Vera. 12-26.-The law of order in the human body. For other cases in which this simile is employed, see Rom. xii. 4, 5; Eph. iv. 16; v. 30; Col. ii. 19. The human lbody presents a very striking illustration of (1) diversity of gifts, each member having its own endowment and use; (2) unity amid diversity, since each member shares the common life; (3) mutual dependence, as each member is efficient for its particular use only with the aid and support of all the others. "Unity, not unvarying uniformity, is the law of God in the world of grace as in that of nature. As the many members of the body compose an organic whole, and none can be dispensed with as needless, so those variously gifted by the Spirit compose a spiritual organic whole, the body of Christ, into which all are baptized by the one Spirit." Using the human body for illustration of the Church regarded as Christ's body, it may be shown that- I. IT IS A WHOLE. Evidently for it there was a plan, an ideal. It is a complete thing. It has its appointed parts; nothing whatever can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it. Though it may be unrealized as yet, God sees his Church to be, .as perfect, a whole. II. IT IS A VARIETY. The sides of the body seem to match, but even the left and the right have their special functions. Every limb and member and joint has its individual mission. And so in the Church of Christ. No two of its members are really alike, and each has his fitted place and appointed work. III. IT IS A BET OF RELATIONS. No member having any powers or abilities by itself; doing its own particular work only with the aid of all the other members. The whole being set in mutual dependence and helpfulness. IV. IT IS A HARMONY. So long as each pa1t and portion does its own particular work efficiently and well Schism in the body is disease, common helplessness, and the beginnings of death. V. EACH ?rIElllDER CAN 01\'"LY DO ITS PART DY VIRTUE OF THE COMMON LIFE. Use our Lord's illustration from the vine and the branche9. The member must abide iu the body, and the branch in the vine. Apply in each case to the Christian Church, an,l impress that, in the body and in the Church, there can be (1) no unnecessary part; (2) no idle member; and (3) no dishonourable or unhonoured portion; since each ha~ its particular use for the good of thfl whole.-R. T. Ver. 26.-The common bearing of a Christian CJhurch. "Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it." "This is a matter of the most ordinary experience in the hum>1n body. A pain in any portion, even the most remote from the seats of life, affects the whole. A glance at history will show us that it is the same with the body politic. Whatever is physically, morally, or spiritually injurious to any one .portion of society, or of the Church of Christ, is sure in the long run to produce injury, moral and spiritual deterioration, to the rest." "So whatever tends to exalt the character and purify the aims of any one class in society, is sure in a greater or less degree to .affect every other. If the one thought is calculated to alarm us by calling our attentio!l to the infinite mischief which may be wrought by one act of thoughtlessness or selfish- ness, it is an immense encouragement to be reminded by the other that no work for good, undertaken from unselfish motives and carried out in an unselfish spirit, can ,possibly be without effect." Chrysostom says, "\Vhen a thorn enters the heel, the ·whole body feels it and is concerned; the back bends, tho belly and thighs contract themselves, the hands come forward and draw out the thorn, the head stoops, and the eyes regard the affected member with intense gaze." John Howe says," It is a most unnatural thing to rejoice in the harm of another. In the body, when one member is suffering, all the members suffer with it. And to deli,ght in tho harm of others is as .contrary to the spiritual nature which is diffused in tho true body of Christ, ns if the head or any other member should rejoice that the hand or foot is iu pain." Two points may be fully treated. I. As suffering in any part of the body disturbs tho whole frame, exciting sympathetic feeling in the most distant parts, so suffering, and even more truly sin, in the lowest and lowliest member of a Christian Church, affects, injures, .and grieves the whole. Every member ought to suffer and sympathize with the sufferer or the sinner. 2. As pain elsewhere in the body is really a sympathetic effort t,1 relieve local pain, so sympathetic pain in other members of the Church finds its proper use in the help afforded, and relief given to the suffering or sinning member.-lt. 'l'. 420 'TUE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cH. xu. 1-31.
Ver. 27.-The Church Christ's body. (Comp. vers. 12, 13.) Recall our Lord's own figure of the vine. The branches arc the body through which the vine-life finds its expression. Compare the human body which our Lord took upon him in his incar- nation, ~vhich was the means of showing the Son of God to men, and settinu him in relation with men, with the Chw·ch body which our Lord took when be asc~nded from this world, and became a living and spiritual Christ, which is the means of showing Christ to men now, and maintaining his relations with t.hem. Illustrate the two following points by the comparison of the human body with the Church body of Christ:- 1. EVERY PART OF CHRIST'S BODY SHOULD MAKE ITS OWN IMPRESSION. Dealinu with the human Christ, we show how every part, e,•ery feature and phase of his e~rthly manifestation, had its own power and influence. We are obliged to separate part from part for consideration. Sometimes we dwell on his moral character, or on his habits or on his speech, or on his actions, or on his endurances. Taking his life piece by piece, we find meaning, mission, use, everywhere. And so with the Church, as Christ's body or earthly manifestation now-each part, each person, has characteristic })lace and influence. Each must make its or his own impression. l•'rom this impress the demand which Christ_ makes for loyal service from each part of his Church body; every member must be a faithful member. II. THE CHURCH BODY, AS A WHOLE, MUST MAKE ITS IMPRESSION, Besides any precise impression produced by dwelling on any phase of the human life of Christ, there is a special impression which the whole figure of Christ makes upon us. Illustrate by the feeling of Christian people on seeing Dore's full-sized picture of" Christ leaving the prretorium." So the Church can get its proper impression on men only as it becomes r1 foll unity, the one catholic and apostolic Church. For the securing of the Church wholeness, and its presentation to the world as Christ's complete body on earth, all earnest hearts will ever strive and pray.-R. 'l'.