The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 53

worldly interests. No; by it they lose all I.hat make~ tolerable the exi~tenee. But to the ChriRtly man it is" gain" on two accounts. 1. On account of what it take.9 away. Physical 111Hic~ionR, secular anxieties, mental imperfections, more.I depravities, spiritual temptations; m one word, 011_ that pains the body, deludes the judgment, saddens the heart, ond de11do11s tho conscience. 2. On account of what it bestows. Perfection in his being, ch~rac~e~, friendships, '!orship, enjoyme_nts. Death is indeed then "gain." Shall the Chnst-hvmg man dread 1t? Shall the diseased man dread the hour in which he leaves his couch of sufferiog and weakness, and goes forth into the green fields of nature with vigorous limbs ond buoyant health? Shall the exile dread the hour when the boric that bears him from the scenes of long banishment shall touch his native shores? Shall the prisoner under the sentence of death dread the hour, promised by the clemency of his sovereign, when his fetters shall be struck off, anrl his dungeon door be opened, and be shall go forth to family and friends a.gain? Sooner may this be than a Christ-living man dread death. CoNOLUSION. How often preachers exhort their hearers to prepare for death, urging sometimes with marvellous animal vehemence most utilitarian considerations I Let them cease this work, and urge them to prepare to live Christ: ri~ht living ensures happy dying. The ideal life livecl out will bloom and fructify into a. blessed immor- tality.-D. T. Vers. 22-26.-Belf-love and social love. "But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not," etc. Dr. Samuel Davidson'd rendering of this passgge, which is as follows, is evidently an improvement on our own version: " But if to live in the flesh this is some fruit of work; and what I shall choose I know not. But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire towards departing and being with Christ, for it is very far better : but to abide in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes. And of this I am confidently persuaded, that I shall abide, and abide with you all for the advancement and joy of the faith : that in me your matter for glorifying may abound in Christ Jesus through my presence again with you." There are three loves in all human souls-self-love, which concerns itself with one's own interest; social love, which concerns itself with the good of others; and religious love, which concerns itself with the claims of God. Being constitutional, they are all good and designed to answer useful purposes in the full and perfect development of our nature. They, however, serarately considered, are not of equal value. The second, social love, is greater than the first ; the third, religious love, is greater than either-it underlies both, and is intended to be the inspiration and ruler of both. Society is greater than the individual, and God is infinitely greater than both. He is the all. Bishop Butler, if I recollect rightly, in one of his sermons on human nature, expounds the nature and relative importance of the two loves-the love of self and the love of society. These two are set forth in the toxt as working in the mind of the apostle. I. Here is sEr,F-LOVE DESIRING EXIT from the world. "Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better." Observe two things. 1. Paul's idea of the nature of his death. (1) He speaks of it as a departure; analusai, to loose anchor (2 Tim. iv. 6). He seems to have regarded his mortal life as a vessel intended and fitted to plou()'h the ocean and visit distant shores, fastened and confined to the port, and death as the unfastening of all that binds it down. A sublimely elevatins: idea of death is this. (2) He speaks of it as being with Christ. "To be with Christ." '!'his mortal life, he felt, kept him to some extent away from Christ, and that death would conduct him more immediately into his presence, and he expresses the highest delight. What greater joy ce.n we ime.gine than to be with the object of our supreme affection? For this the heart is ever craving. Death, then, does not termmate existence, but gives it more freedom and a wider range; _does n?t tak~ us away from the Object we Jove most, but conducts us more consc10usly rnto his presence and fellowship. 2. Paul's i<lea of the advantage of his death. "Far better." Is not the noble be.rk better out on the boundless sea, with its sails unfurled, filled by the propi- t-ious breeze o.nd moving under the smiles of e. sunny azure, than tied up in the dusky docks? Is 'tt not better to O'Rze into the eye and listen to the living voice of the object of our chief affection than "to bo leagues away as a matter of consciousness? Hcuce  48 THE EPISTLE '.l.'O THE PHILIPPIANS, [ou, 1. 1-30,