vi. 13 e.nd Go.I. v. I). Spirit is the highest of perdition, but to you of salvation; tmnR- po.rt of our immo.terirLl nature, which, when fate, seeing that it (yQU,f' oou,rage) is to them onlightonod by the Holy Spirit of God, co.n an wident token of perdition, but (with tb, riso into commnnion with God, o.nd discern best manuscripts) of your salvatimi. And tho truths of the world unseen. In one spirit; that of God. These words are to be taken bcco.uso tho spirits of believers o.ro knit to- with "an evident token." Tho courage of gether into one fellowship by tho ono Holy God's saints in the midst of dangers is e. Hpirit of God o.biding in them all. This proof or his presence e.nd favour, a token of distinction between spirit e.ncl soul occurs final victory (comp. 2 Thess. i. 5). ago.in in l 'l'hess. v. 23. The soul is the Ver. 2!l:-For unto you it is given in the lower part of our inner being, the seat of the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, appetites, passions, affections, connected but also to suffer for his sake. On you it o.bove with the ,rvevµa., below with the l1{ip(. was conferred (~xap£11B11) as a gracious gift, With one mind striving together for the faith a free spontaneous act of Divine bounty. of the gospel; with one soul (not mind); i.e. Faith in Christ is the gift of God, so is " the with e.ll the desires and emotions concen- fellowship of his sufferings." It is not a. trated on one object, all acting together in burden. but a privilege:" In all these things the one great work; comp. Acts iv. 32, we are more than conquerors through him " Striving together with one another for the that loved us." faith," rather tho.n "striving together with Ver. 30.-Having the same confilct which the faith." The personification of faith, ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. though npproved by high authority, seems These words are beat taken with ver. 27, forced and improbable. Fai(Ji is here used vers. 28 and 29 being parenthetical. The objectively ; the faith of the ,gospel is the apostle returns to the military or gladia- doctrine of the gospel, as Gal. i. 23, " The torial metaphor of a contest, a.;,cilv. He had faith which once he destroyed." himself been persecuted at Philippi (Acts Ver. 28.-And in nothing terrified by your xvL; I Thess. ii. 2); now the Philippi,ms adversaries; liternlly, scared, as a frightened heard of his Roman imprisonment, and were horse. Whioh is to them an evident token themselves suffering similar persecutions.
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1, 2.-The address. I. ST. PAUL'S DESCRIPTION OP BillSELF. He is a servant of Jesus Christ. 1. He does Mt here style hi'TTIJlelf an apostle. The title was unnecessary in writing to the Philippians; he does not assume it needlessly. He associates Timotheus with himself. In the presence of the blessed Lord and Master distinctions sink into insignificance. 2. Paul and Timothe-us are alike" servants." But that name, in its inner meaning, is e. lofty title. He who belongs wholly to Christ, who is the slave of Christ, bought with the blood of Christ, is free from sin; he must be free, says St. Chrysostom, from all other masters, or he would be only in part the servant of Christ. II. Ills DESCRil'TION OF THE PHILIPPIAN CHRISTIANS. He calls them "saints in Christ Jesus." It is true that the word" saint" may be used here in an official sense, as equivalent to" Christian." But: 1. lt implies the necessity of that which all who are to see God in heaven must possess, holiness of heart and life. We beliave in the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth the elect people of God; that belief pledges us to follow after personal holiness. Wo have been once dedicated to God; the great aim of life should be self-consecration-the entire consecration of our whole nature, spirit, soul, and body, to his blessed service. 2. Saints are such only by being in Christ Jesus. The living branch abides in vital union with the vine; the saint abides in spiritual union with the Saviour. God taketh away the unfruitful branch; the unfruitful branch is the ungodly Christian-a branch, indeed, but without fruit, withered, dead. Spiritual life is sustained only by union with Christ, by the abiding presence of Christ, who is tho Bread of life, the Life of the world. If we would be saints, not in name only, but in he.art and in truth, we must strive above all things to live habitually, consciously. lovingly, in that" fellowship which is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." Ill. '!'HE SALUTATION-WHAT CHRISTIAN GOOD WISHES SHOULD BE. 1. Grace. Grace is the favour of God, unbought, undeserved, freely given, out of his generous bounty. 'l'hat grace is the origin of our salvation: "By grnce ye are saved." It is th0 source of holiness: "By the grace of God I am what I am." It is an unfailing support THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILlPPIANS. [oR, I, 1-30.