The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 107

prencher, B true labourer withal, with these word~, "my brother, my labourer, my fellow-sol,lier," receive him with all gladness; and hold such in reputation? Such conduct from the primate would shock the fawning sycophancy which is too rampant In Ohurch and state. II. A SENTIMENT OF TENDER SYMPATHY, Here is sympathy manifested by three parties. 1. By the Pliilippian Ohurch towards Paul. Touched with Paul's wretched condition in Rome, a prisoner lacking food, they sent Epapbroditus to him with means of relief, ma,le him the "messenger" of charity. 2. By Epaphroditus towards the Phil1)Jpian Oliurch. Paul says, " be longed after you all, and was full of heaviness." Why was he "full of heaviness," or in sore trouble? It does not say that it was on his own account, but because "ye bad heard he bad been sick." He was afraid that the tidings which they bad received of bis indisposition would distress them with anxieties, and he hurries home to relieve them. 3. By Paul for both. "I sent him therefore the more carefully [diligently], that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful." As if he bad said, "I want your sorrows removed, for in your sorrows I sorrow." How beautiful, thrice beautiful, is all this! How rare, withall how Christly I Nay, there is no Christlincss without it. Unless Christianity unites all souls in this living sympathy, it has failed in its mission. All true disciples are members of one body, of which Christ is the Head, and what one feels, all teel, and they rejoice with those that rejoice, and weep with those that weep. III. A CONDITION OF TRYING AFFLICTION, Paul was a sufferer. He was not only a prisoner at Rome, awaiting a terrible fate, but in actual "need," dependent on the charity of others. Epaphroditus had been in sore affliction," nigh unto death." Now, it is worthy of note that the affliction that came on both these men came on them in consequence of their Christianity. One might have thought that their Christianity, their generosity, purity, and.moral nobleness, would have guarded them from even the common ills of life. Not so. Paul knew that such afflictions were to be expected, anu. elsewhere he says," No man should bo moved by these afflictions. Ye yonrselves know that ye are appointed thereunto." Afflictions, however, that come in this way arc distinguished from all other afflictions in two respects. 1. They have a disciplinary influence. They are not judicial penalties, but parental chastisements. '£hey cleanse, they spiritualize, they ennoble the soul. 2. They have Divine supports. So abuncLint are the consolations they experience that they "glory in tribulatiou," etc. IV. A REALIZATION OF DIVINE MERCY. "For indeed he was sick nigh unto death : but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, bnt on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow." He ascribes both the restoration of Epaphroditus to health, an,l his own deliverance from the terrible "sorrow" which would have befallen himself bad his friend expired, to the mercy of God. Not to any secondary instrumentality, not to the value of their services in the cause of Christ, but to mercy. A practical realizalion or Divine mercy is at once a sign and clement of vital Chriscianit_,·. In the gift of lifo there is mercy, in the sustentation of life there is mercy, iu the afflictions of life there is mercy; to a Christian all is mercy. V. A RIGHT TO CrmISTIAN REGARD. "Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness ; and hold ~uch in reputation: because for the work of Christ ho was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward m;:." 1. Give him. a hearty reception. "Receive him therefore in the Lord with all :c:lndness." \Ve!come him, not with mere conventional civility and social politeness, but with exultant affection. 2. Treat Mm with honour. "Hold such in reputation." He is a. noble man; treat him as a noble man should be treated. 'l.'he honour which is pai,l to worldly .:i:en OIi. account of their wealth, their grandeur and position, is a spnrious houour, is flunkeyism. There can be no true honour where thero is not the houour-worthy, and the honour-worthy implies moral excellence. 3. Do all this because he desuves it. "Because for tho work of Christ he was nigh unto death." Ho is thoroughly dis- interested; he suffered and risked his lifo, not from o.uy personal motives, but from the inspirntion of Christian love and charity. Disinterestedness is the soul of virtue and the only foundation of greatness. A disinterested man has a right to Christi,m regard, ay, more, to enthusiastic reception.-D. 'l.', Vers. 1, 2,-E.t!,or/ati,m to u11ity: (2) TIie t6$&i-mo1,y qf 011r spirit·ual a11a tavrul.  104 THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPlAN8. [OR, II, 1--30,