Vers. 25, 26.-The apostle's personal conviction as to his future course. He might be uncertain as to which he should choose, but he was fully conlident as to what would befall him. Notice- I. 'l'nE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS CONTINUANCE WITH HIS CONVEilTB. "And being con- fidently persuaded of this [that his life would be for their spiritual advantage] l know that I shall abide, and abide with you all." His knowledge was not necessarily derived from special revelation or from mere presentiment, but represents hi~ firm personal conviction that he would survive his present imprisonment. His assurance was eventually fulfilled, as we know by his labours during the remaining years of his life. He knew that his time.~ were in God's hands, and that the same Lord who fore- told the manner of Peter's end would fix the time of his own end. He could feel he was immortal till his work was done. II. THE EFFECT OF RIB CONTINUED LABOURS. "For yonr furtherance and joy of faith." The life of a. minister is intimately associated with the spiritual comfort of his flock. 1. The apostle would be the means of increasing their faith. (1) By his b1parting of new truth; (2) by his skilful application of old truth to new circum- stances; (3) by deepening the dependence of his converts on that Lord whom the twelve apostles once unanimously addressed with the words, "Increase our faith " (Luke xvii. 5); (4) by imparting spiritual gifts (Rom. i. 11). 2. The apostle would contribute to the fay of their faith. (1) This joy is essentially connected with faith as its source; for the God of hope fills us "with all joy a.nd peace in believing" (Rom. xv.13). (2) Fa.ilh in its fulness inspires a. deep joy in proportion to its thorough realization of Divine realities a.nd blessings. "In whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable" (1 Pet. i. 8). (3) The apostle would thus promote their spiritual strength; for "the joy of the Lord" would become "their strength." III. THE ULTIMATE DESIGN OF HIS CONTINUANCE, "'l'ha.t your matter for boasting [in the fact of your condition as Christians] may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my coming to you again." 1. The element of increase in (Jhristian living and Christian privilege is in (Jhrist Jesus; for it is in virtue of its connection witll the head "that the body maketh increase of itself in love" (Eph. iv. 16). 2. The instrumental source of increase is "in me"-through the apostle's continued labour. 3. It would be still more marked by his personal visits to his converts; for he would come to them in fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Cbrist.-T. C.
Vere. 27, 28.-Practical counsel for holy and consiste-nt living. "Only let yonr manner of life be as it becometh the gospel of Christ." J. THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST JS THE TRUE STANDARD OF CIIRISTIAN PIETY AS WELL AS "'fllE POWER OF GOD TO SALVATION." It is so: I. By virtue of the doctrines it reveals for our comfort. 2. By virtue of the precepts it inculcates for our guidance; for it embodies in itself that which is at once" the law of Christ," "tLe law of love," "the law of liberty." 3. By virtue of the privileges it confers to secure holy living. 4. By virtue of the prospects it holds out as '' a recompense of reward." II. CHRISTIAN LIFE MUST BE ORDERED ACCORDING TO THIS STANDARD, The original term suggests membership in I\ society, according to the idea of privilege which makes believers" fellow-citizens of the s,,ints." Our practice must accord with our professiun. Like the gospel of Christ, we must be true and faithful, peaceful and loving, gmcioll:I 2C THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. [OH, I, 1-30,
and bumhl~. Our walk must be consistently the same, whether our religious guides are prC'sent or ab~ent. ]JT. THE CHRillTIAN WALK II! TO MANIFEST ITBEtF IN A FinM AND SOLID UNITY. "That ye stand fust in one spirit." There were divercrences of action if not of t})()U!.:ht, manife!lt amo?g the pi?~s Philippians, which m;de it necessar/to counsel the~ t-0 a steadfast unity of position and effort. _,Ve cannot grow in grace unless we live m peace, and we cannot bold our ground agamst the rushina tides of worldliness :rnd sin which threaten to overwhelm us unless we are strongly "'rooted in Christ and l,is gracious gospel. This stability of position will have a twofold effect. 1. It will enable m to fight in «mcert for the faith of the gospel. "With one soul strivina in ~oncert with the fai~h of the gospel." If there was to be striving at all, it must not be Ill a ,vay of cont.ention, but of united endeavour to promote and derend the cause of Christ. Unity _immensely enhances the power of the truth. This language implies (1) that there is "one faith;" (2) that it is worth striving for, as it contains the message of ~e_rcy lo man; (3) that it is injurious to piety to undervalue truth; ( 4) that the stability of Churches ns well as individuals depends much upon unity of faith; (5) that there may be a oneness of heart under intellectual differences. 2. It will m11-ke you superior to the fears of adversaries. "And in nothing terrified by your adversaries." 'l'h~ will be no _waverin!! on your part, through the assaults of unbelieving Jews or Gentiles. There ts a double argument or encouragement here presented: "seeing it [your fearlessness] is to them an evident token of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that of God." (1) Their fearless maintenance of the truth, implying as it did the power of the gospel in their hearts, would be a proof to the adversaries that they merit destruction by rejecting it and by continuing steadfast in their wickedness. 'l'he sentiment is parallel with that in the Thessalonian Epistle, in which the suffering endured through the envy of the Jews was "a token or proof that God will inflict heavy punishment on the adversaries of the Christian faith" (2 'fhess. i. 5). (2) It was also a proof that the God who now sustained them would finally reward them. This implies (a) that suffering Christians will certainly be saved, (b) and that their salvation will be great as well as certain.-T. C.