The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 55

present conduct in accordarJce with that faith, suhorilinate the world to the Roul, and conu-Jmte the soul to almighty love. In eh. iii. 20 Paul says," Our conversation is in heaven;" that is, out· citizenship is in heaven. The genuine disciple of Christ is now a citi7,on of heaven, ho is ruled by the laws of heaven, he enjoys the rightR of heaven. This being BO, how super-worldly e.nd morally stately should be our rleport- ment here I 'l'he discrepancy between the creed of Christian men and their daily con- duct is e. terrible sin and e. tremendous curse. II. UNITY OF LIFE, "That whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." Hero is: 1. Unity of heart. "In one spirit, with one mind [soul]." Unity of heart consisteth not in uniformity of opinions or beliefs, lrnc in identity of supreme purpose and love. There is only one meeting and mingling place of souls, and that is in the object of paramount alJection. 2. Unity of lahonr. What is the labour? "Striving together for the faith of the gospel," or more r,ro,,,·rly, "with the faith of the gospel." (1) The united labour must be steadfast. "::itawi fast." One fixed, irrevocable purpose; no vacillation, no distraction. Let the union of heart be so complete, and the souls so welded together, that the united purpose shall be immovably fixed. (2) The united labour must be earnest. "Striving together." 'fhe metaphor is drawn from the games, and whether the games were those of wrestling or racing, they involved almost an agony of earnestness. In Christian work all labour without earnestness is morally worthless in its character, and useless if not pernicious in its results. (3) 'l'he united labour must be with one instrument. "Striving together for [with] the faith of the gospel." There is no destroying evil, "putting awe.y sin," and promoting true virtue and holiness only with the gospel. Philosophy, legislation, and literature have tried and failed. The gospel is the "power of God." Here is true unity-unity of heart, unity of labour, unity of instrument in the work. III. FEARLESSNESS OF SOUL, "In nothing terrified by your adversaries." "Terri6ed." "The original word is strong--starting or flinching, like a scared aniruaL This fear- lessness in the absence of all earthly means of protection or victory is a sign of a Divine 1trength made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. xiii. 9), not a complete and infallible sign (for it has often accompanied mere fanatic delusion), but a sign real as far as it goes, having its right force in hnrmony with others. The effect which it had on the heathen themselves is shown even by the affected contempt with which the Stoics spoke of it as a kind of' madness,' a morbid habit, a sheer obstinacy" (Dr. Barry). Two remarks are suggested concerning this Christian fearlessness, 1. It bodes good to its possessor, but evil to its adversaries. It is "an evident token of perdition" to the opponents of the gospel, but "salvation" to its genuine disciple. A man who has well-founded moral fearlessness of soul is safe amidst hostile hosts, and his very fearlessness will make hostile hosts fear and tremble. 2. It is well founded and often nobly developed. It is the gift of God, it is not an inherent Stoical self-sufficiency. It is given as a pro- vision for the suffering condition to which Christians are subject. lt is given to Christians, not only "to believe on Christ, but also to suffer for his sake." "In the world ye shall he.ve tribulation," etc. How splendidly developed was this fearlessness of soul in Po.ul I "Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me." They saw his sufferings (Acts xvi. 24). "None of these things move me." CONCLUSION, Such was the course of life which this apostle in the prospect of death urged on the Philippians-consistency of conduct, unity of life, and fearlessness of soul; and all these are as binding on us and as necessary for our good as they were in the caso of the Philippian Church.-D. T. Vers, 1, 2.-The Pl,ilippian Church (the firstborn Church of Enrope) a type of tM Catholic Church. I. IT IS IN THE WORLD. Philippi, e. city of importance as a centre of trade and traffic. A Roman colony reproducing on a minute scale the institutions of the ompiro city. II. IT 1s NOT OF TllE WORLD, BUT IN CHRIST. In him its life is hidden. Three times in these two verses are its members reminded of him. The Church is nothing except so far as it is the living body of Christ and partakes of his grace and peace. III. IT 1s CA'l'm,LIC. We possess a particularly full account of the first preaching c,f the gospel at Philippi (Acts xvi.). Three or its earliest converts are remarkable- PllJLTPPlANS, E  THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. [err. 1. 1-30.