Vers. 1, ~.-The apostolic salutation, Pondering this salutation, we ask nbout it three questions. I. WHAT IT REVEALS ABOUT TRE APOSTLE. It indicates: 1. Hia dignity. 11 An npo_stle . . . by the will of God." This was a title (1) divinely derived ; (2) directly dcnved from God; (3) abundantly ;'usti,.fied, (a) by supero.atural visionsaud experiences, (b) by seals of success. This ti tie was used here, though not in his salutation to all the Churches, because here (1) he was dealing with error and erroneous teachers and so needed a claim of authority; (2) he was personally an entire strnncrer t~ the Colossians; (3) he writes from prison, and it was well he should remind himself and them or his trne dignity. He was a prisoner, yet none the less nn apostle, 2.. His condescension. " Timolheus our brother." He was no fellow-apostle, yet his brother ; he was his boyish, not to say childish, convert, yet his brother. Great souls never patronize; they elevate true men, of whatever station or a:ze, into brotherhood with them. The GrPatest said, " I have called you not servants, but friends." "Ho is not ashamed to call them brethren." II. WHAT IT rnPLIEs ABOUT THE CHURCH. It recalls to us: 1. Its locality and its associations. One of the historic Churches in the valley of the Lycus ; the town, too, had been famous, though its glory was waning. Xerxes and Cyrus had made it famous, but Paul's letter has made its name known where Xerxes and Cyrus have never been heard of. 2. Its character. This indeed ought to be the character of every Church. For its members were: (1) "Saints." The Old Testament description of Israel thus npplied to Christians to indicate their union with God. (2) "Faithful brethren." Indicating their union with each other. All free-masonries, guilds, etc., are but hints or what the Church is meant to be in this aspect of it. nr. "'HAT IT SUGGESTS .AllOUT TRUE DLESSEDNESS. "Grace and peace" is Panl's customary greeting; it is a blended Greek and Hebrew salutation. It expresses the Apostle's best wish for a Church. What is it? 1. " Grace." It is a Greek thought Christianized. It takes the conception of grace of Corm, of gesture, of tone, into the spiritual realm. It has on Paul's pen and lips two meanings. (1) It is to be enjoyed as the attitude of God in Christ towards men. It is thus the Divine pity, gentleness, favour, the bearing of a forgiving, condescending, loving God. That is infinite grace. (2) It is to be possessed as the spirit of a. Christian. It is thus "the grace of life"- moral beauty, spiritual loveliness. It is the indwelling in human character of more than all that the Greeks conceived in their "three Graces." 2. "Peace," It may include: (1) Freedom from persecution, then a great desideratum. (2) .Absence of internal dissemion. This was the one main purpose of his letter. (3) Inward calm of heart and quiet confidence in God. This is ideal peace. Christ's peace and the wish of Paul is the gift of Jesus; for he said, "My peace give I unto you."-U. R. T.
Vers. 3-8.-The apostolic thanksgiving. We notice here- I. THE SPIRIT OF THIS THANKSGIVING. Whatever is in it is so beautiful that we may well imitate it. Observe: 1. It is unselfish. We hear the prisoner praise, the chained captive exult, for the joys of others. Arthur Helps says," That man is very stroug and powerful, who has no more hopes for himself, who looks not to be loved any more to be admired any more, t.o have any more honour and dignity, but whose sole thought is for others, and who only lives for them." That is what you have before you here. 2. It is ungrudging. Paul is about to deal with their errors, bnt nevertheless how willing and, indeed, cager he is first to rccog!lize what is good and laudable in_ thi~ Colosi;ian Cbureh ! There are two sets of men with regard to art, scenery, and society: those who first see the blemish, then the beauty; and those wbo first of all rejoice in the admiraLle, if afterwards they have to criticise any drawback. To the second of theBe Paul belonged, 3. It is constant. Like a perennial fountain, his praise and 1,rayer fur them shall be poured forth. ll. THE sunJECT OF THIS THANKSGIVING. He thanks God: 1. For the &piritual 1H,ssessiuns uf the Church. lierc is the familiar triad of his thought and description- fuilh, l0ve, hupe. Sometimes he views faith and lo1•e as leading up to hope; here he OH, I, 1-20.) 'rlIE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 61