Ver. 20.-The Church-world. "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?" etc. There is a Church-world-a world inside, the general world of mankind, and in many respects distinct from it; a community of men whose priuciples, spirit, aim, character, and destiny distinguish them from every other class of human society. Tbey are called a "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a. holy nation, a peculiar people." They are united to each other as stones in one building, as branches in one root, as members in one body. The text presents this Church-world to us in three aspects. I. As THINNED BY DEATH. The text speaks of those who are "baptized for the dead." Death was in the Church in the days of the apostle, and it has been ever since. The great law of mortality which extends over men in general enters this realm and operates here. The spiritual intelligence, the moral virtues, the godly devotions, and the 1:;ocial usefulness of this Church-realm constitute no barrier to the entrance of death. 'l'here is, however; great difference between the aspects and effects of death as he appears and works in the world of mankind. 1. He appears in the Church-world as the mes- smger of mercy; outside, as the officer of justice. Outside he appears to men as the stern officer of insulted justice, to drag the criminal to retribution ; here as the messenger of heavenly mercy, to snap the chains of the prisoner, to terminate the trials of the afflicted, and to introduce the disciples of Christ to the joys of immortality. 2. He leaves bchill.d in the Church-world consolation for the survivors, but outside unmi- tigated sorrow. ,vhat have the widow of the wicked husband, the child of the ungodly parent, to console their bereavement? Nothing. Death leaves the social wound~ he has created in the outside world to bleed and rankle without any balm. Not so in this Church-world: here is abundant consolation. "Sorrow not as those that arc without hope." II. As REPLENISHED BY CONVERSION. ",vhat shall they do which are baptized for the dead?" This is confessedly an obscure expression, and has given rise to many aad conflicting interpretations. Some say that Paul refers to an old custom in the Church of vicarious baptism, that is, baptizing survivors for those who had died without having Teceived the ordinance of baptism; others, that the word "baptism" is to be taken in the metaphorical sense in which our Saviour sometimes employed it, as representing over- whelming sufferings (Matt. x. 20; Mark x. 30); and that Paul meant to say, "Why should men be baptized with such sufferings, if there be no resurrection or the dead?" Others say that the baptism spoken of is the baptism or the Spirit, and refers to conversion of the soul by the Spirit of God, '!'here are many other opinions, but this is not the place for critical inquiries. I accept the last-mentioned idea, namely, con- version. By those who are "baptizcd for the dead" I understand those who, from pagan darkness, were converted by the gospel and were admitted into the visible Church, there to fill up the place of those who, by martyrdom or otherwise, had been onlled away by death. The new convert then took the place or the departed saint. 'l'hus conversions in the l'hurch replenish the losses caused by death. No sooner is one Christian removed from his station than another is raised up by God to supply the loss. Since the apostolic day, what myriads of able preachers, cvanl!:clists, theologians, reformers, and. distinguished saints have passed away ! Still the Church goes on, and their places are all occupied. As Joshua succeeded Moses; Elisha, Elijah; Eleazar, Aaron; so one man is ever raised up in the Church to take the place of another. 'l'l:.il! succession : 1. Affords a les.,on to us for humility. The man of most brilliant talents, distinauished 0 position, and extensive usefulness in the Church has uothing whereof to flatter himself; however important he may be, the Church can do without him. ·when he falls, others arc ready to step into his place, having been baptizcd for the <load. 2. I. CORI!'('fJIIANS, 2 K 498 'l'IIE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cH. xv. 1-58..
Affords a lesson to us for encouragement. God's redemptive plan will go on, whatever lrnppens to individual :wents. "He has buried his workmen" savs Charles "\Veslel' "but carries Oil his work'." Let us learn to trust God rather th;n his most distin()'uished ~en·ants. The treasure is only in" earthen vessels "-vessels that must crumb!~. III. As LIVING IN HOPE. " What shall they do which are baptized for the dead if the dead rise not at all?" This language implies that the hope of o. future st;te. of a resurrection, was a vital thing in the experience of the Church, and so it has eve; been, so it is, and so it ever will be. The Church lives in hope. It reckons "that the- sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glories that shall he_." lt is "wa(ting for t~e adop~ion;" it is looking "for the blessed appearing." " e must not mistake Pauls meanmg, however. He does not mean to say that the religion of Christ is of no service to men if there be no future state. Let us answer his two qucstions-~h_e what and ~he whr:. 1. What shall they do? We venture to reply, not renounce rehg10n, but contmue faithful for ever, Should there be no future, Chris- tian virtue is good. You will lose nothing by it should you be annihilated; in that case you will not feel the disappointment, but you will gain immensely by it, even in the present life. "Godliness is profitable unto all things." 2. Why are they, then, baptized ?- \Ve answer, because the claims of religion are independent of the future state. Were- there no heaven, no hell, we should be bound to be truthful, honest, benevolent, God- loving,