Thirdly,  its  universality  :  "  With  all  who,  in  every  place,
call  upon  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  both  theirs  and


ours."


The  Corinthian  Church  was,  according  to  these  words  of
the  apostle,  not  an  exclusive  avrapxn^  Church,  but  only  a
part  of  the  Church  universal,  as  a  river  is  of  the  sea.  He  al
lowed  it  no  proud  superiority.  He  would  not  permit  it  to
think  of  itself  as  more  spiritual  or  as  possessing  higher  dig
nity  than  the  Church  at  Jerusalem  or  Thessalonica.  They
were  called  to  be  saints  along  with,  and  on  a  level  with,  all
who  named  the  name  of  Christ.
Is  this  our  idea  when  we  set  up  Anglicanism  against  Ro
manism,  and  make  England  the  centre  of  unity  instead  of
Rome  ?  There  is  no  centre  of  unity  but  Christ.  We  go  to
God  with  proud  notions  of  our  spirituality  and  our  claims.
We  boast  ourselves  of  our  advantages  over  Dissenters  and
Romanists.  Whereas  the  same  God  is  "  theirs  and  ours ;"
the  same  Christ  is  "  theirs  and  ours."  Oh !  only  so  far  as
we  feel  that  God  is  our  Father,  not  my  Father,  and  Christ
our  Saviour,  not  my  Saviour,  do  we  realize  the  idea  of  the


Epistles  to  the  Corinthians.  423

Church.  "  The  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  both  theirs
and  ours."  What  a  death-blow  to  Judaism  and  party  spirit
in  Corinth !

Lastly,  unity.
Christ  was  theirs  and  ours.  He  was  the  Saviour  of  all,
and  the  common  Supporter  of  all.  Though  individual
churches  might  differ,  and  though  sects  might  even  divide
those  churches,  and  though  each  might  have  a  distinct
truth,  and  manifest  distinct  gifts,  yet  Christ  existed  in  all.
