The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 175

which point.I! to t~e maximum of deliberation,., Again I will eay, Rejoice." All wlah to rejoice, b~t mistakes are made ey-~n by Chrletiana as t.o the object. According to the teachmg hero, we are ~ reJolce m the Lord. Or, as Christ says, bringing us back to the pure fonnt of Joy, "Howbeit in this rejoice not that the spirits nre subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in hcnvon." \Ve nre not to rejoice in ?urselves, or in. any of God's creatures, as though they were ~he first cllu~o, the pnmal source of Joy. Nay, we ~re no~ even to rejoice primarily rn works which God may do by us. When Oile 1s emmently successful in con- version-work, we say, perhaps not without s feeling of envy, "\Vhat a joy must fill that man's soul I" If we were the instrument of converting sinners like him we think we could rejoice too. But it is to be noted that the most successfui labourer in the ,·ineyard is not before the humblest Christian in tbo deepest sourco of bis joy. What we have all alike to rejoice in is this, that our names nre written in heaven; in other words, that we ourselves are the children or people of God, that we J,ave God as our Portion, that he regards us individually with judicial favour and fatherly Jove. There is thus a very humble, self-excluding element in our joy. The ~ound of rejoicing in the Lord, for us who were born in sin, is the atoning work of Christ. To atone for sin entailed great sorrow on our Substitute. From eternity ha,ing joys most exalted in himself, he endured pains which, considering their cause, were infernal. The pains of hell got hold upon him. Think of Gethsemane ; think of Cal.ary. But he never veered a hairbreadth from the purpose of our salvation. He Silt his face like a flint, and so the work was done, and done for ever. And now, in Christ, God stands in a gracious relation to his people. He has entirely altered their relation to him, from being objects of his regard to being objects of his complacent rc,,,"3.rd. Double reason, then, have we for rejoicing in God. "0 Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou com- fortedst me." Ours, then, should be a deep and a perennial joy. Even under depreciation of earthly comfort, there should be more gladness in our heart than men of the world have in the time that their corn and their wine and their oil abound. God, in Christ, is more to UB than corn, or wine, or oil; ay, more than the dearest earthly friend, and One who will never fail us; and therefore we may al wny rejoice. I'f. DUTY OF FORllEA.BA.NCE. I. Stated. "Le.t your forbearance be known unto all men." Forbearance is reasonableness (to which the derivation points) on its gentle side. It is the opposite of rigorism. It is " considerateness for others, not urging one's own rights to the uttermost, but waiving a part, and thereby rectifying the injustice of justice. '!'he archetype of this grace is God, who presses not the strictness of his Law airainst us, as we deserve, though having exacted fullest pay- ment for us from our Divine Surety." It was a grace especially t.o be "known'' unto their persecutors. It was a grace to be "known" unto the worst offenders. As inlieparable from them, it WM to be "known" unto all men; i.e. in all their deali uas with men. 2. Enforced. " The Lord is at hand." Rigorism "would be ukiug into our own hands prematurely the prerogative of judging, which belongs to the Lord alone; and so provoking God to judge us by the strict letter of t~e Law." Let us think kindly of men, even of the worst of men, as those who are still under trial, and who, by our forbearance, may be won over ~o the Lord's side. And, a:t judgment Jingereth not, let us fully embrace the opportunity. V. MEANS To BE USED AG.A.Df6T ANXIETY. I. '1.'he evil to be avoided. "In nothing be anxious." •• Nothing" has the emphasis. 'J'o not one thing is our anxiety to extend. Anxiety is harassing care, very different from the providential care of God. We cannot help having cares in the world-cares about getting a livelihood, cares about health, cares about higher matters, cares about those who are nenr and dear to us, and cares, beyond our immediate circle, for men generally and for the Church. But, though we cannot help having cares in this world, we are not to be harassed by cares, as though we had to bear them ourselves. 2. Means to be used against the evil. "But in everything by prayer and supplication wit~ t~anksgivi_ng l~t your requests ~e made kuc,vm unto Goo.." Over against the" nothing of anxiety 1s the "C\'erythmg" by prayer. EH:ry part of our life is to be connected with prayer. '!'here is nothing too EID.all tu be counec,-ted with prayer. Specially on every occasion of care are we_ to pray. Ai,G, while we pray generally, we are to make our prayer turn upon our special need. (JU, IV, 1-33,] THE EPISTLE TO 'rHE PHILIPPIANS. 177