,vho carefully copy the proceedings of others. We trace it in the mental life: wavs of thinking, of regarding life generally and one's fellow-men in particular, moral judg- ~nents and b~bits,-all are _oll'.in~ largely to imitation. 3. It is of set purpose employed m all educat10n; for the d1sc1plme and culture of the young is almost dependent upon the operation of this interesting and most powerful principle of human nature. II. TIIE GREAT AND GENERAL uSE WHICH CHRISTIANITY MAKES OF THIS PRINCIPLE. 1. In the Holy Scriptures, espcci:\lly of the New Testament, men are summoned to be followers, imitators of God, in all his moral perfections. It is represented that the excellences which are supreme and glorious in him may inspire us with the desire and resolve to copy and to acquire them in our measure for ourselves. 2. Jesus Christ is set before us as the especial Object of our reverence, as the hio-hest Model for us to study and to imitate. It is possible that, through our reverence for him as our Divine Sa,iour, we may lose sight of the fact that he is also our human Exemplar. We are summoned to grow up in all things unto him. 3. Yet this grace of imitation is to be ours, through our response to the love of Jesus and our participation in the Spirit of Jesus. It is not a mechanica.J, but a spiritual, intelligent, living process. We must love with the love of admiration, sympathy, congeniality, in order that we may be changed into the same image. Ill. THE SPECIAL APPLICATION PAUL MAKES OF THIS PRINCIPLE. 1. Religion permits us to study human models of excellence and to aim at conformity with such. Thus the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews sets before his readers illustrious examples of faith, as a practical and powerful principle governing and inspiring human nature and life. And here Paul requires of the Corinthians that they should be imitators of him. How many Christians in all ages have been fired with this noble ambition! And how wonderfully has it proved for the advantage of the Church and of the world that it bas been so! i. The limitation set to this principle: " Even as I also am of Christ." This was an acknowledgment of the Lord's supremacy; in copying Paul, the Corin- thians were ouly to be copying Christ, as it were, at one remove. 3. The extent to which this imitation was designed to go. Surely they might, and we may, be imitators of the apostle, in his love to Christ, in his devotion to Christ's cause, in his affliction for Christ's people, in bis obedience to Christ's laws, in his willingness to suffer for Christ's sake, in his wise forbearance with the infirmities of the brethren, and in his overflowing and very practical brotherly kindness and charity. In these respects it is not possible to follow Paul without at the same time following Christ.-'f.
Ver. 2.-Apostolic authority a11d traditions. In using language so imperious to all seeming as this is, St. Paul spake as an apostle, i.e. as one sent and commissioned by the Divine Head and Ruler of the Church. That be should use such language at all is very instructive and significant to all who read the Epistles and desire to receive them in the appropriate and intended spirit. I. APOSTOLIC INDIVIDUALlTY AND AUTHORITY ASSEilTED. "That ye remember me." "What an assumption is here of importance and peculiar authority! It was Paul's great concern that bis couverts should remember Christ: does he here set himself up as a· rival of the Lord? By no means. But he claims to be the minister, the ambassador of Christ to the Churches, whose words are to be received as the words of one speaking by the Spirit of Christ. Readers of the New Testament are by such language reminded that the inspired writers, through their personal, intimate, official relation to Christ, have a claim upon the respectful attention and the cordial faith of those who profess to lie Christ's. II. 'l'Hl> ODBERVANCE OF INSPIRED TRADITIONS ENJOINED. In Christianity there is an 1lement of law and an element of liberty; and these two elements are in harmony each 1vith the other, the two being necessary in order to the completeness of the dispensation, In some passages even of this Epistle stress is laid upon freedom; whilst in this verse stress is laid upon subjection. Traditions, communications, of a religious kind had been committed by the apostle to these Corinthians. What were these? 1. Traditions or doctrine. It was from Paul's lips that many of them had first heard the gospel; to Lim all were indebted for the systematic exposition of its glorious truths. 2. 'l'raditions of precept and conduct. This letter is itself full of such; for Paul combined, in e. remarkable and admirable manner, the functions of the teacher of truth and those of -OH, :u. 1-34.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 375
the ethical instructor. 3. Traditions of discipline. As soon as societies were formecl, it became necessary to draw up and promulgate regulations for the internal government .and ordering of such societies. They naturally looked to insp;red apostles for direction, how to proceed, and they did not look in vain. The context shows us how dependent the first Churches were upon apostolic guidance for the maintenance of their order and. the administration of their offices and affairs. III. SUBJECTION TO APOS'l'OLICAL DIRECTIONS COMMENDED. We gain here an insight into the very mixed character of the members of the primitive Churches. Much in tbeiL· conduct is in this very Epistle censured with something like severity; yet praise is not withheld where praise is due. There is a kind of praise which is dangerous, which involves insincerity on the part of those who offer, and fosters pride on the part of those who receive it. Yet the general fault amongst men and amongst Christians is unduly to withhold praise. Such commendation as this of the apostle could not but encourage and stimulate to a cheerful and resolute obedience to the injunctions of apostolic and Divine authority.-T.