The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 184

lo the 9~11rch "t Rom~ (Rom. xvi) we h~vo the names Priscilla, Phrobe, Mary, Try- J"hl'nll. J ryphos", Pors1s, cto. It 1s not 1mpl'obal1le that the two women mentioned )'_0rc. Eu0<ii~s And Sy?trche, had fAllen out., as i_s not very uncommon with tho sex. _11,c nr?~tle s requ8:'t 1s that t!1ey sho~ld 1?9 reuni~otl, that they l!hould bo hRrmonious Ill ~entlment, nlfoct10n, and &1m. Umty IS essential to genuine Churchiam • nil must 1;~. one.,, 3. Re/1'.qic,11~ happiness: . "Rejoice ~n th~ Lord alw~y : and 11galn I say, he.101ce. Ile happy 1n your rchg1on. Happmess 1s an esse'Dtml element in aenuino !·cligion. "I am co!?e that ye might_ have life [happiness], and that ye might have 1t mo:e ab1!ndanlly. Chr~~ly men are ~ll~d with ~ll "joy nnd pence in believing." Happmes6 1s not only a 1wwil:e!7e of the d1sc1p!es of C11rist, but a. duty. .Jt would seom that it is as wrong for the disciple of Christ to be unhappy as for him to break nny of !he t~n commandments; for the command to rejoice is founded on. the snrno authority as "Thou sha.lt not steal" A community that is sad and gloomy is destitute of genuine Churcbism. III. How the members should act in relation to EAC!I OTHER. 1. Tliey ,should e:rercis,e mutual hdpjul'TU!.ss. "I entreat thC>e also, true yokcfellow, help those womeu which laboured with me in the gospel. with Clement also." Who the "true yoke- fellow" was, whether Luke, or Lydia, or Epaphroditus, no one knows. - It matters not. It was some one who was well known to be a co-worker with Paul, and he asks, on behalf of the women who laboured with him and others, for co-operation.. Genuine Churchism implies mutua I co-operation; "Bear ye one another's bt1;rdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ." 2. Th.ey shouul eurci.se soctal forbe!],r:ance. "Let your modera- tion [forbearance] be known unto all men." In most social circles there is much to try men's patience one with another. All are more or less imperfect; hence J,he.need of forbearance, magnanimous self-control Pray ever for our enemies; do good to them that spit.efully use us. . IV. How the members are connected with TBB EMPIRE OJ' C.e:m:sT. uWhose names are in t-he book of life." (For the "book of life," see Dan._ xii. 1; Rev. iii. 5; xiii. 8; xvii. 8; xx. 12; x:xi. 27.) From that book the name mQ.y bo. blotted out now (Rev. iii. 5; EJ..od. xllii. 33) till the end fixes it for ever. •There isa peculiar beauty in the allw;ion here. The apostle i3oes not mention .his fellow-labourers by name; but.it matters llOt--the names are written before God, in the book.of life. If they continue. in hi.s service those names shall shine out hereafter when the great names of the _earth fade into nothingness. The names of all the citizens in a city have a registration,; so metaphorically the names of all the citizens of the ·heavenly Jerusalem are duly enrolled. God registers the names in this book. He omits none who are entitled to it, makes no mistake in the record. The "book of life." Ah, what names are there I How illustrious, how multitudinous, bow increasing 1 Genuine Churchism implies thll registration of names in this "book." ,. Hew the members should act in relation to tlie GBE.AT G®, - "Be careful for nvlbing [in nothing be anxious]; but in everything by prayer and supplication with tlrnnksgiving let your requests be made known unto Go,l." 1. 1/l-confiding. "Bll careful for nothina." "Take no anxious thought for the morrow. Un bounded con- ficience in the pa~rnal government that is over .alL 2. Ever prayerful. "In every- thing by prayer." Prayer is not words, it is a life; not a service, it is a spirit. "Pray without ceasing." An abiding, practical realization of dependence on God is prayer, a11d 1Lis should be constant as life-the very breath of the soul. 3. Always thankful. "With tbank~giving." BeiJ1g the recipients of mercies, unmerited, priceless, and ever iricreasing every minute, the spirit of thanksgiving should throb wHh every beat1ng pulse. CoNCLUBION. Brothers, have you genuine Churchism ? Talk not to me about your Churches. You mw;t have genuine Churchism in order to be identified with the .. Church of the Firstborn written m heaven."-D. T. Vers. 7, 8.-Divine pea,u. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever tliir,~s are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever tLir,gs are pure, whatsoever tbiu:,;s are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if t1(;rc Le ar,,y virtue, and if there be any praise, think on theEe things.'' .These words 011. IV. 1-23.] THE EJJISTLE TO THE PIIILIPPTANS. 187