it. Their bounty is eet down to their account in the treasury of heaven, and this thought is full of sweetness to the apostle's soul. 2. His C<Yn,te,ntment. He needed nothing more, he Bllid; Epaphroditus had brought all he wanted, and more than he wanted. Mark the unworldliness of the apostle. We are never satisfied; whatever we have we want more. He was sa.tisfied amid hardships, in captivity. For he had the peace of God which paeseth all understanding, and, having that, he could not crave for earthly comforts. III. THE AOOEPTABLENEBS OF TBEIR GIFT. 1. Those gifts relieved St. Paul's wants, but they had a far higher character-they were, he tellB us, " an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to Uod." Christian alrnsgi ving is a very sacred thing; God accepts the gift as given to himself. It has a sacrificial character; for it issues out of that spiritual ea.orifice offered to God by the royal priesthood-the sacrifice of self. We are bidden to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. The offering of ourselves sanctifies the lesser offering of our earthly goods. 2. The reward. The cup of cold water given in the name of a prophet would bring a prophet's reward. The Philippia.ns had supplied the apostle's needs; they had done it for Christ's sake, whose servant he was ; God would supply all their needs. They had given according to their means, out of their deep poverty; God would reward them according to his riches. What a word is this I 'l'he riches of God a.re infinite; infinite, then, is the reward, not of almsgiving iu itself, but of the faith and love which prompted it. "Can two mites buy the kingdom?" asks St. Chrysostom. Yes, if they a.re given in the spirit of the poor widow, in undoubting faith and self-sacrificing love. God will reward those who minister to his saints, in glory-in the glory of his grace and presence now, in the glory of heaven hereafter. He will reward them in Christ Jesus, in virtue of that living union with Christ, through which alone all spiritual blessings flow into the believer's soul. 3. The thanksgiving. The glory is God's. It is he who giveth his people a. willing heart to offer willingly. 'l'he glory is his. Men see their good works and glorify their Father. All glory is his, all majesty, dominion, and power, and that throughout the ages of eternity. LESSONS. Learn: 1. The beauty of Christian sympathy. 2. The blessedness of Christian almsgiving. 3. To give like the Philippia.ns, gladly. 3. To receive, if need be, like St. Paul, prizing the love more than the gift. 4. Always to a.scribe the glory to God,
Vers. 21-23.-The salutations, I. THE Al'OSTLE's OWN SALUTATIONS. 1. They teach the duty of Christian courtesy. A Christian salutation is real; it is a benediction, not a mere form; for it is the expression of that love which ought to be the distinguish- ing mark of Christians. 2. He salutes every saint. He does not single out individual names in this Epistle; he sends his love to every saint. We have noticed more than once bow often the word "all" occurs; there was no schism in the Philippia.n Church ; all loved St. Paul, and all were dear to him. There were personal quarrels, but no religious animosities. It was a united Church, one in faith and love. 3. He calls them "saints in Ghrist Jesus" at the end of his Epistle, as he had done in the first verse. It is one of the highest titles by which Christians can be addressed. It reminds us of our high privileges and of our great responsibilities. We a.re saints _by dedication, _we have been once made members of Christ. Wo roust walk" worthily of the callmg wherewith we were called;" it must be our most earnest effort to follow after holiness of heart and life, and to abide in Christ. It is an awful as well as a blessed thing to be a Christian, redeemed with the most precious blood, reconciled to God by the tremendous sacrifice of the cross. The word "saint" reminds us of our duties and of our hopes. Therefore St. Paul loves to repeat it. II. SALUTATIONS BENT FROM ROME. 1. From the brethren which were with Mm. He means his personal companions who had come to Rome with him or joined him there afterwards. Except Timothy, they were not like-minded with himself (eh. ii. 20, 21); yet he calls them "brethren." Ho had that charity which" hopeth all thin~s, believeth all things, endureth all thin"s." 2. From the Roman <Jhristians. "A.I! the saints," he says," salute you." He mettions especially the Christians uf Nero's household. The gospel had reached the.t sink of all impurity; there were saints there. Whether ehwes (as they probably were) or officials of the court, whether of higher or lower 166 THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. [OR, IV, 1-28.
rnnk, they were at!tlched to the person of Nero and witnessed the abominations of hill loath~ome life. God's grace is sufficient for us, whatever our outward lot may be, St. Paul in chains, these Christians of Nero's household in the palace lived a holy life. Holiness is possible in all conditions of life, in the deepest poverty' and amid all the temptations of wealth and evil e:itample. It needs only the gmce of God. 3. There- fore the apoetk ends, as he began, with tM grace of our Lord .TeSUIJ Ohrist. Christ is the Alpha and Omega, his grace is the begioning and the end. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. His grace is sufficient for us. 'l'o him be the gloty for ever and ever. ' " LBS.50ll'B. Learn: 1. To be courteous to all men. 2, To strive with all earnestness to become saints, not in name only, but in deed and in truth. 3. Not to lay blame on our circumstances, but to strive, whatever our circumst.anoes may be; to adorn the doc- trine of God onr Saviour i11 all things. 4. To trust only in God, to pray constantly for his grace.