the body when we make it most thoroughly the submissive servant of the soul's diviner purposes, confronting it, meeting it full iu the face, as it were, with the swift violence of our holy purpose, when it dares to obstruct the spirit in its path to the heavenly crown. III. THE CONFIDENCE THAT SPRINGS FROM FAITH. "Not as uncerli\inly, not as beating the air." Vivid realization, unwavering assurance,-this was the secret of Paul's strength. The prize of his high calling stood out clear and luminous to his view. He bad no misgivings as to the reality of it. It filled the whole field of his vision with its glory, and the whole energy of his nature was consecrated to its pursuit. \Ve must rise above the chilling, paralyzing mists of doubt, and see the heavenly crown clearly before us, if we would have there to be any real vigour in our spiritual striving. " This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."-W. Vers. 26, 27.-.A good servant of Jesus Christ. It was quite in St. Paul's manner to support his exhortations to Christian service by adducing his own example anrl experience. Those who were not acquainted with him might misconstrue such references and set them down to a vain-glorious spirit, but no one coukl do so who kuew bow fully and fervently this apostle ascribed all that he was and did as a Christian to the grace of Jesus Christ. "Not I, but the grace of God which was with me." "Not I, but Christ \iveth in me." I. ILLUSTRATIONS OF CHRISTIAN SERVICF., 1. St. Paul was as a runner in the Isthmian games, and so ran "not uncertainly." Suppose ono to attemJ.,t that course without his mind made up as to the reason why or the goal to which he shoultl run, moving without spirit or purpose, looking to this side and to that; he could take no }lrize. O11e must have a clear course and a tlefinite aim in the race which is set before the servants of Christ. 2. St. Panl was as a boxer in the arena, and fought not as ouc "beating tho air." The poet Virgil has the same expression in describing a boxer who missed his antagonist: "Vires in vcntum effudit" (' .lEneid,' bk. v. 4-!(5), 'l'o do so is to waste force. He fights well who plants his blows skilfully and makes them tell. The apostle was a man of pence, but he neeclcd bolclness and firmness, as well as love and patience, for his hard service. He had journeys to make, trials to bear, testimonies to raise, controversies to conduct, difficulties to adjust, calumnies to refute, sorrows to assuage-a great and arduous career; and, by the grace of Gou, he put all his force into it, ran his race of duty with ardour, fought his fight of faith with resolution, II. '!'RAINING AND DISCIPLINE FOR sucn SEllVICE. "I buITet my body, and bring it into subjection." He who woultl subdue evil in others must suppress it in himself. Now, the apostle found that the gospel was hinclcrcd, not so much by intellectual -0bjection, as by moral depravity. The flesh lusted against the spirit. He had felt this hi himself, and knew that the flesh prevailed by fastening on the organs of the body. and induciug indulgence or excess. So he brought himself into goocl training for activo Christian work by bruising the body and "mortifying its deecls." He would not sLir- foit or pamper it, lest he should stupefy the soul. This is something quite different from that "neglect of the body" which St. Paul elsewhere mentions among the super- stitious of a delusive piety. 'l'o deprive the body of necessary food and slee1) i., to  31G TllE FinST EPISTLE 'l'O THE COilINTHIANS. [c11. 1x. 1-27.