pn~s~~~i11g the Bible. Rather they <leo!a1~ and_ interpret the truth of revelation by 111:1111 ll'slrn)! the character and power of lt m their own lives. 'l'he truth thns l'evoale<I is II w0rd 0f Ii fo. It ie a vital truth, the secret of the Christian life, the promise of life to the world. III. 'l'HE CHRISTIAN LIGHTS ARE SEEN BY TBE WORLD. "Ye are seen as lights in th<' world." It is our duty to let our light shine, not to hide it under a bushel Tho Church ex.ists for the good of the world. She receives light that she may gi~e it to the people that sit in darknesa. This is the most effectual way of commendia"' the ~\" ortl of life to the world. Moreover, whether we shine well or ill, the eye of the :orld u; upon us. l\'. THE CHARACTER OF CHnJSTIANB DETER'Mll-'"ES THEIR El"FEOTIVENESS AS LIGIITS IN THE WORLD. The Church has made too much of orthodoxy to the neglect of goodness. We may have the best oil, and yet, if the lamp be out of order, the flame will flicker painfully, and if the gl3.5S be foul, the light will be dull. Christians may have the pure Word of life within them, but they will only hold it forth clearly to the world when the lamp is trim and the glass clean-when their own life is healthy and no earthly- mindedness cl:ecks the outflow of the Divine radiance. Nothing is more fatal to the clear shining of the Christian light than quarrels among Christians (ver. 14). Love in the Church is an essential condition of light in the world.-W. F. A. Vers. 25-30.-Epapliroditus. Epaphroditus was a member of the Philippian Church who brought the cootributions from that Church to St. Paul at Rome. While in the imperial city, be threw himself so zealously into the work of the apostle as to bring on an illness and seriously endanger his life. Recovering, he feared that his friends at Phi'ippi might be over-anxious about him, and was desirnus to return to them as soon as possible. St. Paul, therefore, commended him to the Philippiat1s, in this letter which be was to bear with him. We know nothing about Epaphroditus beyond what the Epistle tells us. But that is enough to reveal him as a man of great beauty of character. I. EPA.PHRonn•us WAS .A DEVOTED FRIE1'"'D OF ST. PAUL. Ho took the long journey to Rome in order to bring gifts to the apostle. When there, his arduous efforts were especially spent in service towards St. Paul While rarty Sf!irit in following one maL to the disparagement of others is a disgrace to the Church (see 1 Cor. i. 12), devotion to good and great men is natural, right, and helpful for their work. It is well when external adversity only intensifies the devotion. Epaphroditus was most energetic when the epostle was a prisoner. IL EPA.PRRODI'l"US wAS A SELF-DENYING LABOUBEB FOB CD RIST. Though in assistance of St. Paul, his work was Christ's work. And he wrought at it till he was sick almost to death. The best Christian work cannot be relegated only to leisure hours, carried on listlessly, and abaudoned at the least excuse of ill health. We may not be called to lay down our lives in the violent martyr's death. But the noblest servants of Christ are ready to be faithful unto death in wearing life out with arduous service. Such men should be held in honour. ill EPA.PllBODITUS WAS JllOBT UNSELFISII m HIS SUFFERINGS. His one trouble was that they should cause distress to bis friends at Philippi. His wll.11 not the complaiuing spirit tLat makes every one el.se miserable with its own sufTerings, much leijs was it the mock-martyr spirit that attitudinizes sentimentally and lays itself out to move tho compassion of others. There is often much selfishness in trnublo, even when it docs not take thest: extreme forms. But the Christian endurance of sufferiug will involve u1:u;t:lfish regard for the foelings of others and anxiety not to hurt them. IV. EPA.PHBODITUS WAS .ANXIOUS TO BETUBN HOKE .Al"l"EB. HlS ILLNESS. Christianity d0t;1; r,ot destroy natural affection. It deepens and strengthens the love of those who are near to us. It iB difficult to know bow to divide our attention between public and private claims. But remembering the fatherly lave of God, who is the Creator of our human nature, :u,ay ~e not give more scope to the impulse~ of affection as Divine, and therefore right when purified and guided by Christian principle? Y. EPAPfIBODITuS WAS A MAN l1GCH BELOVED. Such a man deserved love; and lul'ablc roer,_ are gc,nerally loved. Except where peculiar circumstances and rnis- ULGcfo1,a.1;uir,gs interve1te, it is geDeraily our own fault if we are unaule to win lho 011, 111. 1-21.] 'l'IIE EPIS'l'LJ<; 'l'O THE PHILIPPIANS. lll
o.tTections of others. God may not always spare those we love. P,ut wh"n he does, wo should rccognizo his goorlne.s.~ ;n not a<ldin" "sorrow to sorrow'' and in u!c,~iw• the ti,; of Christio.n o.lfcction,-W, 1''. A. " ·'