our Lord, Matt. xxi. 27 ; xxii. 21, 29). When questioned as to "the hope that is in us" (1 Pet. iii. 15) a weak answer may confirm doubts. Take as models the various answers and vindications of his faith given by St. Paul before the pagans of Athens, the Jews of Jerusalem and of Rome, Felix and Agrippa. But if our ton,,ues are to speak ari!!;ht, our hearts must be kept full of the fire of the love of God ~mpered by "the wisdom that is from above" (Matt. xii. 34; Jas. iii. 17).-E. S. P. Vere. 7-18.-Personal salutations and pastoral cares. The personal references in Paul's Epistles are valuable in several wayA. "Proper names, although they be recited alone in the Scriptures, are not to be despised" (2 'l'im. iii. 16). "For like as if any one should find dry herbs, having neither fragrance nor colour that was pleasing, arran~ed in the surgery of a doctor, however mean may be their appearance, will yet guess that some virtue or remedy is concealed in them ; so in the pharmacopceia of the t:lcriptures, if anything occurs that at first sight may seem to be despised by us, yet may we deter- mine of a certainty that there is some spiritual utility to be found in it; because Christ, the Physician of souls, we may suppose, would place nothing insignificant or useless in his pharmacopceia" (Origen). These personal references are useful: 1. As supplying " undesigned coincidences" (Paley's 'Harm Paulinm,' eh. vi., viii., and xiv. ; and Birks' 'Harm Apostolicre,' eh. vi.). 2. As correcting errors; e.g. the alleged episcopacy of St. Peter at Rome from A.D. 42-68 is rendered incredible by the silence of St. Paul in all his Epistles from Rome (vers. 10, 11). 3. As helping us to form a vivid idea of the apostle's circumstances at different periods, and their bearing on his life's work and teaching. From these twelve verses we gather such facts as these, each of which may suggest some useful lessons. He was a prisoner, adding his autograph message "in a chain" (Eph. vi. 20); enjoying for the present considerable indulgence (Acts x.xviii. 30, 31), and hoping for a speedy release (Philem. 22). He enjoyed the company of friends both old and new. Here is Tychicus, probably from Ephesus, a tried com- panion in toil and peril (Acts x.x. 4; Eph. vi. 21); and Onesimus (a trophy of Divine grace, a jewel rescued as from the common sewer of the corrupt metropolis; teaching us to despair of no one). These two are being sent to tighten the bonds between the Churches in Asia and the apostle at Rome (vers. 7-10; Eph. vi. 22). Others remain to aid and cheer him. ..tl.ristarchus of Thessalonica, one of the firstfruits of Europe, now a voluntary prisoner (Acts xix. 29; x.x. 4; xxvii. 2). Mark, now 1mjoying the fullest confidence of St. Paul (2 Tim. iv. 11): an encouraging illustration of bow "patient continuance in well-doing" may cast early errors into oblivion and win back confidence once withdrawn; and a caution even to an apostle against too stern a judgment on a young brother. Jesus Justus, the only other Hebrew Christian men- tioned, otherwise unknowo, yet worthy of honour in all ages, because "a comfort " (I) the apostle: an encouragement to workers little known in the annals of the Church (Matt. x. 40-42). Epaphras, probably the founder of the Colossian Church, who Lad often preached to them and now prayed much for them. Luke, the first medical missionary, a minister to the soul as well as to the body of the sorely tried apostle. Last comes Demas, mentioned without any commendation; still a fellow-labourer (Philem. 24), but in whom St. Paul may have already detected signs of that worldly-mindedness which led him afterwards to withdraw from duty and danger, if not altogether to make shipwreck of faith (2 Tim. iv. 10)-a caution against backsliding in heart (Prov. xii·. 14; 1 John ii. 15). The salutations to brethren at Colossro further remind us of the social life and limited conditions of the primitive Christians(" Nymphas, anti the Church that i~ in their house"), of the value of an earnest ministry to the Church (ver. 17), nnd of the duty of cherishing fraternal sympathy with other Churches (vers. 15, lG). 'fhis reference to the Epistle to Laodicea suggests to us that, though a letter may be lost and a Church may languish or die (Rev. iii. 14-22), the Word of the Lord in the letter and to the Church endureth for ever. Many of these references group themselves around the names of those who were pastors or evangelists, and suggest final thoughts respecting a minister's responsibilities, anxieties, and encw.rageinents. 1. Responsibilities. (Ver. ]7.) The ministry was" in the Lord." In union with and in subordination to him he was to exercise it; and only by the utmost vigilance and energy could he fulfil it. To every minister such a charge is given as 2 Tim. iv.1, 2, 5, and such promises as 1 Tim. iv. 16. Responsibility inspires zeal (2 Cor. iv. 1, 2; v. 9; vi. 3-10), anJ 240 THI<: EPISTLE TO 'l'HE COLOSSIANS. [CH. IV, 1-18,
fosters that spirit of dependence which ensures the blessing (1 Cor. iii. 7). 2. .Anooietic.~. (V<'rs. 12, 13.) A faithful minister can aim at nothing less. Ho cannot ndapt tho standard of the gospel to the maxims of the day. He has to educate tho mind and tho conscience, that bis flock may be "perfect and fully assured iu all the will of God." He must teach and warn, apv_lyin_g gencr:i,l principles to i:ractical det3ils, being bimsolf an example to the flock (1 'l m1. 1v. 12) m laboms and m prayers, so that those who know him beRt may bear such witness to him as Paul does to Epaphras. 3. Encourage- •ments from tbree sources: sympathy, such as Paul enjoyed from friends at Rome and at Coloss.-e; co-oreration from" fellow-workers unto the kingdom of Goel;" affection, such as love to the one Lord an? labours for him_promote iu men of different temperaments, so that we find Paul sprn1.krng of many of his colleagues, uot only as honoured fellow- soldicrs, but beloved _friends (ve:5- 7, D, 14; Rom. :-Vi. 12). For 111l such the apostle hreathes the concludmg prayer 1n one comprehensive term," Grace be with you."- R &~ •