The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 410

complex system of humnn life, no grade in the social scale, no order of facLilt1' rw kind_ ot' "inter.est," can claim exemption from the common bon_tl. Take e.g: 'tiie relation that exists between the men of thought and the men of action, the theoretica 1 and the pracUcal. They are apt to think and to speak slightingly of each other; the one intolerant of being brought continually to a merely utilitarian test, the other always ready with the charge of speculative dreaming. This is a mistake. God has set the one over against the other, " that the one without the other should not be made perfect." '.!'bought without action is worthless. Yet it is thought that rules the world, and if there were no "eye" to guide it the labour of the "hand" would soon cease. So also of social conditions. The tendency sometimes seen in those upon whom the burdens of toil and privation press most heavily, to look up enviously, suspiciously, and even defiantly towards those who occupy a higher level, may be very senseless; but, on the other hand, what more false and irrational than the tone of lofty superiority that social distinction sometimes assumes? Can the head, then, say to the feet, "I have no need of you"? What would become of the loftiest dignities of the world if there were none to bear the heavier burdens and do the rougher work of life? From what do the fairest forms of our civilization spring, our comforts and indulgences, and all the thous:md pleasant associations of our life? of what are they the fruits, but of patient, life-consuming Jabour in field and factory and mine? All the bright and beautiful things of the world, all the pride and glory of man's existence in it, have their roots more or less directly in the base earth. The eye and the head, with all their fine sensibility and lofty faculty, can do nothing ,\·ithout the hands and the feet. Christianity gives the utmost sanctity and force to this lesson. It is in the light of ,the incarnation, the sympathetic humanity, tlie lowly life, the beneficent ministry, the sacrificial death, of the Lord Jesus that we sec what a wondrous bond of brotherhood it is that unites the whole human family together, and that we learn to understand the great law that God has formed us all to "Ii ve not, unto ourselves." The gospel makes us more keenly sensible of our obligations thall of our rights, of what we owe to others than of what they owe to us. It inspires us with the spirit of him who was "among us as one that scrveth" and who" gave bis life a ransom for many." III. '!'HE GROUND ON WilICl1 WE OUGHT TO PAY SPECIAL HONOUR TO OUR FELLOW-MEX. The Law of Christ teaches us to reverence our common humanity iu all its conditions. "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king" (1 Pet. ii. 17). These utteranc,es would seem to embrace all the points of Christian duty in this respect. But the whole drift of the apostle's teaching, in this as in so many other places, is to the effect that special honour is due to the faithful discharge of pcrsouul responsibility. Whatever station men occupy, whatever function they perf,,rm, it is the profitable use of faculty for the common good that confers upon them the noblest distinction. "Honour and shame from no condition rise ; Act well your po.rt ; tb~re o.11 the honour lies." w. Vera. l-3.-The presidency of the Spirit. This passage does not direct us to this general topic, but to one particular point in relation to it. 'l'he presidency relates to, covers, and hallows every feature and every expression of Christian life and worship and fellowship. 'l'he whole life of the regenerate man is directly and fully withiu the Spirit's lead, so that he cannot even speuk-if he be a Christian indeed-without the inspiration, the guidance, the toning, of tho indwelling Holy Ghost. 'l'ho apu:;tlo is giving these Christianized Gentiles a test by which they might know whether they had indeed the sealing and sanctifying gift of the Spirit. They coul,l tell even by tho character of their utterances. 'l'heso found expression for the cherished feeling; and such was the natural depravity of man that they might bo sure no man chcrishc,l admiring and loving thoughts of Christ, and found expression fur them by saying, "Jesus is Lord," save as he was inwardly moved by tho Holy Ghost. If it be true of so simple an expression of the Christian life as that, it is surely true of all other expressions. It is eve~ the glory of the Chr_isti;~n _man that n~whor~ and in nothing is he independent. '!he "Great-heart Guide IS alwuys with huu. He speak,, I, COillN'I'HIANB. 2 E  418 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIIE CORINTHIANS. [cu. xu. 1-31.