(Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity.) To Paul, "the cross of Christ" was no mere religious catchword as it often has been since. It was the summing up of all that was grandest and sacredest to him in his knowledge of Jesus. Through these words, as through a focus, all the light of Christ's doctrine, life, death, distinctly shone in upon his mind and heart. The cross of Christ is the symbol of the entire religion of the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle is here speaking of those who are the foes of Christ and the opponents of His religion, as "the enemies of the cross of Christ." Who may be included in such a description? L-THOSE WHO TEACH ERRORS CONCERNING CHRIST AND HIS RELIGION ARE ENEMIES. It seems clear that those who were teaching errors in his day, e.g., Judaizers who, as Bishop Lightfoot says, deny the efficacy of the cross, and substitute obedience to a formal code, were in Paul's mind, both in this letter and in that to the Galatians. The modern Judaizers or errorists, who are "enemies of the cross of Christ," may be (1) such as ignore doctrine concerning the cross altogether (as though astronomers ignored the suns of the systems they described), or (2) such as misinterpret the true meaning of the cross. Nevertheless, it was wisely said by the late Samuel Martin, "The cross of Christ, for effect, needs no more doctrine than God Himself has revealed, and it is effectual even without that doctrine. The epistles were written after the day of Pentecost, and some of the doctrines taught there were unknown to the apostles when they began to preach." III. THOSE WHO LIVE OPENLY IRRELIGIOUS LIVES are "enemies of the cross of Christ." The cross of Christ is the cause of stainless purity, of unflinching courage, of unswerving truthfulness, of utter self-sacrifice, and so every life that is impure, that is craven, that is false, that is selfish, is the life of an enemy of that cross. Unspeakably more deadly foes of that cross are those who lead immoral lives, than those who only promulgate heretical arguments. The life of every ungodly man raises the shout about Christ, The Future the Harvest of the Past. "WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP."Galatians vi. 7. OCTOBER yields the harvest of the spring. So the Future is the Harvest of the Past. I. Because in every future THE APPARENT RISES OUT OF THE HIDDEN. The long buried seed corn broke the sod and reached at last complete manifestation. So it is with motive purposes,-faith which eventually character reveals. They have often been sacrificially hidden; there have been struggles in the dark, unrecognised toil, unseen self restraint, battles in solitude of soul, prayers in secret. "That which thou sowest is not quickened except it die." Whether it be good or ill, all that is now in the soil of the soul will in some future, nearer or more remote, be sheaves on its surface, unmistakeable and distinct. II. EDITOR. Because LIKE GROWS FROM Of the same species as the seed sown will be the fruit. Frivolous, flippant youth produces hollow, trashy manhood; and so Moral hemlock never yields moral wheat. "They that plough iniquity and sow wickedness reap even the same." on. III. LITTLE. harvest. Because MUCH COMES FROM Increase is the genius of "There shall be a hand (2) The ful of corn," &c. It is also thus (1) With the reception of truth in the mind. E.g., the impression of the fall of an apple in Newton's mind; the harvest the formulating of the law of gravitation. Development of character. beginnings of the Divine life in man are like the corn-fields in April; the maturity of that lifesay in such as Paul-transcends in beauty and worth the richest harvests of golden grain. EDITOR. Breviaries. The Activity of God. "WHATSOEVER THE LORD PLEASED, THAT DID HE IN HEAVEN, AND IN EARTH, IN THE SEAS, AND ALL DEEP PLACES."-Psalm cxxxv. 6. I.-God ACTS. He is not an impassive existence. He never has been, never can be inactive. He is the great worker, never resting, never failing, never wearying.-the worker of all workers, the motor in all motions. II.-God acts EVERYWHERE. "In the heaven, in the earth, in the seas, and in all deep places." In the heavens He rolls the massive orbs of space; on the earth He maketh the grass to grow and clotheth the earth with verdure. In the sea He rocks mighty oceans to and frothey ebb and flow by His impulse. He acts everywhere. III.-God acts FROM and FOR HIMSELF.- "Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did He." First From Himself. Our activity is often excited and controlled by something external to ourselves. His never. Nothing ab extra. No ruling principles or persons, not all the hierarchies of intelligences, nor the rushing forces and forms of universal matter can excite Him. His action is that of absolute spontaneity. He is responsible to no one. He acts, Secondly For Himself. "Whatsoever the Lord pleased." There is no other reason for His activity but what pleases Him. The chief pleasure of any moral intelligence is the gratification of his predominant disposition. In God this is LOVE. Hence His pleasure in creating the universe and sustaining it is the diffusion of His own happiness. His pleasure is the pleasure of His creatures; His happiness and theirs are identical. LONDON. DAVID THOMAS, D.D. The Eternity of the Divine Character. "THY NAME, O LORD, ENDURETH FOR EVER.”—Psalm cxxxv. 13. GOD's "name" is His moral character, and here we are told His name "endureth for ever." Two remarks are suggested. I.-MORAL CHARACTER CANNOT BE ETERNAL BY ABSOLUTE NECESSITY. The moral character of a being implies freedom of action, and the existence of a power to become morally otherwise. Can he who is virtuous by necessity be virtuous at all? When God's character is said to be eternal, are we to suppose that He could not alter or utterly abandon it? If so, He lacks the power He has given to His moral creatures, for on all hands we see them change their moral characters. Millions, as in the case of fallen angels, have renounced the good for the bad; and millions, as in the case of redeemed saints, have renounced the bad for the good. Certainly it appears a stupendously awful supposition that the Infinitely Good has the power to become infinitely evil. And yet without this power wherein is His moral praiseworthiness? II.-MORAL CHARACTER IF GOOD THE MORE LASTING THE BETTER. Good moral characters on this earth are its "salt,” its "light," &c. The wealth of a Croesus, the power of a Cæsar, are contemptible compared to a good moral character. God's moral character is perfect, perfect in purity, in love, in truthfulness, and justice. Hence its eternity is to be rejoiced in. Hallelujah! At the head of the universe there will never be the malign, the impure, the tyrannic, or the unjust. LONDON. DAVID THOMAS, D.D. Paul at Athens. "Now WHILE PAUL WAITED FOR THEM AT ATHENS, HIS SPIRIT WAS STIRRED IN HIM, WHEN HE SAW THE CITY WHOLLY GIVEN TO IDOLATRY. THEREFORE DISPUTED HE IN THE SYNAGOGUE WITH THE Jews, and wITH THE DEVOUT PERSONS, AND IN THE MARKET DAILY WITH THEM THAT MET WITH HIM," &c.-Acts xvii. 16-20. PAUL now in the metropolis of intellect and culture. How he happened to be there as a brief sojourner. As a Christian apostle and as a Christian man could not regard with an easy indifference these Athenians. I.FEELING WHICH OVERMASTERS EVERY OTHER IS CONCERN FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL CONDITION AND PROSPECTS. Describe-so very much to interest at every step from the Piræus in the streets and squares of the city, which was the "eye of Greece, and the light of the civilized world." Nor can we suppose that one Tarsus-born, a Roman citizen albeit a Jew, of great and profound learning, would be indifferent to the beauties of architecture, painting, and sculpture; to art, literature, and philosophy! But "full of idols"! This stirred his soul to a paroxysm. A great and renowned city, with its tens of thousands of dwellers, given up to vanity, frivolity, scepticism, and superstition! Each soul so precious-each so capaciouseach immortal! Living amid so much to charm; natural beauty, clear and sunny skies, glorious treasures, marvels of art, almost breathing statues, stately temples, countless altars, &c.,-yet without God, without Christ, without hope. II.-CLUE TO THE THEME OF HIS FREQUENT DISCOURSE. Sought out such as would be most in sympathy with him, most likely to comprehend his teaching; and so, through the few most sympathetic influence the many wholly without sympathy with or ready understanding of his words and doctrines. Hence the Synagogue-the Agora or Forum, adorned with its stoá poikile, and wondrous temples, were the theatres of his discourse. JESUS and the RESURRECTION. Great, potent facts! He told them more in five minutes than they had been able to discover in five hundred years. [1 Cor. xv. witnesses in what manner Paul could discourse on Jesus and the resurrection.] Note the utterances on Areopagus, &c. III. HOW THESE EXPRESSIONS OF DEEP CONCERN WERE MET. Shouts of derisive laughter had met preachers at Pentecost,— "These men are full of new wine; so here, like shouts echoed amid the columns of the porch and temples of the Agora. But they did not all mock. One or two named, a few others nameless here but named on high believed, and by their faith rejoiced Paul's heart. [Insist on the vanity of even the highest culture without Christ.] FARE FAC. Christian Faithfulness. "BE THOU FAITHFUL."-Rev. ii. 10. I.—The NATURE of the appeal: "Be faithful." Faithfulness is (1) due to Christ; (2) possible to all; (3) all-pervasive. IL-The RANGE of the appeal: "Be thou faithful unto death." Faith should be (1) superior to circumstances,-"Tribulation; " "Death." (2) Independent of others: "thou." (3) Of life-long duration: "unto death." III.-The ENFORCEMENT of the appeal: "I will give thee," &c. There is another sphere of life, with reality and splendour of reward, and the reward itself will be(1) Appropriate, in character: Faithfulness crowned; "death"-" life.” (2) Personal, in enjoyment: "I will give thee." (3) Certain, in attainment; because (a) gratuitous in its vouchsafement: "give;" and (b) definite in its promise: "I will." The Lord Jesus says: "I" will give thee. What honour, joy, and certitude. "BE FAITHFUL." Read the story of the three Hebrew youths. Study the life of the Lord Jesus. Remember Polycarp, probably the angel of the church here addressed, and his answer to the Roman pro-consul. Forget not the long line of the martyrs, and the faithful. The reward is nearing; and the welcome-"Well done, good and faithful servant." J. P. A. |