The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 123

Fed. the truth God will cerf,ai'.nly reveal it. Only let a man be like St. Paul in hiR humilit..- an? earnest perseverance,_ never satisfied with himself, never counting himself t-0 ha.-e attarned, but always pressmg towards the mark, a.nd God will reveal tho truth tn him, as he re,·ealed it to St. Paul. Thus we learn that holy obedience is a condition ,,f Ji,·ing spiritual knowledge, and that living spiritual knowledge is a gift of Gou. The ll'tte.r of the Scripture is a subject for intellectual study, but the inner truth of the ::-cripture.s, the knowledge or Christ, is a revelation from God. God bath hidden this from the wise and prudent, but he revealeth it to babes. God the Holy Ghost is the one only Teacher of this precious knowledge. Ill. THERE MOST BE NO BACKSLIDING, NO LOSS OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE ONCE 0llTAI1''ED. It must be our most earnest effort to maintain that degree of grace at which we have arrived. Mark how the apostle dwells on the necessity of perseverance. The life of very many professing Christians is a series of oscillations between permitted sin and feeble repent.a.nee. Hence there is no real progress; they remain year after year much as they have been-decent in their lives, and well-intentioned perhaps, but with- out any real growth in holiness, in self-denial, in humility. "The path of the just is as the shining light, shining more and more unto the perfect day." This ought to be tlie record of our lives; but this implies continual perseverance, and perseverance implies constant watchfulness and constant prayer. L&SSOKS. Learn from St. Paul's example: 1. Utterly to shrink from spiritual pride; it is a dearily poison; it makes men satisfied with their present attainments; it pre- ,·ent.,; their progress in holiness; it leads to backsliding, 2. Always to persevere. 3. 'l'o krep the prize of the high calling before the thoughts. 4. Not to judge harshly those who differ from us. 5. To pray for a fuller revelation of the truth to our souls. ,ers. 17-19.-.77,e (Jhristian mi11i.ster must set an example to hi.s flock. I. THE TRUE SHEPHERD GOETH BEFORE HIS SHEEP. He should be able to say, like the apostle, " Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ." For the preacher's words have little influence if tiley are not enforced and illustrated by his life. A real earnest Christian life is a !iring power; iu; light shines before men; it leads others to glorify that God from whom all true religion comes. For it proves the truth of God's Word and promises; it is a miracle of grace, more wonderful than miracll!!I of power; it draws those who at first believed not the Word, to believe the works. The work of God's grace, manifested in the changed life of the believer, draws souls to God. Hence we must strive alway8 to set a holy example. But we must, like Andrew, find Christ first ourselves if we would bring others to him. Alas! not all who point the way to heaven will enter there; nut all who helped to build the ark were saved therein. · IL THE CHRISTIAN MOST llAll.K THE SAINTS OF Gon. 1. Their example is :precioua full qf gracious attraction. A true Christian, wherever he is, in whatever circum- stances, is of inestimable value. Having himself received grace from God, be becomc-s a eentre of grace for others; rivers of living water flow from him. 2. Such examples increase our responsibuity. St. Paul bids us mark them. If we do not, we neglect one of the greatest helps to a holy life which God provides for us. To read the lives of holy men, still more, if we have that great privilege, to know them, ought to excite in us a holy ardour and ambition. They are men like ourselves, encompassed with infirmities; they have by the grace of God attained a high degree of holiness; we may <lo the like if we persevere as they persevered. We must be Jollowers together of such 1ucn • we must try to reach the holiness which they have gained; their humility, their :,df-,lenials, their charity, their holy joy, their delight in prayer and praise, ought to stir us up to a holv emulation. Such examples, if followed, are an unspeakable advantage; if w,glect.ed, they must greatly increase our danger and (it may be) our condemnation. ~- Cl.ri.,t's saints Me many; their example is one. Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditue, reflect iu ,·arions dtgrees the one imaae of Christ. All Christians, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory. '!'heir chan,cU:rs, thtir training, their opportunities, differ? they present some one gr~, some ar,c,ther, more conspicuously than others; these different graces are so many different aiq;Y.:U; of the one image of Christ. We may study these various graces severally as 1i.il:ed wit!:, human frailty in the characters of saints; we may study them all combined ii.. ai:.i&",!ute fif:rfection in th<: life of our Divilu: Saviour. ell. nt. l"-21.] THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILTPPIANS. 121