Hence it Is the desiro of the progressive soul that others m~y e:<perience a kinrlrc,\ progress, o.nd with duly balanced powers may pass onwardij towards the perfection which is to synchronize with tho day of Jeans Christ. V. AND BU0H PROGRESS IMPLIES FRUITFULNESS, (Ver. 11.) The fruits of right- eousnes_e are y.,ho.t ~od l~oks for. He plants the trees of righteousness that he may ho glorified 1n their fnutfulness. His garden shall yet be filled with fruitful trees. Every barren cumberer shall yet be rooted out, that its place may be duly filled.-R. M. E. Vers. 12-20.-The gospel promoted by persecution. Paul, having stated the sub- stance of his intercession for the Philippian saints, proceeds to show how his apparently unfortunate imprisonment was being providentially overruled for what they had so much at heart, the furtherance of the gospel. It is most instructive to notice how his great heart transmutes adversity into gold, and sees encouragement where others would glean only despair. I. As A NOTABLE PRISONER, PAUL WAB DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF MANY TO THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST FOR WHICH IIE BUFFERED. (Vers. 12, 13.) Persecution only draws attention to the objects of it. The Prretorian Guards at the palace and many other individuals had their attention turned to the cause for which Paul suffered, through his presence as the prisoner in Rome. In no way could the world better advertise the Christian cause. In fact, perseculion emphasizes any cause. It drives it of necessity into prominence. On the other hand, the gospel shows its Divine wisdom by its tolerance. For while the gospel has an intolerant side in brooking no possible rival, it has its tolerant side in refusing to use force and in charitably claiming those not against it as for it. Now, in this abstinence from all persecution, there is in the Chris- tian policy the subtlest wisdom. It is n refusal to make rival systems famou~. It is n judicious allowance of them to die a natural death, instead of resuscitating them by emphatic opposition. II. PAUL'S IMPRISONMENT LED TO INCREASED PREACHING OF CHRIST. (Vers. H-18.) This happened in two directions: those who sympathized \vith Paul were led to show a bolder front and fearlessly to preach Christ; those who envied him and tried to checkmate him hailed his imprisonment as their opportunity, and preached Christ in hope of vexing him. It seems at first a strange notion of the gospel being faithfully preached from such a motive. Ilut we must remember that men may be orthodox as a matter of policy and for party purposes, when they have no heart in the substance of their orthodoxy at all. The Judaizers, therefore, who troubled Paul so much seem to have taken an. orthodox "fit" when he got imprisoned, thinking thereby to get the more hold over his converts. But Paul rejoices at the preaching of Christ, even though some of the preaching is from party motives. He knows how important a knowledge of that dear Name is, and how·the great Spirit can acknowledge an enemy as an instrument just as well as a friend. Let the knowled~e of Christ be propagated by all means. Even when his enemies undertake the work, let us rejoice in it, for souls are better to hear truth even from the lips of the poorest partisans than not to hear it at all. Ill. PAUL'S BANCTIFIOATIO?; THROUGH THE PROCESS WAS ASSURED. (Ver. 19.) Paul's salvation, like ours, is a continuous process, mauifesting its reality in increasing i;anctification. Now, bis imprisonment and its blessed results were being sanctified tu him through the intercessions of his friends at Philippi and through the unfailing supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. The blessed Spirit can make seeming adversities to be glorious sanctifications for his people. Paul was made by imprisonment ru,Jre spiritual, more enmest, more faithful to his Master. The prison was the putl.i upw::mb to heaven. IV. His CONFIDENT AND CHRIST-GLORIFYING BEARING UNTO THE E:t-"D. (Ver. 20.) Paul did not yet know the issue of his trial. llut whether he went to the block or regained liberty, Christ would bo magnified by the courageous bearing of his servan~. So that ho saw the glory of the Master shining clear as a star above and through his bondage. What became of Paul was nothing to him ; but what the workl would think of Christ was all in all. When the Lord was magnified, all was inJced well. l'Lml'~ poor" body" had now no other business in tho world than to be an instrument fur the ma:~nifying of the Mnster. Let it be crushed or n•gain liberty, it would in raticnce or by persevering work promote tho glory of him who hc\•l buu::;ht it an,l the THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. (oil. L 1-30
spirit. it enshrined with his blood. The nobility and ma.gna.nimity of the apostle in t.his ~ , e are worthy of all imitation and praiae. Suoh a spirit deserves to suooeed in the subjugation of the world for Ohrist.-R. M. E.