November 4

I Corinthians xli. — 12. 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.

13. 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 into one Spirit.

14. 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?

16. 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?

17. 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.

19. And, if they were all one member, where were the body?

20. 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.

22. Nay, much more those members of the

body which seem to be more feeble are necessary;

23. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked;

25. 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 one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27. Now, ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28. 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.

29. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30. Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31. But covet earnestly the best gifts. And yet show I unto you a more excellent way.

Under this striking and beautiful symbol of the body is set forth the unity, the harmony, the proportionate and co-operative efficiency, of the Church of Christ. That equality of the brotherhood which our Lord laid down as a fundamental principle in the constitution of his Church does not imply equality of function, nor of official place and work. In primitive times, when miraculous gifts were widely shared by the Church, there were marked diversities in those gifts, and in the official position of persons thus endowed. And now the equality of the brotherhood does not displace the divine

law of arrangement, distribution, adaptation, in the body. For the Church is not a society; it is a body; and the equality of its members consists first in the fact of membership in Christ, their common Head; next in community of privileges; next in dependence upon one another for sympathy and support; next in co-operation toward the same end, under the authority and direction of the one Head. And the humblest may now obtain the greatest gifts, which in the next chapter the apostle defines to be faith, hope, charity.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 50, 62, 104.

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Oh, may thy kingdom fully come in our hearts, casting out all sin! may thy will take possession of our wills, so that in all things we shall please and serve thee! Thy mercy, O Lord! of which every night and morning bears witness, binds us to thee in love and gratitude; and we dedicate ourselves to thee this day as obedient children. Help us to fulfil our vows. Keep us from the love of this world, and from the power of evil. O Lord! strengthen, defend, deliver all thy servants, and maintain thy cause.

We pray for thy holy Church universal, that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity

of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Send thy Word, O Lord! to those who have it not: may it have free course and be glorified! and may the whole world be saved!

O God, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy! increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Dwell thou in our hearts by thy Spirit; yea, make our very bodies temples of the Holy Ghost: and may all sin be put far away from us! O Lord our Saviour! make this home thy habitation. [May the children gather about thee with songs of praise, with hearts and hands to do thy will!] And finally bring us unto our Father's house, for Christ's sake. Amen.