Corinthians tended towards false security, reliance upon gifts and teachers• so the aposlle says, "\Vatch ye." 'l'hey were wavering in arlhesion to the gosp;l which Paul preached; so he says, "Stand fast in the faith." 'l'hcy were but "babes" (eh. iii. 1); so the apostle incites them to seek more of the qualities of manhood: "Quit you like men." They were enfeebled by fal~e doctrine, Church .abuses, irre"ularity• of spiritual life; so he says, " Be strong." They were more remarkable rof jealousy . rivalry, contempt, pride, than for the pre-eminent Christian grace; so Paul says, "Let all that ye do be done in love." Corinthian perils are our perils. Corinthian failures may be our failures-perhaps arc. Let us heed the apostolic exhortation to- I. WATCHFULNESS. 1 . .Against dangers from without. False teachers, bad examples, unholy influences, Satanic attacks. We who arc of the day should be awake. 2. .Aga.inst dang,r from within. We often tempt ourselves, often deceive ourselves, often injure ourselves. Our greatest enemy is within, not without. It is the traitor in the camp who does the mischief. 3. For opportunities of usefulness. Our <lay is short. Soon the_ final account must be rendered. We have many opportunities, but they never wait for us. \Ve must watch for them, and catch them as they come. OJ'por- tunities have no resurrection. 4. For the coming of Christ. 'l'he Master himself enjoined this: "What I say unto you I say unto all, \Vatch" (Mark xiii. 37). II. STEADFASTXESS. ,ve have to abide in the faith. He that" endureth to the end" shall be saved. Lack of steadfastness (1) hinders our spiritual growth; (2) mars our usefulness; (3) imperils our salvation; (4) is a stumbling-block to others; (5) a grm:t offence to Christ; (6) spoils our spiritual joys. III. MAKLINESS. Christians should be robust. They are not always to be children in the faith. They need a manly temper, (l) to contend with difficulLies; (2) to bear up nn,ler opposition; (3) to endure temporary defeat. Christians should be bold and fearless. Every Christian should be a courageous Christian. 'l'he service in which we are en~aged is grand beyond conception-the issues how momentous I "Quit you like men!" IV. STRENGTH. Does it seem strange that we are commanded to be strong? Some will say we can only be what we are, and it is worse than futile to say to a weak man, " Be strong." But Paul said, "\Vhen I am weak then am I strong." 'When we are lidden to be strong, then we often feel most our weakness; but then we go to the Strong for strength. The Lion of the tribe of Judah can give to us a lionlike might. As to means: if we would be strong we must (1) abound in prayer (::l) and in work -using all the strength we have; (3) avoid evil influences-not be more than duty calls us in pestilential worldly atmospheres; (4) seek solid knowledge of things Divine; ( 5) strive against sin. V. LoVE. Love should rule aU our tliou_qht&, purposes, words, and acts. We am nothing if we are without love (eh. xiii.). This is the key to the preceding exhor- tations. If we have a real living love towards God and man, it will become easy to live in watchfulness; we shall not want to relinquish our faith; our Christian manliness will rapidly develop; and we shall be strong, for we shall be lilce God. "God is love." Love is salt; it will preserve from corruption our whole spiritual life.-H. Ver. 15.-Ministering to the saints. I. A VERY NEEDFUL WORK. Many of God•s children are poor children. The saints who presently shall inherit all things, at present often lack the necessaries of life. Not a few of God's choicest servants are afflicted, and need sympathy and aid. Persecution for the faith should be counteracted as far as possible by ca1eful ministration. In early days imprisoned saints were specially cared for by those at liberty. "Remember those who are in bonds." In modern forms of persecution aid is equally needful. Many need to bo "taken by the hand." "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do :;ood unto all men, especially unto them who are of the househokl of faith" (Gal. vi. 10). II. A VERY HONOURADJ.E AND DEA UTil'UL wonK. Angel-like : they are "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for tht:m who shall be heirs of salvation" (Heh. i. 14). Obrist-like: "The Son of 01an came not to be mini~tered unto, but to minbter" (Matt. xx. 28). At last the Lord will say," Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of thl'se my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matt. xxv. 40). Many do not . on. XVI, 1-24.J 'l'HE FIRS'!' EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 5C!i
rightly estimate this" high calling." 'l'rue love for the brethren (a sign of our salvation, 1 John iii. 14) will make us diligent in this service. Ill. A wonK wmcn CAN DE EXERCISED IN MANY WAYS. Thus suited to the abilitirs- nnd opportunities of a largo number. Many are idle in our Churches because they can find nothing to do. Let them look in this direction. Visiting the sick, condolino- witlt the bereaved, relieving the destitute, cheering the depressed, securing rest for th; over- worked,. guiding the perplexed, encouraging despondent workers (ministers, sabbath- school teachers, etc.),-how many might find a suitable sphere in such holy ministries as these! IV. A WOBK WHICH MERITS RECOGNITION ON THE PART OF THE CHURCH. Those who engage actively in such service as this should be: I. Highly esteemed. Jt is no slight service which they render. They do much to elevate the tone of the Church; much to preserve it in peace and content; much to stimulate its zeal. 2. Encouraged. The work is trying. Those who seek to encourage others often need very much encourage- ment themselves, 3. Aided, 'l'his is probably what the apostle means by" Submit yourselves unto such." "As they serve you, do you serve them." Above all, no obstacles should be put in their way. V. A WORK VERY DENEFICIAL TO THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN IT. .. They who wnter others shall themselves be watered." Here when we give we take. We grow rich by bestowing. Christians stagnate because they think of themselves. Saints take S() much care of themselves that they become spiritual invalids. We may "sit under" our own ministry with great profit. A sure way of getting to heaven is resolving that some one else shall get there. Labours for others make us blic.d to our own troubles. If our ears are filled with the cries of the needy, we shall not be nble to hear the croak- ings of sceptics or the evil prognostications of Satan. 'l'rue ministering to the saints is truest ministry to ourselves.-H.