gi,e sympathy and assistance. Beyond all this, whall vicarious work the organs do in their considerate kindness to one another? No doubt we are open to the charge of reading between the apostle's Jines and of going beyond his intended meaning. Be it so; on the lines or between them, no matter, if the philosophy nnd spirit of the thought be observed. St. Paul's inspiration was for our day as well as his own, and perhaps it would not be very extravagant to ·say that the Christian scholarship of the nineteenth century sees depths in some of his con- ceptions that he never saw:. For it is the nature of inspiration to be ever unfolding its manifoldness of meamng, holding tenaciously to its ol'iginal ground, and yet pressing back its horizon to embrace fresh territory, and thus making itself a specially quickening power to successive ages. One thing, however, is very clear, namely, St. Paul saw the analogy between the Church and the human body. By ,·irtue of the connection of its organs, he takes occasion to urge on the Church very weighty and solemn duties. Mutual forbearance, respect, honour, must be sacredly cherished. The organic life of the Church makes it Christ's body. "Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." The main thought is restated and re-enforced as to apostles, prophets, etc. (vers. 28-30); and surely nothing has beec. left unsaid which could convince and persuade the Corinthians that their spiritna~ organization was not a thing to take care of itself, nor to be trusted to hap-hazard, nor to be surrendered to self-appointed leaders. It was a life, a sphere, a disci- pline and culture, a joy and blessedness, for all. Were the weak•liest among them to be overlooked as useless? If there were poor widows with only two mites to cast into God's treasury, they had their place and vocation. If there were little children, their looks and ways told of the kingdom of heaven. Were there uncomely parts? Grace was strong enough to do them abundant hon9ur. One of the invaluable blessings of Church life is to show respect and regard for such as society excludes from its esteem, and alas! too often treats with disdain, and thereby dooms them to a fate more wretched than poverty. In honouring them, the Church teaches these persons to honour themselves, and that, once secured, improvement outward and. inward is made far easier. In brief, wherever anything was lacking, there "more abundant honour" should be bestowed. And why all this ? That none be neglected, that all be partakers of one another's sufferings and. pleasures, and that the community be indeed a communion of one heart and mind. " That there should be no schism." This was the dread that hung over St. Paul: "schism; " this was the terror that darkened his path far more than the enemies and persecutors that pursued his steps. "Members should have the same care one for another." Brotherhood should sanctify individuality, and consummate and crown all the gifts of the Divine Giver. What a wonder this, to set before a city like Corinth! What an ideal to lift up in its resplendent glory in a period such as the first century! And this by the "ugly little Jew," a wandering tent-maker, who had nothing and would have nothing to commend him to the carnal philosophy and popular tastes of the age, and who could only speak ~rom his ~w~ soul a~J. the Spirit in that soul to the souls of men. Yet !he doctrrne of Christ s headsh1_p of humanity was his stay and strength, and the gifts of the Holy Ghost were his tokens aud pledges of victory for his cause. He would have others share his assur- ance and participate with him in the infinite blessedness. Therefore, _he argu~s, " covet earnestly the best gifts," and the best way to secure these best gifts he will proceed at once to show them.-L. Ver. 12.-Spiritual unity. If this be a true representation, what an honour, what a happi11ess it is to be a Christian! It is to be joined to the Lord of life and glory, and to be associated with the noblest, the purest, the best of mankind. I. IN WHAT RESPECTS CHRIBT AND HIS MEMDERS ARE ONE. The expression used by the apostle is reruarkable : " So also is Christ." He says, "Christ ; " yet he· means Christ's people; from which it appears that, in tlrn view of the apostle, as in the view of the Lord himself, all who are his are identified with and comprehended in his own Divine personality. 1. '!'his is a fact which is exhibited in various manners and especially by various metaphors. •Not only are Christ and his people the Head and the body; they are the Vine and the branches, the Foundation and the stones, the •OH, xn, 1-31.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO 'l'HE CORINTHIANS. 40i
organism and the Soul. 2. The union as spiritual is formed and sustained by faith. 'l'here are sacramental symbols of the union, but the real and vital connection is of spirit with spirit, i.e. is of faith. As mutual, it is depicted by the Lord himself, when he says, "I in you, and you in me." 3. '!'he character and the aim of the Head -and the members are identical. "As he is, so are we in this world." II. IN WHAT RESPEC'l'S CHRIST'S MEMBERS ARE St"llORDINATE TO HIM. 1. He is the ·Giver of the lifo which his people have in common with him. 2. He is the 8ource ol authority, issuing the commands which govern their activity. 3. He is the Centre or harmony; they who are his revolve around him as planets round the sun; and their -0rbits resemble one another, because all are drawn by the same attractive force. 4. He confers upon them the glory which is theit· prerogative-the moral glory which is -conferred here and now, and the glory to be revealed hereafter. III. IN WHAT RESPECTS CHRIST'S MEMBERS ARE RELATED O:SE TO ANOTHER. All are « one body." 1. Their dependence upon the one Head is the same. The unity is not simply in the organization; it is in the life. 2. 'l'bey are bound by Christian law and drawn by Christian impulse to mutual affection and confidence. Love is the law of Christian social life, as in the following chapter is so exquisitely shown. 3. They have -each his several service to render to the one Master ; the gifts are alike consecrated, the ministrations are alike devoted, to the Divine Lord. 4. They have mutual ability and obligation to help. As in the body each member, each sense, supplies the other's lack of service, so in the Church it is not simply the case that the gifted and the powerful render help to others less favourably endowed, but the feeblest and the most obscure may render some service for which his brethren may have reason to be for ever grateful. 5. In the blessings conferred by the Church upon the world around, each may be said to supply the other's deficiency; and the work of evangcliza- tion, in which each performs his proper part, is advanced by the cordial co-operation of all whom Providence has qualified and grace has inclined for the work.-T.