XII.

THE CHURCHES IN CHRIST.

"The Churches of Judea which were IN CHRIST."-Gal. i. 22. "In whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple IN THE LORD."—Eph. ii. 21.

Na previous meditation we noted the Apostle's fervent salutations to individual believers in Christ. The object of his life and ministry was "to present every man perfect IN CHRIST JESUS" (Col. i. 28).

Under our present motto-verses we may regard him speaking to, and of, believers in their collective capacity;-Churches, and groups of Churches. We are reminded of the beautiful symbol of the Great Prophet, as he saw in the Messianic age, flocks of doves, varied it may be in their plumage, speeding, with fleet wings to the window of the true Ark; safe IN CHRIST "from the windy storm and tempest" (Isa. lx. 8). Or the still more apposite figure, employed by the Redeemer Himself, to which we have previously adverted, when not only does He speak of the individual members of His flock, (calling His own (separate) sheep by name,

and, one by one, "leading them out "), but also referring to them in the aggregate. They constitute, though with divers folds and many under-shepherds, one great flock-reposing in the green pastures and by the 'waters of comfort,' under Himself, the Chief Shepherd and Bishop of souls.

The earliest in chronological order of all St. Paul's letters is the First Epistle to the Thessalonians. It is interesting surely to read its opening sentence, which in a sense may be regarded as the exordium or prologue of his whole series of inspired communications to the Church and Churches of the future. Thus it runs

"Unto the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST" (I Thess. i. 1). His subsequent salutations and addresses to believers in this their corporate form, however varied be the figures and symbolism employed, combine in giving the main features in the Apostle's ideal of a true heaven-born Church, viz., that it is not only living, but inspired with life IN CHRIST. All Church-life is traced up to the Great Life-Giver. The laurel-wreath of the Apostle's own spiritual victories, in these different Churches he had planted, he lays at the feet of his Great Redeemer-"Are not ye my work in the Lord;" "The seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord" (1 Cor. ix. 1, 2). "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord" (Eph. ii. 21). Even when he chal

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lenges respect and sympathy for his fellow-labourers, he thus recals the secret of success, by reminding of the golden link which binds the servants of the one household of faith to the Heavenly Master-" And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you IN THE LORD" (1 Thess. V. 12). In the words of Archbishop Leighton, as he enlarges on one of the above-"The whole building is Christ mystical; Christ together with the whole body of the elect. He as the foundation, they as the stones built upon Him. He the living Stone, and they, by union with Him, living stones. He having life in Himself, and they deriving it from Him. He primitively living, and they by participation." IN CHRIST! -the Church throughout all the world has in this the alone pledge and guarantee of its stability and permanence. In Christ!-He walks in the midst of His seven golden candlesticks, and has the stars in His right hand (Rev. i. 13, 16), feeding every candlestick with the oil of His grace, and keeping every luminary in its sphere in the spiritual firmament. 'In Him' the bush cannot be consumed. As good Samuel Rutherford quaintly expresses it" That bush has been burning these five thousand years, but no man yet saw the ashes of that fire." Very significant are the Apostle's own words, as he seeks, under the most endearing of human emblems, to set forth the intensity of the Lord's attachment to His Church-" No man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth

it, even as the Lord the Church" (Eph. v. 29). When the divine Head of that Church Himself (employing a different figure) declares that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it " (Matt. xvi. 18): how shall they not prevail? Just because it is IN HIM. "On this Rock (Immutable, Immovable) will I build My Church." To destroy and engulph the cargo, you must first wreck the all-glorious Vessel which bears it. The Church collectively is so dear to Him, that it is spoken of in words we shall in a future chapter more particularly consider as His very 'body," the fulness of Him that filleth all in all" (Eph. i. 23). There are other things-other realms which contribute to that fulness. On His head are many crowns." He wields creation's sceptre-The worlds were created "by Him and for Him." The light is His garment; the clouds are His chariot; the stars of heaven are a tiara for His brow. But He is "Head over all things to the Church" (Eph. i. 22). All other provinces of His vast empire are subordinated to this. If the material universe be His Temple, the Church is the Shekinah. If the one be the outer Court, the other is the Adytum, -the "Holy of holies." He is Lord over angels,-magnified, and lauded, and glorified by them. But even to these "principalities and powers in heavenly places is made known BY THE CHURCH the manifold wisdom of God" (Eph. iii. 10). "Unto Him," is the Apostle's doxology in closing the most beautiful of his recorded prayers" Unto Him be glory in the Church IN CHRIST

JESUS1 throughout all ages, world without end " (Eph. iii. 21). If such, then, be His present interest in His Church, and such her own predestined glory, we may safely commit the steering of the vessel of salvation to the heavenly Pilot. Despite of winds, and tides, and adverse currents, He will ensure that she will ride out the storm, and reef her sails in peace in the quiet haven.

"IN CHRIST!" we may well write underneath the Pauline motto, words, which, as we have seen in our Preface, were wont to be traced in rude symbolism but with loving faith over the catacombed dead-" We have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us; which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil" (Heb. vi. 18, 19).

One other thought urgently suggests itself. If churches were to realise, more habitually and fully than they do, the sacredness of that golden link-" IN CHRIST"-(the superlative glory, yes, and responsibility of their mystical union with the Great Head), might we not prayerfully look and long for the removal of all unworthy jealousies and acerbities. How would the thought, how ought the thought, of "one IN HIM,"

-to hush the din of rival faction and angry recrimination; shame into silence hard thoughts and hard

1 èv (in) in the original, not "by" as in our version.