-PAUL "planted" the Church of Corinth. "I have planted" (1 Cor. 3). They could not have had a better planter; and there could hardly have been a more unsatisfactory plant. Thin it may be the case that a church does not always take its moral complexion from the man who plants it. He may be as good as Paul, and it may retain sin worse than the heathen (1 Cor. 5).
A church's moral condition and walk are very materially influenced by the sphere of its location. The Assembly of Corinth was there! And Corinthian morality was horrible immorality. The Church was located in this abandoned city of courtesans and voluptuous luxury, and of philosophy, falsely so called; and those who were converted to the faith of Christ had everything to learn, even as to common Christian morality. They were full of " carnality," which displayed itself in ballooning with men, and living in fleshy lusts, and they had sin of the worst character among them; and yet they were so low in moral sensitiveness that they had no conscience about putting away " the wicked person " guilty of it, and would have gone on with it, had not the Apostle written to them about it, and roused them up to do their duty.
Let the reader beware of falling under the influence of the prevailing sins of the locality where he dwells. Some are situated, like Corinth, where the sins of the flesh are prevalent: others, where self-will and self-assertion are the order of society; others, where disobedience to parents and masters, and " strikes " occur; others, where the lusts of the mind, philosophy, and vain deceit are the order of society, and where literature rules the thoughts of their circle, and not God's word; others, where intense competition and rivalry in business exist, and keep men's brains continually on the rack—and if Christ Himself does not become the real model constantly before the saints, and the Spirit be continually sanctifying by His Word and Person, they are certain, sooner or later, to sink to the level of the sphere they move in. " Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners; awake up righteously, and sin not, for some have ignorance of God: I speak to you as a matter of shame" (1 Cor. 15:33,3433Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:33‑34)).