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Our apostle having thus finished his elegant and excellent comparison between the members of the natural, and those of the mystical body; he comes now to make a particular and close application of it to the believing Corinthians, whom he acknowledges to be a part of the mystical body of Christ; and that it is their duty to carry themselves towards their fellow-members as the members of the body natural do towards each other, who are evermore solicitous for the good of one another.
Now, says he, Ye are the members of Christ; as if he had said, Thus must it be with you who are the several members of Christ's church, which is his body.
From the whole of this comparison, with the apostle's application of it, we learn,
1. That as there can be no natural body without divers members, so no mystical body without diversity of gifts and offices.
2. That as the more inferior members of the natural body are as truly members of the natural body are as truly members as the most noble; and as necessary and servicable to the body as the other; so are inferior Christians as much the members of Christ's body, and in their place as useful and necessary, as other members of Christ's body, and in their place as useful and necessary, as other members of the church which are more excellent in spiritual gifts.
Learn, 3. That as all the members of the natural body are placed and disposed according to the wisdom and pleasure of Almighty God; in like manner the members of Christ's mystical body are, by the unerring wisdom of God, placed in the station and condition in the church in which he has set them, and accordingly they ought to be satisfied with it, and endeavour to be useful in it.
Learn, 4. That as there is no division in the members of the natural body, but all the members of the natural body, but all the members take care of, and are employed for, the good of the whole; so ought matters to be managed in the body mystical, that there be no divisions nor separate interests in it, but they should mutually regard the common interests of one another, sympathizing, sorrowing, and rejoicing together.
O happy day! when the interests of all parties, and private concernments, shall give place to public interests.