-Spirit. Tho diffusion of one spirit is the clothing are used to cover those parts of the element of unity. Are we all baptized; body which are conventionally regardecl as rather, we were all baptized. Whether we be the least seemly. The whole of this illustra- Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free. tion is meant to show that rich and poor, Moreover, as theso were national and socio.I great and small, high and low, giftecl and differences, they were all obliterated by ungifted, have all their own separate and baptism, which made us all equal members inclispensable functions, and no class of <>f one holy brotherhood (Gal. iii. 28). Have Christians can wisely disparage or forego been all made to drink into one Spirit. The the aid derived from other and different word "into" is probably spurious. We have classes. The unity of the members in one all been given to drink of one Spirit, which body corresponcls to "the unity of the Spirit :is e.s the outpouring of living water (Acts x. in the bond of peace" which shoulcl prevail 45; John vii. 37). in the Church. Ver. 15.-If the foot shall say, etc. So Ver. 25.-No schism in the body. What :Seneca so.ys, "What if the hands should is exclusively called "schism" is not neces- wish to injure the feet, or the eyes the sarily suc!i. There may be difference of .hands? As nil the members agree together fold in the one flock. There may be no because it is the interest of the whole that real discord or dissension, though there may -each shoul,l be kept safe, so men spare their be varieties of ecclesiastical goYernment. fellow-men because we ore born for heaven, Unity, as the ,rhole argument shows, cloes nnd society cannot be saved except by the not demand the existence of uniformity. love and protection of its elements" (' De That the members should have the same care Im,' ii. 31). And Marcus Aurelius: "We one for another. Thus the early believers have been born for mutual help, like the feet, "were of one heart and of one soul ; " ancl like the hands, like the rows of upper and the moment that a complaint arose that one lower teeth. •ro act in oppositiou to oue of the weakest and smallest interests wo.s another is therefore contrary to nature" neglected, the supposed neglect wo.s amply ·(' Enchir.,' ii. I). And Pope- remedied (Acts iv. 32; vi. 1-6). " What if the foot, ordained the dust to trend, Ver. 26.-Whether one member suffer, all Or bo.nd, to toil, aspired to be the heo.d? the members suffer with it, etc. St. Chry- What if the head, the eye, or enr repined sostom illustrates this Yerse by saying that To serve mere engines to the ruling mind? if o. thorn runs into the heel, the whole bo,ly Just as absurd for any part to claim feels it and is uoubled; and that, on tho To be another, in this general fr11me," etc. other hand, if the bead is go.rlnucled, the whole mo.n is glorifier!. Ver. 17.-If the whole body were an eye, Ver. 27.-Ye are the body of Christ, and etc. In the body there is between the members in partfoular. Each Church is a members an identity of common inter.eat sort of microcosm of the whole Church. St. and a perfection of separate fuuclions. All Pnul docs not mean tho.t the Corinthian a.re not equal in strength nnd delico.cy, but Church is n member in the hotly of nil the each is happy, and each is necessary to the Churches, but that mch Corinthian Christitm well-being of nil. There could be no better is o. member of the Church. image of the ideal relation of Christiane to Ver. 28.-Hath set; ro.lhcr, appointed. each other and to the Church. First apostles. Apart frow the twelve (Luke Ver. 18.-As it hath pleased him. Not vi. 13) and Paul and Dnrnnbos, the namo arbitrarily, but in furthero.nce of one wise was in n lower sense extended to lending nnd beneficent design, so that each may be and eminent Christitms, especially to thosu honoured and inclispensable, and therefore who had to.lean part in foun,ling or ruling contented in its own sphere. Churches (Rom. ni. 7). Prophets. Wise Ver. 19.-And if they were all one member, spiritual preachers. It is instructive to noto where were the body l The interests of that St. Pttul places tho gifts of wisdom the indiviclual must never overshadow those and knowledge which thcso prcnchers re- of the Church. In the Church, as in the quire above those which wo nro npt lo -bocly, the hypertrophy or the atrophy of any rcgnrcl e.s exclusively mimculous. The one member is injurious, not only to itself, •• wonclers" stood in n lower, not in a higher, but to the whole. position when compared with tho orclinnry Ver. 21.-1 ha.ve no need of thee. A gifts of grace. Teachers. Those who bavo xebuke to the pride of those who thought the minor gifts of instruction nnd exposition their own gifts to be exclusively vnlunble. (Acts xiii. I). Helps. All the services Ver. 22.-Are neoessary. This is the rcnclcred by the power of activo sympathy; ,point of the fable of the belly aud the by the work of deacons, sistors of mercy, members. etc. (Acts vi. 3, 4). Tho word occurs m Ver. 23.-Which we think to be less 2 Mace. viii. HJ; Ecclus. xi. 12, nnd the honourable. The shelter nnd ornament of corresponding verb in Aots xx. 35; l 'fiw. 400 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [ea. XII, 1-31,
'l"i. 2 ; Luke i. 54 ; see Rom. X"l"i. 3. Govern- seems, the most splendid c11arism. And yet ments. Powern of leading and org-anization. show I unto you e. more exoellent way. 'l'he Diversities [kinds] of tongues. Ranked as " more excelleut way" is the way of love, last in value. They are emotional gifts, which he sets forth in the next ch11pter, and which hnd only a very subordinate part iu which lies open to all Christians without dis- the work of edification, and are, therefore, tinctiou. 'fhe 'l"erso meo.us eitber, "And plMed below the gifts of know ledge,of power, further" (besides bidding you aim at the and of practical life, which sum up the better gifts), "I show you one supreme Wa?f previous enumeration. of attaining them;" or, " And I show you Ver. 29.-Are all apostles! etc. It is a still more eminent way." I bid you desire God's providence which " has appointed the best gifts, and further show you a truly divers orders in his Church," and has royal road ( viam maxime vialem), a road par •• ordained and constituted the services of excellence, which leads to their attainment. angels and of men in a wonderful order." 'l'he way of love would lead to them, and Ver. :{!.-Covet earnestly; literal!_,., be it was itself the best of them. "All the way zealous for, strongly desire. That which we to heaven lies through heaven, and the path aim nt we usually attain; and we should to heaven iB heaven." aim at that which really is, not e.t that which