Ver. 25.-The reign of the Redeemer. Even in his earthly humiliation, Christ was .a King. Once the devil offered him the kingdoms of the world ; once the people would have taken him by force and have mane him their King. Such secular dominion he sought not, neither would accept. Yet he entered Jerusalem in royal state; before Pilate he confessed himself a King; and over his cross it was written, "This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Little notion had men during his ministry of the nature and extent of that dominion which should one day be his. Yet the apostles came to understand that not only the prophetic and the priestly, but also the kingly dignity and office, were appointed for him whose gospel they pro- claimed. I. CHRIST'S RIGHT TO REIGN. This is grounded upon: 1. His Divine nature anc! authority. 2. His moral right and qualifications. 3. His definite appointment by the Father. 4. His mediatorial sufferings and sacrifice. II. 'fHE SUBJECTS OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM. They are spiritual and willing subjects. He cares nothing for a pretended loyalty or a merely outward obedience. His aim is to gain a dominion over human hearts, and thence to rule human society. III. THE FOES WHOM CHRIST'S REIGN SUBDUES. These he is to put under his feet. They may be enumerated: 1. Ignorance. 2. Error. 3. Superstitio:i. 4. Irreligiousness and worldliness. 5. Vice, crime, and sin. 6. All false and corrupt religions. IV. THE MEANS BY WHICH CHRIST'S REIGN IS ADVANCED AND HIS FOES SUDDUED. 1. The weapons are the truths of the gospel, the exhibition of the righteousness and lovo of God. 2. The agency is that of believing, sympathizing, and consecrated natures. The kingdom comes by the labours and the courage and enterprise of the spiritual .subjects. 3. The power is that of the Holy Spirit of God. V. 'l'HE PERIOD OF CHRIS'l''s REIGN. 1. It commenced at our Lord's ascension, when he was" raised to boa Prince and a Saviour,"" from henceforth expecting," etc. 2. It has been constantly advancing, the kingdom has been extending its boundaries, and the number of the subjects has been multiplying. 3. It will not terminate until victory shall have been gained over every foe. "'l'hy throne is for ever and over." Only when all opposition is vanquished, shall the Sou himself yield the dominion, and God shall be all and in all.-'l'.
Ver. 33.-Evil company. This is one of several instances in which inspired writers have incorporated in their own compositions the language of. current literature. 'l'ho adoption of a line from Menander is a witness to the harmony between human reason and Divine revelation. From whatsoever source proceeding, truth and justice, wisdom and prudence, possess a Divine authority. We are encouraged to use the wisdom of 110-called "profane" writers even in enforcing spiritual truth. I. INFIDELITY AND IMMORALITY AUE OFTEN ASSOCIATED. It would be unjust to charge all unbelievers with vice; but there is no injustice in pointing out that the naturnl tendency of infidelity is both to shake the foundations of virtue and to snap the 528 Tl:IE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTIIIANS. [cH. xv. 1-65!.
restraints npon vice. If there be no righteous God, no moral law, no future retribution all san~tions to virtue and uprightness of heart and conduct are removed, except sucl: as are imposed by ci,·il society. Where external penalties are removed, or where they can be eYadcd, it is not reasonable to expect that the bulk of men will deny themselves check their appetites and passions, irnd practise the difficult virtues of justice, chastity: and beneYolence, And it cannot be concealed that in most cases the prevalence of infidelity opens the tl.ood-gates of all iniquity. The Corinthian false teachers seem to- have taught that, the body being perishable, sins of the flesh are immaterial and unimportant, and thus to ha,·e given countenance to the maxim of Epicureanism, "Let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die." II, h,_FIDELITY AND IM~~0RALITY ARE C0XTAGIOUS AND CORRUPTING. By appealing to what 1s base and selfish rn human nature, the champions of error and self-indulgence lead especially the young who come under their influence away from the stern steep road of ,irtue into "the primrose path of dalliance." None are more contemptible than those b!asph~me1:s and voluptuaries who, having grown grey in the service of Satan, make 1t t!:ieir aim to corrupt and debauch the young and inexperienced. By casting aspersions upon religion, by insinuating doubts, by representing the pleasures of sm, and, above all, by an example of irreligion, profanity, and vice, such persons make themselves a moral plague and pestilence in human society. III. J:SFIDELITY AND IMMORALITY SHOULD THEREFORE BE DISCOUNTENANCED AND ESCHEWED. For the sake of our own welfare, for the sake of the family, the Church, and society, it is needful that we should be upon our guard against those evil associations which have a tenclency to corrupt even gc,od manners and morals. And~ on the other hand, those whose influence has been exerted against the cause of virtue and religion may well be reminded that they cannot perish alone, that their example will probably be injurious and even ruinous to others; so that if there remain in them any S{'ark of pity and unselfishness, they may well be entreated to immediate and sincere repentance, for the sake of others as well as of themselves.-T.