II. THE VALUE OF A SYMBOLICAL ACT WHICH WILL ASSERT THAT COMMUNION. As in C\'erything, so in respect of symbols, two extremes are possible, and both are to be arnided. He is unhurnan who thinks he may refuse the help of any symbol. He is too human who multiplies symbols, glorifies symbols, until they occupy all his thought, and he has uo room for the realities of which they should testify. Symbols of spiritual things will be not only useful, they will be necessary, so long as we are in the body. ,ve have embraced spiritual truths, but they came to us in symbolic words; they are represented to us in syrn bolic acts. There can be no question as to our need of symbols; the only questions concern their character and their kind. Our Lord met our need in the institution of the "Lord's Supper," the" communion of the body and the blood." We are drawn into a great and tender fellowship as we share together tbe one loaf, as we make affirmation of our common life in Christ; and our communion finds fitting expression in a gentle patience with our brother's failings, a loving consideration for even our brother's prejudices, and a cheerful willingness to put our own preferences aside, if they grieve or hinder our brethren.-R. 'l'. Ver. 24.-T!,e primary law of Christian associatfon. "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth;" the word" wealth" being here used in the general sense of" well-being," and, more especially," moral well-being" (comp. Rom. xv. 1-3; Pbil. ii. 4). Here is gi"l'en to us- ' I. THE PE.IMARY LAW OF HUMAN ASSOCIATION. It is the law of brotherhood which leads us to regard our brother's interests as of more importance than our own. Show bow such a law universally working wonld, of necessity, make a heaven of earth. But it may be said," Are we not to care for ourselves, and consider our own interests?" Vv e shall not need to do so if, while we care for our brother's well-being, that brother is as anxious to put bis own aside that he may secure ours. In the mutuality of our service will lie our common safety, and our common blessing. 'l'o this height, of a practically working brotherliness, Christianity is seeking to uplift the world. II. 'fHE HWDRANCES TO THE WORK OF THIS LAW PUT DY HUMAN SELFISHNESS. Sin repeats before God, age after age, the words of the self-seeking Cain, "Am I my brother's keeper ? " An exaggeration of the distinction between " mine and thine " keeps men separate from each other, and makes the separation take all sorts of forms of class- distinction. III. THE RESTORATION OF THE LAW TO ITS FULL POWER THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF THE CnnISTIAN PRINCIPLE. What shall bring men together in mutual helpfulness? Try society schemes, bonds of commerce, ameliorations through education and science. None of these can reach the very root of selfishness. But if we could win a supreme love for Christ and full consecration to him, we would be sure to "love our brother also; " and find out practically how to " seek another's wealth."-H. T.
Vers. 31-33.-Allfor Gorl wil~ be all/or men. "Do all to the glory of God;" and then it will not be difficult for you to "please all men in all things . . . seeking the profit of many, that they may be saved." "No act of l(f~ is in_ itself_ eith~r religious or secular. The quality of each act depends on the s1,mt wluch guides 1t and the motive from which it springs. The commonest thing may be dono in a high Christian c.u. xr. 1-34.J 'IHE FIRST EPISTLE TO '!'HE CORINTHIANS. 361
spirit. The greatest deed may spring from a low ann selfish motive." "The glory of God, that is to be the end of all your actions." And St. Paul ventures to affirm that the man who holds a supreme purpose-to glorify God, will be found the kindest, most generous, and most helpful man by all his fellow-men. I. THIS IS AN ACTU,,L FACT. 'l'he truly pious are the truly philanthropical. Illus- trate from the general influence or Christianity in securing care for the suffering and the poor; and from individual cases, such as those of Howard, Wilberforce, Nightin- gale, etc.; appeal may also be made to cases within our personal experience. A weak recognition of the claims of the brotherhood is one of the surest signs of a frail, unnourished piety. II. IT IS REASONABLE TllAT THIS SHOULD BE THE ACTUAL FACT. This may be argued: 1. From the impression of the fatherhood.of God which the Christian gains. If he turn his eyes down from up-looking to the Father, he cannot fail to see the Father's children. 2. From the growth of Christian life, which is a changing into God's image, until we come to think about bis children as he thinks, and to work for them as he works. 3. From that simple, unquestioning obedience to God's will which would surely characterize us if we really held all for God and were set upon securing "his glory."-R. T.
EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XI. ship of Christ is sto.ted in Eph. i. 22; iv. 15; and its o.pplication to the rnperiority of mo.n Ver. 1.-Followers of me; ro.ther, imita- is laid dowu also in E"h. \'. 23. 'l'he suh- tors of me; follow herein my example, as I ordino.te position of the 'woman is also stated follow Christ's. Who.t Cltrist's example was, in 1 Tim. ii. 11, 12; 1 Pet. iii. 1. 5, 6, etc. in tho.t he too "pleased not himself,'' he This, howe,er, is merely o.n ordinance of sets forth in Rom. xv. 1-3; and the earthly o.pplication. In the spiritual realm general principle of self-abnegation for the •· there is neither male nor female" (Gnl. sake of others in Phil. ii. 4-8. This verse iii. 28). The head of the woman is the ought to be included in eh. x. It sums man. In Obrist the distinctions of the np the whole o.rgument, and explains the sexes are done o.wo.y. It wus, perho.ps, nn long digression of eh. ix. As I also nm of abuse of this principle which ho.d led the Christ. This limits the reference to his own Corinthiun women to o.ssert themselves o.nd ~xnwple. I only ask you to imito.te mo in their rights more prominently tho.n decorum points in which I imitnte Christ. wnmmted. The head of Christ is God. Vere. 2-16.-Rules and principles respect- That Christ is •• inferio1· to tho Fo.ther ns u1g the covering of the head by ioomen in touching his mo.nhood,'' tlmt his mcdia- Church a88emblies. torial kingdom involves (so for) o. subordi- Ver. 2.-Now; ro.ther, but, on the other no.tion of his coequal Go,lhend, ho.s been hand. That ye remember me in all things, alreo.d v stated iu eh. iii. 23, uncl is further 0