Ver. f..-Be_c11m, c-011U,merl, a11rl ended in God. This phrase describes tho first essenti31 condition of the Christ.inn life. I. CHRISTIA]'.-S HAVE A 000D WORK GOING ON wrl'RlN TBE:M. 1. Cbristilmity is first of all inf.ernal. What is in us is the matter of chief importance. 2. A wo,·k is goin" on in the heart _of the ~h1istian, ore~ting, developing, training, pruning, purging, build~ in:;: up. 3. Tll!S work 1s good. It 1s good for the soul to be brought frotn death to life, and for others that sympathy may be shown them and active 0o-ood done as was the case with the Philippians in their relations to St. Paul. II. THTS WORK 1s AS YET ONLY JN THE BEGINNING. A perfect Christian is the result of years of training. The new birtli. produces II babe in Christ. Much spiritual nourish- ment and education a.re required to develop the full-grown man. Ill. THE WORK IS BEGUN BY Gon. 1. It begins in a new creation. God only can creata So great II change as is required in turning from a life of selfish sin to a life of self-sacrificing holiness can only be effected by a Divine influence. That influence is put forth so that the greatest sinner may become the greatest saint. 2. Though the work is conditioned by our faith, still that is "not of ourselves, it is the gift of God." IV. THE FACT THAT Goo BAS BEGUN THE GOOD WORK IS A GROUND FOR THINKING THAT HE wn.L OOKPLETE IT. 1. The charaaer of God implies this. He is not fickle that be should changa, nor weak that he should fail. 2. 'l.'he 'llatwe of the work implies this. The first step is the hardest. Every stage in the Christian progress is a' prophecy of future stages. The force of habit which was before set against the good work becomes increasingly engaged in supporting it. V. 'l'HE OBJECT OF COMPLE1'ING THE GOOD WORK IS THAT IT MAY BE READY FOR THE DAY oF CHRIST. I. That day is a day of trial. In t-be first age it came with the de:;truction of Jerusalem and consequent troubles. We need to be strengthened in the time of ea.Im that we may stand firm in the storm. 2. Glorious victory follows the trouble of the day of Christ. Christians should be ready to share in that triumph. VI. 'l'HE GOOD WORK WILL ONLY BE BF.GUN, CONTINUED, AND El','1IED IN Goo WHEN WE co--OPEII.ATE. That is not stated here. But it is stated elsewhere (e.g. eh. ii. 12). St. Paul is "persuaded" of success with the work in the Philippians partly on account of wLat he knows of their disposition and behaviour. We must exercise faith and obedience in the strength of God and for the reception of God's work in us.-W. F . .A.· Vers. 9, 10.-The things tl.at excil. St. Paul prays that his readers may have that finer spiritual. perception (ai,;t,hesis) which is produced by an increase of love in order that they may discern the greater worth of those good things which differ from other good things in being more excel:ent. The high endowment worild not be necessary for the discrimination of the coarser contrasts of good and evil, light and darkness~ etc. It is plain, therefore, that different shades of goodness, gradations of worthiness, successive ranks of spiritual merit, are what the apostle desires us to be able to appreciate. L Gooo THINGS 8Til'11 IN DIFFERENT RANKS OF EXCELLENCY. In nature some things are better than others, being more beautiful, or more delicately organized, or capable of serving higher ends. When God created the world he saw that everything was good; yet the dog is superior to the worm, and man to the dog. Jn spiritual things differences exist even among things wholly good in themselves. I. In the being of God. If we ma.y dare to compare mysteries so high and sacred as the attributes of God, we may see how they range themselves _in rauk and or~,er-all glorious, yet mounting one above another to the supernal height of glory. Io the Mohammedan, God is chiefly known as Almighty; the Alexandrian Jew thought most of his wisdom; the prophets of the Old Testament upheld his awful_righteoUllness; Christiana see him chiefly as One whose name is Love. Now, omnipotence is good, and supreme wisdom is better, and the moral excellence -Of righteousness is better still; but· love is beet of all. 2. In the blessvngs of tl,e gospel. Christ healed sick bodies, and some poor folk w1,r1: content with that blessiDg; but he also healed sick souls, and thls was e. higher 1,les,ing. The gospel delivers us from the doom of guilt; but it also saves the soul frulli iu; c,wn internal corruption, which is a greater good. It offers peace and comfort; 1ut it [,lsc, inspires patience in Huffering and faithfulness in toil, and these are better tLiJ:Jg,. 3. In CJ'/J/T own religious ailrr.s. 'l'o be saved is good; to glorify God is bette:. It 1~ v,c;l t.v bt(;k tLe purnst blessings for ourselves; it is better to deny ourselves iu on. 1. 1-30,] THE EPISTLE TO 'filE PHILIPPIANS. 55
lovo to Goel and man, etc. 4. In prayer. Good earthly gifts may be sought; spiritual grnces nro moro dcsirnble. But the highest prayer will be for reconciliation with the will of God. 5. In the Bible. It is foolish to read tho Bible etrai"'ht throt1"'h indis- oriminntingly. All of it is not of equal value. We should discove~ and use ~ost the best pa.rte. 6. In literature, society, and innocent human affairs. 7. In the use of our time, money, etc. 1No may be doing no harm; but are we ma.kin"'0 the best possible use of these things? II. 'l'HI!l SUPERIOR EXCET.LENCE OF THE BETTER THINGS CA}! ONLY BE DISCER}IED BY THAT FINEU SPIRITUAL BENSE WHICH COMES WITH AN INCREASE OF LOVE. It is not that they are artificially hidden. Christianity knows of no esoteric doctrines jealously guarded from the uninitiated. It is that we have not the faculty to discern them. 1. Though we may see at once the general characteristic differences, we need spiritual insight for the application of them to particular cases. 2. '!'hough we may know the difference of value intellectually, we cannot at first realize it in feeling and life. If while a man knows that Beethoven's sonatas are infinitely superior to street songs, he .still prefors the latter, to him, practically, these are the better. He must have higher musical gifts or training to appreciate the good music. In like manner we need spiritual training for the discerning of the best spiritual things. This training is not intellectual. It is the growth of love. For love is the eye of the soul. Love of God will help us to understand him. Love of Christ will explain to us the true worth of the gospel. Love of men will help us to appreciate the best pursuits in life. Love 'of heavenly things will enable us to seek the best of them.-W. F. A.