Ven. 12-14.-The Christian race: conditions of victory. 1. The recognition that we are not yet conquerors, and that every effort on our part is necessary if we would secure the prize. 2. The knowledge that we are not running the race in our own strength, but that we are seeking to seize upon a victory already designed for us. When we realize that Christ has grasped us we know that we are being upheld by him, and our confidence of final victory is no longer in ourselves, but in him. 3. The faith that we are freed from our past sins by the atoning power of Christ. If we cannot feel assured of this we are for ever worrying about the things which are behind instead of forgetting them, and are thus powerless to look forward to the things that are before. Look forwards and upwards, rather than backwards, if you would succeed in life's race. 4. Striving under such conditions we are more than conquerors through him who loves us.-V. W. H. Vers. 15, 16.-.A. deficient faith wi'll be accepted and enlightened if i4 be held in a good conscience. 'l'he true law of spiritual progress has been laid down by St. Paul iu the foregoing verses. At the same time, there are many who appear to be making such progress without any clear idea of these conditions or any definite grasp of the gospel scheme. How are we to regard such ? I. As NOT FULLY ENLIGHTENED. He who is perfect, i.e. full grown in Christian experience, will realize that the progress described by St. Paul is the only true form of spiritual growth. II. THEIR WANT OF ENLIGHTENMENT IS FROM WANT 01' KNOWLEDGE AKD NOT FROM AN EVIL CONSCIENCE. Such ignorance will not hinder them from receiving God's grace if they persevere in that to which their conscience guides them. III. SucH PERSEVERANCE WILL LEAD THEM INTO THE LIGHT. However deficient their knowledge may be, their faith is true and will not be left uninstructed. "If any man wills to do God's will, he shall know of the doctrine" (John viL 17). The woman who sought healing by touching the hem of Christ's garment is an example of uninstructed faith not without its reward. She is in error in imn.gining that his healin~ power proceeded from some mn.gic effluence from his body rather than from his love. But it was an error of the head and not of the heart. She is right euough in her simple faith in him. By her faith she gains that which she sought; and wore, even his blessing, "Go in peace I "-V. W. H.
Vers. 20, 21.-0ur heavenly citizenship. The Christian is living in two spheres at the same time. Locally, be is a citizen of the world; spiritually, he is in heaven. Compare our Lord's descript.ion of the twofold condition of the apostles whom he was leaving-they were "in the world" and yet they were "in him" (John xvi. 33). These spheres are not of necessity opposed the one to the other, but they become so when the lower attempts to usurp the place which belongs to the higher. I. THE DIFFICULTY OF REALIZING THIS HEAVENLY CITUIENSBIP. \Ve are surrounded by the circumstances of our external lives, which press upon us very closely. \Ve are now clothed with a "body of humiliation." 11. THE BLESSINGS WHICH PROCEED FROM REALIZING IT. 1. Faith in the power of our King; if we are his subjects he has a duty towards us which he will surely fulfil. 2. Love for the grace which he bestows, 3. Hope that he will cowe tu free us from this divided service. III. HE HAS IIIMSELF SHARED IN •rHIS TWOFOLD LIFE. While on earth he was still "in heaven" (John iii. 13). IV. WE AUE TO SHARE IN HIS VICTORY OVER 'l'HE WORLD. The body of his humilia- tion has beon changed into the body of his glory. We aro to be changed in like manner, so that our outward condition as well as our inner life may partake of tho heavenly citizeuship.-V. W. H. 150 THE EPISTLE TO 1.'IIE PHILlPPIANS. [ell. Ill. 1-21.
Ver. J .-(Sl'c on eh. iv. 4.)-,'\T. F. A.
1cr. 2,-''. Dogs." ,Tews_ regarded the Gentiles as do~ (Matt. xv. 22, et se,z.). Tho unclean feed.mg of these animals-the scavengers of Eastern cities-was supposed to be anrilogous to the Gentile freedom in e.'l.ling all kinds of meats. St. Paul turns tbo tnL!es, and c~lls the Judaizers who fet'd upon carnal ordinances dogs in comparison with Christians who live on the higher spiritual food. l. CoNTKMPTUOQl LANGUAGE MAY IlE CCCASIO~ALLY PERMITTJ;:o IN CONTROVKRSY, It is a most dangerous weapon. R:trely is it c:llled for. Only they who have 11:reat kindnes~ of heart ea~ use it safely, and these people arc the most loth to employ it at all. Still, even Christ called Herod a fox and spoke of casting pearls before swine. Contempt should only be for the baseness of a character, never for the human soul in which tbat baseness dwells. But there are some habits and thoutrhts0 which we should heartily despise, and which can be best condemned by contempt. II. OPPROBRIOUS EPITHETS ARE APT TO REVERT ON THE HEAD OF THOSE WHO COIN ":'IIEM. Jews who regard the Gentiles as dogs merit the same name when they cling to lower thinking and living than is consistent with Christianity. In despising others we may be preparing the way for contempt to fall on ourselves. III. LACK OF SPIRITUALITY IS THE ROOT OF UNCLEANNESS. The Juclaizers are do<rs hecau.~ they cling to carnal ordinances. The unspiritual is carnal, and the carnal in its unrestrained exercise is tbe unclean. Therefore the remedy for impurity of thought and action is not the observance of rigorous ritual, but the cultivation of a spiritual tone of mind. IV. As CHB.ISTLL"-S WE ARE REQUIRED TO SHUN THE FIRST APPROACH TO WHAT IS L'NHOLY. The cams.I ordinance must be avoided because it is the first step towards the carnal sin. We ongbt not to ask how far we can go safely in the •direction of evil, but rather to strive to hep as far a.s possible away from it. Even the company" of those who are unholy must be shunned. We are not only nott.o behave like the dogs; we are to beware of the dogs.-W. F. A.