stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for con- 28 In matters of indifference, abscience sake. 28 But if any stain or not, as duty seems to direct man say unto you, This is you; and as you avoid wounding the offered in sacrifice unto idols, conscience of some weaker brother. eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. sharers of heathen sacrifices, and partakers of the one great Christian sacrifice." 24 The apostle was studying the good of others *. What so amiable as self-denial, in matters which involve no principle of rectitude; but which, done or left undone, as it may happen, would give pain or gratification to others? Our truest comfort and highest advantages are derived from promoting the happiness and good of others. Neither was the man having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I 19 This evil was permitted, as other partly believe it. 19 For there evils, to be the trial of good and must be also heresies among holy men. you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 23 For I have re 10 The woman should wear the veil, which betokens the power of her husband-a power to which she was by divine authority subjected, because she fell by the temptation of the wicked angel *. 20 The Corinthians turned the solemn spiritual feast of the Lord's Supper into a carnal feast-eating and drinking, till they were drunken. 23 In how beautiful a contrast does St. Paul depict the calm and digni * See Gen. iii. 16. fied manner which marked the first institution of that holy ordinance. 25 Do you neglect the holy sacrament? Where then is your love, your gratitude, your devotedness to the Friend who died in your stead, and who asks this token of your remembrance of Him?-Is your heart dead to gratitude! this bread, and drink this cup, ceived of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we 31 Our Church prepares us for would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my 27 You cannot wonder that such an unworthy communicant heaped sin upon sin-defying his God ! unworthily, shall be guilty of worthily communicating, in the true spirit of this counsel *. We can hardly imagine any thing more reverent, more solemn, more affecting, than the scene presented by a congregation of communicants in our Church. The holy calm which marks the hour; the beautiful service prepared for it; the devout bearing of the worshippers; the union, in love and charity, of friends and neighbours-rich and poor, great and lowly, learned and unlearned-all met together before Him who is the Maker of them all; each one confessing his sins before the same God and Father, imploring pardon from the same merciful Redeemer, looking for consolation to the same holy Comforter; trusting for salvation to Him alone, of whose body and blood spiritually they partake, “ to the strengthening and refreshing of their souls, as their bodies by the bread and wine"-Christians so assembled, and actuated by such a spirit, surely, though they justly confess themselves unworthy in God's sight, need not fear the charge of that unworthiness which St. Paul here fixes upon the profane Corinthians, and against which he so strongly denounces condemnation. This chapter therefore is not to deter you from attending the holy sacrament. Remember our Lord's special command-" Do this." Then, read, and with prayer meditate upon, the invitation given in our Communion service; and prepare yourself accordingly. (See the Address to Communicants," Ye that do truly and earnestly repent," &c.) brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. CHAPTER XII. JAN. 31, MAY 29, SEPT. 27. 2 Ye 1 To the early Church were given special spiritual gifts. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not 2 Wert thou once in sin, and now have you ignorant. art thou a Christian indeed? rememknow that ye were Gentiles, ber thy past misery; so shalt thou carried away unto these dumb feel more gratefully thy present joy. idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of admi nistrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. to To each of us is given spiritual strength according to our need. "As thy days, so shall be thy strength." 8 Wisdom to teach, knowledge to comprehend. 9 Faith to receive healing, both of soul and body. faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues : 11 but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink 10 Prophecy, to foresee trials and supports; a discerning mind, to distinguish between the operations of the Spirit of God, and the workings of evil spirits, or the vainer imaginations of men; the gift of tongues, to address foreigners; and the interpretation of tongues, to understand them. 11 But to God alone be glory for these his gifts. into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, 15 How instructive is this illustration of the duty of contentedness in our several stations ! 18 The different members of society, high and low, rich and poor, like the different members of the body, are appointed to their several offices by the providence of God. 21 The wise and the unwise, the great and the lowly, depend mutually the one upon the other for their well-doing. The former therefore must put away vain pride, the latter, vain discontent. much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: and those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or all the members rejoice with it. Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. 26 How true is this in all societiesin a nation, in a church, in a family. 28 one member be honoured, Now ye are the body of 28 Let not then any envy the apostles, or be jealous of their authority. That authority is of God! who shall dare impugn it? 31 Each individual should rather strive to attain for himself the one thing needful-salvation for his soul. |