Ver. 33.-...4 God, ,,zot of co11/usio,,z, but of peace. 'l'rne reli.zion teaches us to refer all qnestions to the highest tribunal, and to ask, not merely-What is agreeable and expedient? but-What is the will of God? At.Corinth many disorders had arisen; men spake with tongues and without interpreters, two or three propbesie,1 at the same time, women appeared unveiled and spoke in the assemblies. Now, there were many reasons why such things should not be. But in this verse St. Paul adduces the highest of all reasons. Christians are the servants of God, and God is the God, not of confusion, but of peace; his people, therefore, should banish from their assemblies all that conflicts with the nature and the ways of their supreme Lorcl. l. THAT GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFIJSIO~, IlUT OF PEACE, IS APPARENT FROM HIS WORK AB A CREATOR. The more nature is studied the more does it become apparent that it is the workmanship of an Intelligencti proceeding according to order. "Order is Heaven's first law." Indeed, men or science affirm the universal presence of law through the whole realm of nature. By law they mean uniformi1y; and to those who believe in a Lawgiver the regularity with which the processes of nature are conducted is an evidence of the working of mind, and mind acting in accordance with the highest reason. n. AsD FROM ms METHOD IN REVELATION. He who studies the Scriptures as a whole is struck with this-that they unfold a plan, unfohl it gradually and regularly, according to a scheme of which the profound wisdom is apparent, although not fully apparent to a creature-mind. The truth was revealed first to a hmily, then to a nation, then to a race. ".The Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." The Dible is a marvellously organic whole; iu its diversity is discernible a unity and harmony which only a Divine mind could impart. Ill. AND FROM THE WORK OF REDEMPTION. The whole motive of the economy c{ grace was to avert the confusion which harl. invaded, and thrtatencd to overwhelm, this sinrnl humanity. 'l'o bush the moral discord, to introdhce peace on eartb,-such was the lofty purpose contemplated and fulfilled in the incarnation and the sacrifice of the Son of God. IV. AND FROM THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL SOCIETY. It is observable that social and political life are in the New Testament frequently attributed to God, the Auther and Giver of all good. Jesus himself bade his. disciples "render to Cresar the tbin~s that are Cresar's." Anrl Paul taught that "the powers that be are ordained of G0d," enjoining loyalty and submission as a Christian dnty. V. Aim ~'ROM THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. Is it credible that the God in all who~e ways order is so apparent, who, in the several spheres accessible to onr observation, proceeds upon methods of regularity, a111l harmc,nizes all forces to fulfil his commands, should reverse his procedure in that realm which is the highest and noblest of all? Is Divine order to bo confined to the physical and political spheres, and banished from the Church? It cannot be, and it is nut so. Christ appointed and authorized apostles; apostles constitutc,l Cbnrches, onlainc<l officers of various kinds and grades, and gave instructions for the conduct or worship, or business, of charity. If then, there be confusion, in any profcsseJ.ly Christian community, that confusion is traceable, not to Diviue wi,;dom, but to human folly. In proportion as the Spirit of Christ lives and works in any society, in that proportion will subordination, co-operation, peace, and unity prosper and prcvail.-'1'.
Ver. 38.-Abandonment to ignorance. Paul was a man who humbled himself but magnified his office. For himself, he was less than the least of all saints; but officially and in apostolic influence and authority, he wa~ not behind the chiofest of the apostles. Of conrse there were in the primitive Churches men who nck1,owlcdgL•d neither his anthority nor the authority of any other than themselves. And when the apostle gave uttcrnncd to his judgment, it was with the knowledge that his jmlgment would not pass unchallenged. There is something of indignation and something of sarcasm in his reference to those who resisted hi~ opinions and decisions. Aud there is wi$dum as well as an admirable display of just impatience in his language: •• If any man is ignorant, let him be i~norant.'' I. OPINIONATED1'ESS AND IGXO!lANCE OFTEN GO TOGETIIF.!l. A littlo experience convinces us that those who cling the most teaaciously to their own opinions, their '174 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cu. xiv. 1--40.