2.  The  last  reason  given  by  the  apostle  in  rebuking  a  lit
igious  and  quarrelsome  disposition  in  the  Corinthian  Chris
tians  is  that  it  contradicts  the  character  of  the  kingdom  of
God,  of  which  they  were  members.  A  true  kingdom  of
Christ  should  be  altogether  free  from  persons  of  this  charac-


476  Lee  hires  on  the

ter.  His  argument  runs  thus :  You  ask  me  how  quarrels  are
to  be  decided,  except  by  law  ?  how  the  oppressed  are  to  be
freed  from  gross  oppressors,  except  by  an  appeal  to  legal  jus
tice?  how  flagrant  crimes  —  such  as  that  condemned  in  the
fifth  chapter — are  to  be  prevented  in  Christians  ?  I  answer,
the  Church  of  Christ  does  not  include  such  persons  in  the
idea  of  its  existence  at  all.  It  only  contemplates  the  normal
state  ;  and  this  is  the  idea  of  the  Church  of  Christ :  men
"  washed,  sanctified,  justified  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,
and  by  the  Spirit  of  our  God."  But  drunkards,  revilers,  ex
tortioners,  covetous  men,  gross  sensualists — I  can  not  tell  you
how  to  legislate  for  such,  for  such  ought  not  to  be  in  your
society  at  all.  Regenerate  thieves !  regenerate  libertines !
regenerate  extortioners !  There  is  a  horrible  contradiction
in  the  very  thought ;  there  is  something  radically  wrong,
when  such  men,  remaining  in  their  vices,  are  imagined  as  be-
longing  to  the  true  kingdom  of  God.  This  is  what  you  wer&
as  heathens  ;  this  is  not  what  you  are  to  be  as  Christians.
