Ver. 13.-The word of command to Christian soldiers. Now and again we meet with passages in the New Testament which remind us that Christianity does not lose sight of the sterner virtues. Certainly our religion has brought the softer and more imiable virtues into honour and prominence; but we should make a mistake did we suppose that for the severer excellences of character it finds no place. I. T!IE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A SCENE OF WARFARE. It is an opportunity for bearing witness to the grace of God, an opportunity for faithful and diligent service. But this is not all. Who can, in any station of life, sincerely endeavour to live as a Christian, without finding out that life is a campaign, a scene of discipline, of conflict? Surely the lauguage of the New Testament in which we are addressed as soldiers of the cross, 's not mere poetry, the utterance of imagination! IJ. THE FOES WHOM THE CHRISTIAN IS CALLED TO ENCOUNTER ARE SPIRITUAL. As the apostle expresses it el~ewhere, "We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers," etc. Whether at Corinth or at Ephesus, or in modern London, or far away beyond the seas, he who is bent upon doing the will of God must needs make up his mind to face the adversary. Many are the forms assumed by the foe of souls, many his devices, great his craft and power. In his temptation, our Divine Lord and Leader, the Captain of our salvation, himself faced the enemy, and withstood his repeated and various assaults. Ill. OUR POSITION OF DANGER CALLS FOR THE EXERCISE OF THE SOLDIER-LIKE VIRTUES oF COURAGE AND ENDURANCE. 1. Watchfulness; lest the soldier be surprised at his post, and fall a victim to his foe. What stress our Lord and his apostles have laid upon this attitude of vigilance! If we know ourselves, our weakness\ our liabilitf to sin ; if we know the resources of our enemies-we shall feel the necessity of watclung, lest we enter into temptation. 2. Steadfastness in the faith; lest we be tossed to and fro by our indecision and vacillation. Persecution and prosperity are alike in this, that they expose us to this danger. 3. Manliness is, no doubt, in contrast to the spirit of effeminacy and sloth. "Quit you like men!" is the ringing battle-cry of one whose own life illustrated the precept. 4. Strength is needed in such a combat, in which only the weapons of warfare which are not carnal are mighty through God to the pulling down of the strongholds. JV. DIVINE GRACE ALONE CAN EQUIP AND UPHOLD THE BOLDIEllS IN THIS HOLY WAR. This great truth is always, when Dot expressed, in the baclcground, when admonitions to vicrilance and courage are addressed to Christians. It is not to be supposed that in our o~vn strength we can comply with requirements_ so strin~ent and conduc_t a warfare IIO perilous. But "if God be for us, who c~n be aga_mst us?" Th? "'.arfare 1s not ours, but God's, and his are the weapons and his the might, even as his 1s the glory of the vietory.-T. Ver. 14.-Love a principle of action. We may regard love as a sentiment. It ls cH. xvr. 1-24.J THE FIRS'f EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 563
~uch; ond yet Hs place in the economy of human nature and life is not fully described when thus much is said. For it is one of the most powerful practical principles of our being. Human love can effect great things. And Divine love is the motive which God himself has appointed for the renewal and salvation of our humanity. And this same emotion becomes in Christian society an -elevating, purifying, regulatin", 0 and transforming power. It is thus that it is regarded in the text. I. THE MODEL OF THE LIFE OF LOVE IS TO BE FOUND IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST. Who that reads the incomparable story of our Lord's earthly ministry can be insensible to _this fact, which distinguishes that ministry from, and raises it above, every other life and work this world bas witnessed? Love gleamed from his countenance, spoke in his tones, flowed from his presence, wrought by his hands. And love led him to his cross. JJ. THE AUTHORITY FOR THE LIFE OF LOVE IS TO BE FOUND lli" THE WORDS OF CHRIST. Again and again did the Saviour enjoin upon his disciples the virtue of brotherly love. It was his new commandment. It was his test of discipleship. Love to God and love to man constituted, according to him, the sum of obedience, righteous- ness, religion. III. THE UNIVERSAL APPLICATION OF THIS PRINCIPLE. It is too common to regard Christian charity as a grace to be displayed in certain relations and upon certain occasions. But this is not the New Testament idea. Love is to govern the whole life, and is to permeate the Christian society. There is no limitation in the language of the text:." Let all that ye do be done in love!" It is a lofty motive, a far-reaching principle. The precept is doubtless one not easy of application so general. Yet nothing less than its universal adoption and prevalence can satisfy the Lord of the kingdom. IV. THE ADVANTAGES ACCRUING TO THE CHURCH FROM THE ADOPTION OF THIS PRINCIPLE. How different is the selfish principle adopted by the unchristian world, is at once apparent. This is a new, an antagonistic principle, yet, in its proper influence, the principle which is to pacify strife, to harmonize conflicting interests, to breathe new life into human society. "All ye are brethren" was the Master's explicit declaration concerning the members of his Church. "See how these Christians love one another! " was the exclamation of a surprised and admiring world. V. THE IMPRESSION PRODUCED UPON THE WORLD BY m-,;; PRACTICAL EMBODIMEN'l' OF THIS PRINCIPLE. The world is doubtless impressed ~ ~he novelty, the beauty, the celestial dignity, of Christian doctrine. Yet the expression of that doctrine in the life of brotherly love is more effective ; and the realization of Christ's idea, the fulfil- ment of Christ's law, will do more than all preaching to convince the world of the Divine mission of the Christ.-T.