"Some murmut when their sky is clear And wholly bright to view, If one small speck of dark appear In their great heaven of bluo. And·somo with thankful love oro filled, If but one streak of light, One ro.y of God's great mercy, gild The darkness of their night." (French.) Ill. Hero is a man represented as a GENUINE REFORMER. "I can do all things through Christ [in hiru] which strcngthcneth me." Paul was a genuine reformer. The reform:l- tion he sought was not in corrupt legislation, in outward institutions-social, political, or ecclesiastical-in theological systems, or in external behaviour. Such reformations are of little worth. He wrought. 1. In the realms of motive, the springs of action, to change the moral heart of the world. Every man on earth should act in this character and become a moral reformer. All should study and imitate Paul in this aspect. How did he act as a reformer? -2. In conscious dependence on Christ. "I can do all things through Christ." "All things" pertaining to this work as a reformer, not by my own taleuts, skill, or industry, not in my own strength, but in" Christ which strengtheneth me." Indeed, in Christ's strength what cannot a. man do? He can work miracles as the apostles did, he can turn the moral world upside down, he can create men "a.new in Christ Jesus," he can sound a trumpet whose blast shall penetrate the ears of slumbering soula and awake the teeming millions that are sleeping in the dust of worldliness and depravity. "'l'hrougb Christ which strengthenech me." Stren:.;thens me by turning me away from things that are temporal to things that are spiritual, rooting my faith in eternal realities, filling and firing me with the love which he had for human souls and for the everlasting Father. • CoNcLusroN. Study well these model aspects of a man who, as an obfect of Christian beneficence, is always religiously grateful, heartily appreciative of the favours he receives, and entirely unselfish; as a subject of providential vicissitudes, magnanimously con- tented in every condition and mood of life; and, as a gffiuine rejO'Tmer, does his work, not in his own strength, but in the power of Christ.-D. 'l'. Vers. 2, 3.-The healing of dissensions. A dissension between two women, probably persons of prominence in the Church. Women occupy an important position in the Church at Philippi (Acts xvi. 13-18). 'l'his fact may account somewhat for its orthodoxy, its· fervent devotion, and its special temptation to want of unity. '!'his particular dissension is regarded by St. Paul to be of sufficient i.mportanco to demand a notice in this Epistle, and to' call for his personal interposition. 1. The only method of healing dissension. Persons alienated from one another mast be brought to be of one mind in the Lord. No recoQciliation is abiding except it be in him who is the Peace-maker. 2. To heal dissension is a work worthy of the highest ministry of tlie Church. St. Paul calls to his aid their chief pastor, Clement, who was afterwards Bishop of Home, and others whose names are in the book of life. No error in the Church is worse thnn the error of uncharitableness and envv. 3. 'l'o remove such dissensions is· truly to help (ver. 3) those who are the victims of them. Note that even they who laboureu with St. Paul were not free from human infirmities. '!'hey who could stand by him in his work now need all his entreaties and endeavours to bring them into reconciliation.- A warning to all Church workers.-V. W. H. Vers. 4, 5.-Rejoicing always. I. TIIE rossIBILITY OF IT. The command to rejoice always appears to be one which it is impossible that we should obey. This impossi- bility vanishes when we remember that we are to rejoice "in the Lord." No:e the frequency of this expression in this Epistle. St. Paul profoundly realizes that the Christian soul is living in a sphere not recognizable by the outward senses, but which is ever present to tho eye of faith. If wo are living in the Lord we can alw,iys rejoice, because in him all things work together for gootl, and even our soiTows he turns into joy. • II. 'l'nE METHOD oF IT, Dy letting our forbearance be known unto all men. He THE EPISTLE TO THE PHLLlPPIANS. [oB, iv. l-23.
who is Ih·ing in the Lordi~ Rlwaye rejoicing, not with the joy which triumphs over ~he sC1rr?ws of otl,ers, hut with the se~f-restrained joy which recognizes that, being yet 111 tranul, we mu8t yet have so1Tow mingled with our joy. 'l'his sense of self-rcstraiut ie the t.rnesl pre,·cntive of dissension and dispute . . l_ I I. ~'HE REASON FOB IT. '.' The Lo~d is at hand." He ls ever read.v to appear Y1s1bly rn our midst, Rnd for this appcanng we are constantly to watch. How e11n we be doing so unless we a~e ~ejoicing in _hi~, and rejoicing in him with gentle forbearnnco tow~r<ls. o_ur fellow-Chnst1ans? He 1s, mdeed, always at hand, even if he yet appear not rn Y1s1ble fonn; for where two or three arc gathered together in his Name he is in Lhe midst of them. ls not this a reason for joy and for forbearance?-V. W. H. Vers. 6, 7.-Goa'spea,u. I. WHAT IT IS. God's own peace; that which he himselC possesses. It is the peace which our Lord had and which he promised to his disciples: "Alp pe.ace I give unto you." It is, therefore, no mere superficial freedom from external troubles, but a deep-seated harmony with God the Source of all peace. Thus it transcends human uuderstanding and human expression. II. ".HAT PBEVE~'TS OTTB POSSESSING IT1 Over-anxiety and worry. These are a kind of practical atheism, since they prevent us from leaving all things to him who is supreme over all circumstances. III. How TO OBTAIN IT. By prayer, which rest.a upon him for all things; by suppli- cation, which brings our own special causes for anxiety into his presence; by thanks- giving, which recognizes that his will must be full of blessing. By thus turnina0 our cares into prayers we throw them upon him who gives us in return his peace. IV. WHAT IT DOES FOR us. It keeps our hearts and minds, preserving them from undue anxiety, and making them realize the strength of the peace which Christ bestows. How do these words come home with sublime force at the end of our Com- munion Service! Having received him who is our Peace (Eph. ii. 14), we have entered into and ta.ken possession of the peace of God which passeth all understanding.- V. W.H.