The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 440

Ver. 12.-l'low, and then. Divine knowledge is the truest riches of the intellect• DiYine lo~e, the dearest wealth of the heart. Love is greater than all gifts; greate; ,than tongues and than prophecy, which shall pass away; greater even than knowled"e which here is but partial and progressive. How natural that St. Paul, whose mi~d was eager for knowledge, and whose life was so largely devoted to communicatin<T it should linger for a moment and think of knowledge such as it now is and such as it i~ destined hereafter to be! I. THE PAilTIAL KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PilESENT STATE. "We see as through a mirror, in an enigma." I. Earth is a mirror dimly reflecting God's attributes. The glory, beauty, adaptations of nature, all speak of God. There is a reflection, and the \\·isdom, the power, the goodness, of the Creator may be recognized. Yet it is a dim reflection ; lightning, tempest, and earthquake, sickness, anguish, and death, perplex 0 tbc mind of the reflective observer. There is no complete and adeguate solution here, 2. Life is a mirror dimly reflecting God's government. No careful, observant mind can fail to trace an overruling Providence in human life, in the life of the individual, and in the life of the nation. Yet the reflection of a perfectly wise and righteous govern- ment, it must be admitted, is dim. We cannot always "justify the ways of God to men ; " the heart often sinks at the sight of prosperous wickedness, of the slow progress made by truth and righteousness. The kingdom of God seems near us; but we ask, "Is it here?" 3. Revelation is a mirror dimly reflecting God's pwrposes. '!'here has been doubtless a progressive removal of the veil which hides God from us. Yet this re\·elation has been chiefly for practical purposes. We look into revelation to satisfy our inquiries concerning the Divine nature, concerning the eternal life, and there meets our view a dim manifestation. We see, but we see" in an enigma.'' II. W'HY THE FUTURE S'l'ATE IS ONE OF CLEARER, FULLER KNOWLEDGE. 1. There may be a reason in ourselves. Spiritual childhood will develop into manhood; the imperfections of the body, the infirmities of human nature, the prejudices of the earthly life, will disappear, and our vision will be purged. 2. A reason in the character of our kJ10wledge. The processes here and now are slow, hesitating, inferential. Hereafter it would seem that we shall know by intuition much which now we learn mediately and with much liability to error. 3. A reason in the manifestation itself. More material will be offered to our faculties; clearer light will beam upon us. In the vaster dominion then accessible, of which only a province is now within our reach, there will open up to the glorified as in a blaze, a sphere of Divine knowledge. 4. A reason in the circumstances and the society of heaven. Here opportunities are restricted ; there they will be illimitable. Here fellowship is imperfect; there the society of glori1kd saints and ble3sed angels will be fitted to stimulate and encourage the soul by sympathy with all Its lofty quests and aspirations. 5. A reason in the prolonged opportunity of eternity. The reflection often forces itself upon us: "Art is long, and time is fleeting." There is no time for the dimness to pass off the mirror upon which, as we gaze, we breathe. Yonder infinite opportunity invites the ardent spirit to intermeddle with all knowledge; we feel that we can but lose ourselves in a prospect so ,•ast, illimitable, and glorious. Ill. VvHAT IT MAY DE EXPEC'l.'ED WILL HEREAFTER DE CLEARr,Y KNOWN, 1. The past of our existence will then be seen in due perspective'. and will be plain to the <lH. xm. 1-13.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 449