Vers. 4, 5.-Love and self-abnegation. Where there is sincere Christian love, that grace will not only affect for good the intercourse of human society, it will exercise a most powerful and beneficial influence over the nature of which it takes possession; <ihangiag pride into humility, and selfishness into self-denial. And this is uot to be wondered at by him who considers that for the Christian the spiritual centre of gravity is changed-is no longer self, but Christ. I. LovE DESTROYS BOASTFULNESS. It" vaunteth not itself." In some characters more than in others there is observable a disposition towards display. '!'here may be real ability, and yet there may be the vanity which obtrudes the proofs of that ability; or there may, on the other hand, be an absence of ability, and yet the fool may not be able to conceal his folly, l-ut must needs make himself the laughing-stock of all. Love deli,,hts 0 not in the display of real power or the assumption of what does not exist. How can it? When love seeks the good of othflrs, how can it seek their admiration? II. LOVE IS OPPOSED TO PRIDE. It "is not puffed up." 'l'hc expression is a st.rong one; it has been rendered," does not swell and swagger," "is not i11flatcd with vanity." The explanation of this is clear enough. The pretentious and arrogant man lias a mind foll nr himself, of thoughts of his own gre:llness and importance. Now, love is the 444 'IIIE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cu. xm. 1-13. ------------------------------ outflowin~ of thfl heint's affection in kindliness and benevolence towards others. Jfo who is always thinking of the welfare of his fellow-men has no time and no i1:clination for thoughts of selt~exallation, ag_grnndiz~ment, and ambition. It is ]>htin, then, how wholesome, purifying, and sweetenmg an mfluence Christianity introduces into humon society; and how much it tends to the happiness of individuals, cooling the fever of restless rivalry and ambition. III. LovE IS INCONSISTENT WITH ALL UNSEEMLINESS OF DEPORTMENT. There is :m in<?-cfi11itene_ss about the languag~: "~oth not behave_ itself unseemly." Possibly there 1s a special reference to the d1scred1table scenes which were to be witnesse<l in the Corinthian congregation, in consequence of their party spirit, rivalry, and discord. But there is ahvays in every community room for the inculcation of c,,nsiderateness courtesy, self-re~traint, and dignity. And the apostle points out, with evident jnstice' that what no rules or custom can produce is the spontaneous and natural result of t~ operation of Christian love. IV. LOVE is, IN A WORD, UNSELFISH; i.e. "seeketh not her own." Here is the broadest basis of the new life of humanity. Love gives, and does not grasp; has an eye for others' wants and sorrows, but turns not her glance towards herself; moves amono- men with gracious mien and open hands.-'!'. "
Ver. 6.-The foy of love. There is, perhaps, no test of character more decisive than this: in what is the chief pleasure of life placed? Where is satislaction of the soul? Whence does joy proceed? If Christianity is indeed a revolutionary religion, it will effect a change here-in this vital respect. Even in St. Paul's time, it appeared that with Christianity a new force-the force of love-had been introduced into humanity, a force able to direct human delight into another and purer and nobler channel than that in which it had been wont to flow. J. Joy NO LO::S-GER FLOWS FROM THE PRESENCE AND PREVALENCE OF UNRIGHTEOUS- NESS. It seems to attribute a fiendish spirit to human beings to suppose that they can anywhere and at any time be found to rejoice in wrong-doing and unrighteousness. Yet it is, alas! possible for sinful men to take a malignant pleasure in the prevalence of sin; for it is the proof of the power of the moral forces with which they have allied themselves, of the victory of their own party. The iniquity of others serves to support and justify their own iniquity. And it must be borne in mind that there are cases ir. which designing men profit by deeds of unrighteousness, take the very wages of iniquity. Against such dispositions Christian love mu~t needs set it.self; for when iniquities prevail, happiness and hope take wings and fly away. II. Joy FLOWS TO THE CHRISTIAN HEART FROM TH~ PROGRESS OF TRUTJT AND BIGHTEOUSNESS. Truth is the intellectual side of righteousness, and rightcou~J.:.ccis the moral side cf truth. There is, accordingly, a real antithesis between the two clauses of the text. 1. 'l'his joy is alcin to the joy of God. 'l'hc Father rejoices over the repenting and recovered child, the Shepherd over the resto_red, once wandering, sheep. "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over On!;l smner that repenteth." And tbev who themselves are enjoying peace an<l fellowship with a reconciled God cannot but participate in the satisfaction with which that holy Being views the progress of truth and relio-ion amono- men. 2. It is sympathetic with the gladness of the Saviour in the accomplishment tr his gracious purposes. As Christ sees of the travail of his soul, he is satisfied; for the joy set before him, i.e. in the salvation of men, he endured the cross. And all who owe salvation to what Jesus did and suffered for man must needs experience a thrill of gratification when a rebel is changed into a subject by the o-race of God. 3. It springs from the triumph of that cause which of all on earth is tl1e greatest and most glorious. Every noble soul find~ satisfa_ct_iou in witncssi_ng the advance of truth from the dim dawn towards the lull meridian day for which he, in common with all God's people in c\'ery age, is ever toiling, hoping, and prnying.-'l'.
Ver. 7.-Love and the conduct of life. We are born into, and we live in the midst of a system, vast and incomprehensible. Man is related to a thou~and circumstances, a~d his moral life depends upon the principles which govern these relationships. It is by a sublime 1rnd Fpiritual intuition, itself an evirlc,nce of o. Divine commission anrl apostolate, that St. Paul ,Jioccrns the truth that love, "hen it. takes possession of tl,~ ell. xm. 1-13.J TlIE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE COnINTIIIAXS. H5