II. THE OOKSEQUENOES OF THIS FACT. I. lt is a motive for holiness. If we are new men in Christ, all life belongs to him. 'l'here is no room for the indulgence of sin. Any unclean spot is a desecration of his temple. 2. This fact breaks down the sepa- rati711l barrier between man and man. Political distinctions(" Greek and Jew"), religiou11 distinctions apart from Christ(" circumcision and uncircumcision ''), distinctions of civi- lization ("barbarian, Scythian ''), social distinctions ("bondman,freeman"), all melt before the unifying influence of the common presence of Christ. 3. This fact is a motive for Christi-an charity. (V ers.12, 13.) It should lead to wider sympathy and warmer com- passion; to greater gentleness, forbearance, and meekness; to a. more forgiving spirit among Christians. Remember that a.s you treat your fellow-Christian so you a.re treat- ing Christ (Matt. :x.xv. 45). If it is difficult to love him for his own sake, love him for the sake of Christ. 1f there is little of beauty in his soul and much to repel and annoy ns, still coosider that, though the temple is not attractive, there dwells within it One who is altogether lovely. Love the Christ who may he found even in the uncouth Christian.-W. F . .A.
Ver. 14.-The bond of perfectness. I. No CrrnIBTIAN CHARACTER IS PERFECT WITHOUT LOVE. There may be wide knowledge, stainless purity, and fiery zeal. But the character wiil be broken and unfinished if the golden grace is missing. This has been singularly forgotten by the Church. Anything but Christian charity has been sought after, ln the very zeal for other excellences this one has been trampled underfoot. II. LoVE IS THE CROWNING CHRISTIAN GBACE, ".Above all these things put on love." 1. Love is the highest pinnacle of the Christian temple. 'l'oo often the supremacy has oeen given to orthodoxy, to negative purity, or to rigorous devotion. It has to be learnt that it is better to be heterodox and to love o.ur brethren, than to be sound in doctrine and selfish in heart. It needs also to be more understood that he who denies himself most for his brother stands higher than he who is simply irreproachable in behaviour. 2. Love is thus supreme (1) hecanse it is of the essential nature of God, who is love; (2) because it is the source of all other graces; (3) because in itself it is better than anything else. IIL Lovr,; BINDS 'l'OGETHEB ALL OTHER CHRioTfAK GRACES. Without it the character is not only imperfect, it lacks unity and cohesion. Love is like the keystone of the arch, which both completes the structure and holds all the other stones together. l. Love should surround every other grace as the bond surrounds the bundle. Purity, truth, justice, coura~c, kwi,~rnuce, etc., should all be exercised in love. 2. Love sliou]J bring all other graces 1,earer together. 'l'hrough love we should realize the rclaLion 11ctween gcnero~ity and justice, purity and liberty, meekness and cow·age. 3. OII. III, 1-26.] 'l'llE EfIS'l'LE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 2-0~
Love should make a harmonious whole of the character. The separate sticks become one bundle when tied up together. Love should give unity of spirit and purpose to the whole life. 4. Love should perfect the strength of the Christian character. When all _the graces are bound by the bond of love they mutually etron"then one another. Selfishness distracts, divides, and weakens life. The soul that is p~ssessed by love is strong,-W. F. A. •