I. CHRIST HIMSELF IS THE DIVINE FOUNDATION OF SYMPATHY. 1. Christ's words arc the law of sympathy. It was he who uttered admonitions which have been so potent to affect the he:irt and influence society; e.g. "Do unto c,thers," etc.; "Love one another," etc. And his apostles' words are his; e.g. "Bear ye one another's burdens;" "Look not every man," etc.; "Rejoice with them," etc. 2. Christ's life was the modeJ of sympathy. In the Gospels we behold him sympathizing with sufferers, mourners, doubter~, and inquirers, the ignorant and uncared for, sinners who repented of sin, and others. He is still the High Priest touched with a feeling of our infirmities. 3. Christ's cross is the motive to sympathy. It presents the Redeemer suffering with and for mankind; and those who can say, "He gave himself for me," feel the constraint 0£ the cross, the love of Christ. 4. Christ's Spirit is the power of sympathy-an unseen, but mighty and gracious force. II. THE VAST RANGE OF CHRISTIAN SYllPATBY. 1. The whole Church of the Redeemer demands its exercise. Christians are members of the one body, and subject to the one Head. Their mutual relations to one another are consequent upon thei~ common relations to their Lord. Hence their interdependence and sympathy. When the head is crowned, the whole body is glorified; when the eyes brighten, all the features respond; when a limb aches, the whole frame is depressed. In such sympathy the body is a picture of the Church as it should be, and as it is just in proportion ag it is pervaded by the Spirit of the Lord. 2. The whole race of mankind is included in its scope and action. Christianity alone can attack human isolation, and serve as the bond of universal brotherhood. The wanderers have to be gathered into the fold, and to this end they must first be pitied and yearned over and sought. III. THE MANIFESTATIONS OF CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY. These are especially: 1. Sympathetic suffering with the sad and distressed, as opposed to indifference or malicious pleasure in others' misfortunes. 2. Sympathetic joy in the advancement an,l honours of others, as opposed to envy and jealousy. 3. Sympathetic action; for emotion leads to practical interposition and help. Aid, gifts, self-denying effort, may prove the reality of the feeling expressed in words. IV. THE ADVANTAGES AND BLESSINGS OF CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY. 1. To those who display it, it is advnutageous as developing and fostering spiritual qualities. 2. Tu those who partake of it, whose cheerfulness is augmented and whose sorrows arc relieved. 3. To society in general, which is thus leavened by Christian spirit aml inB.uence.-T.
Ver. 27.-Body and members. At Corinth there was much of the spirit of self- assertion: 11 I," said one, "am for Paul!" "I," said another, "for Apollos ! " "I," said a third, "for Cephas l" This was a selfish partis,111ship; and with it was conjoined a disposition on the part of many to mngnify their own gifts and powers and to tle prcciato those of their neighbours and fellow-members. To all this the apostle furnishes the trne corrective. Let Christians but regard themselves in the true light, as Cluist's body collectively, and as individually living members of that body, anu then incon- siderateness, selfishness, envy, nnd jealousy will flee away. I. COLLECTIVELY, CHRISTIANS FOllM THE DODY OF CHlllST. Not, of course, the body of flesh and blood which he assumed and wore; not tho bread and wine of the Eucharist, which he called his body and blood; but the human representatioa of his presence which he has left on earth. 1. 'l'his assertion cannot bo made of any one outward, visible, organic society. All these, because composcu of human beings and consequently of imperfect and faulty characters, and because doubtless including within their boundaries unspiritual persons and hypocrites, are themselves far from reaching tho Divine ideal. lf one "viHible" Church cnnnot claim to be the body of Christ, neither, for the same reason, cnn any association of such communities. They may be admirable, and their existence mny be most important for the conservation of the gospel and tl,o evangelization of the world, but they are not to be confounded with the body of Christ. 2. Dut it is true of the Church as it exists in the view of the omniscient Lord. The spiritual Church, sometimes called invisible, because its boundaries cannot be traced by human eyes, is penetratcu by Christ's Spirit, is a living witness to his mind and doctrine, and is ever offering a service of obedience to his will. In these respects it is. the Body, of which Christ himself is the living, inspiring, directing Soul. 410 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cH. xu. 1-31.
II. INDIVIDUALLY, CHilISTIANS ARE MEMDERS OF CHRIST. 1. This comes to pass through individual spiritual union with him. Though each Christian is indebted beyond measure to the teaching, influence, an<l spirit of the consecrated society in which be has been trained,_ still_ a spiritual process must, through the reception of the means of grace, take place m his conscious nature. 2. Each Christian has his several functions to discharge in the Church and for the Lord. There are diversities of gifts and consequent diversities of ministries; and this diversity is itself a witness to the individual, the personal nature of the membership of every one in him who is the Source of all true blessing and power. 3. All co-operate for the same end. 'l'hat this is so is evident; and how can it be so, except as a result of such common subjection to .the one Head as secures the mutual harmony and co-ordination of all the members? Each is selected for his own part and qualified for his own position.-T.