Vers. 4-8.-Tlie soul-temple, and soul-service. The critic may read these verses and simply complain that he finds hero a confusion of metaphors-that Christian souls are here described as builders and a building. But in truth these figures illustrate two sides of ono great fact, namely, that the worth of life, whether it be lire in its progress or in its result, depends upon its relationship to Christ. I. THE BUILDER A TYPE OF MAN. Paul in detail uses the same fi~re as Peter, and doubtless Peter learned its use as he listened to his Lord's parable of the mere hearer and doer. These verses remind us: 1. 'l'hat every mau is incessantly building. He is placing stone on stone, layer on layer, in the structure of bis character. 2. That cha- racter (the thing he is building) bas at once an outward aspect and an inward relation. In the first, i.e. his reputation, it is a monument; in the second, i.e. actual character, it is a. habitation. 3. Man builds well or ill as be regards or disregards the Di vme Architect. "Coming to," i.e. having close, constant contact with •• a living Stone," i.e. Christ, who is a Foundation that is more than the stone on which all rests; he is the Foundation out of which life proceeds, and the Corner-stone by which that life is held together and manifested. II. THE TEMPLE A TYPE OF THE CHRISTIAN MAN, He is a st111cture as well as a builder. And what a. structure ! All characters are structures-some are markets, some but pig-sties; the Christly are temples. He is a. temple: (1) on the right Foundation; (2) with glory of completeness; (3) destined to permanence; (4) and this strength and beauty not according to man's standard, but God's. Ill. THE PnIESTHOOD IS ALSO A TYPE OF CHRISTIAN MEN, Here is further change of figure; but the truth taught is the same. Is he ~uilder '? he must build according to God's plan. Is he temple? he must be dedicated by God's presence. Is he worshipper? he must be utterly consecratecl to God's service. All Christians are part of the temple; all Christians aro part of the priesthoocl. For all we turn to Christ for Model, Motive, and Merit.-U. R. T.
Vere. 9, 10.-The glory of the Church as a commonwealth. To the apostle's vision the Church was a whole. Its unit,y did not depend upon geography, or upon chrono- logy, but on character, temper, spirit. I. The glory of the Christian commonwealth in ITS CHARACTERISTICS. "An elect race;" "a race," i.e. descendants from one stock anu kindred one to another, "Elect;" that is, at once choice and chosen. Chosen to be blessed, and to be made a blessing-. "A royal priesthood." A ki □ gdom of priests. "Thou hast made us kings and priests." What is the true conception of a king or of a priest? One who lives fol' others; the king, if you will, in open field ; the priest in sacred retirement. We am both. "A holy nation;" i.e. consecrated to religion. Rome may be a martial nc"Ltion, Greece a. cultured nation, Babylon a commercial nation. Israel was nothing if not religious. The Christian commonwealth is to be the farael of to-day. "A people for God's own possession," or for special reservation. "Peculiar," a word used to describe the earnings of the slave in his overtime-his "very own." We are the "very own " of God. "Re gave himself for us, that he might redeem," etc.; '' bought ,,ith blood." II. 'l'he glory of the Christian commonwealth in ITS MISSION. "That ye may," etc. This throws us back on the word "elect." We a.re chosen for this purpose. "Ye may show forth;" tell out to those without what has taken place within. "The excellencts of him "-virtues, glories, of God. What a boundless theme l " Who bath called you {, rETI')&, l 1H THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. [en. u. l-2G,
out of dnrkne.,s in~o his marvellous light.'' God's call, by his Spirit, through his ·word, tl,n,'.d1 the conscience, through the ministry, through the sacraments, through provi- dential events, reaches all of us. But" the called" usually denotes those who hl.\VO responded to the call. The call is from" darkness," i.e. ignorance, error, misery, sin, helplessness, to "light," truth, joy, pnrit.y, activity; from the sepulchre to the garden, from the dungeon to the temple, from midnight to noon. Ill. These glories of the Christian commonwealth ARE IN S'l'IlIKINo coNTilAST W:ITH ~nis rAST IIISTORY OF ITS MEIIIBEns. "Which in timo past." 'l'ho reference is doubt- less (1) to quicken humility; (2) to kindle gratitude; (3) to awaken watchfulaess. "Were no people;" isolated, each self-centred; a chaos, not a commonwealth. "But are now the people of God;" not merely a commonwealth, but a sacred commonwealth, a theocracy. "\Vhich had not obtained mercy," etc.; had not realized it as their own. Pity is care for the weak. Compassion is care for the suffering. Mercy is care for the undeserving. And it is mercy that has met the Christian man, ancl made him what he is.-U. R. T.