confined? There were many prisons in Rome, and he may have been transferred from prison to prison. But where were the Roman Christians who met the apostle on his first visit to the city, that. they could not inform Onesiphorns of the place of the impri- sonment? Had they too turned away from him? Or had Nero struck an unworthy terror into their hearts? Onesiphorus persevered, however, in his search, and found him in his prison. (2) He "oU refreshed the apostle, and was not ashamed of his chain." This implies (a) that he visited him more than onc11; (b) that the imprisonment, though Revere, did not quite debar all BCCess to the outside world; (c) that the Christians at Rome were impliedly ashamed of the apostles' chain, ulse such prominence would not have been given to the kindness and courage of this noble Ephesian saint. JI, THE RETlJRN WHICH THB APOSTLE JUKES FOB TBE KINDNESS OF ONESIPBOBtl8, "The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus . . . the Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day." He cannot make any other return for kindness than a fervent prayer for Onesiphorus and for his family. 1. The prayer suggesu that though the apostle i,s shut up from the world, the way to heaven i, still open. He cannot pay his visitor the compliment of seeing him to the door, but he can remember him at a throne of grace. 2. He rt.members the household of this good man. What blessings descend npon house.holders who are blessed with such a head I The apostle 1•rays for "mercy" on this happy household. Every blessing is included in the term. 3. '17U: praye:r for Onesiphorus himself is likewise a prayer for mNcy. Some have inferred that be was now dead, and that we have here an example of prayer for a dead man. The supposition is entirely gratuitous. One.siphorus may have been absent from Ephesus, as he necessnrily was on his visit to the apostle. Besides, his visit to the apostle must have occurred only a very short time previously, for it is admitted on all bands that the apostle's last imprisonment was very brief, and it is rather improbable that Onesiphorus should have died immediately after his visit to Rome, or that the apostle_ should have heard of it. Onesiphorus would have the blessing promised by our Lord in the memorable saying," I was in prison, and ye visited me."-T. C. Ver. L-" The promise of life." It was an age of death when St. Paul wrote this Epistle. Be.neath all the gaieties of Roman civilization there was decay of morals, and corruption of the inner life. SuicidP, as we have seen, was common in Rome, and men, tired of themselves, and disbelieving alike in present or in future joy, put an end to their earthly existence. St. Paul was now enduring bis second imprisonment at Rome. In the year ..LD. 63 the great conflagration, for which that master of crime, Nero, was responsible, took place, burning half the city. He falsely charged his own crime on the Christians, some of whom were covered with the skins of beasts and thrown to the dogs ; some were covered with inflammable matetials, and burnt as human torches, which illuminated the gardens; while the bestial Nero drove abroad in his chariot, and indulged bis base delight in the carnival of fire and blood. St. Paul, knowing his own end to be.near at hand, in a city where his second imprisonme~t had become much more severe , han the first one bad been, had now no opportunity of preaching, as he did under the milder treatment he was subjected _to before, and gives this second charge to Timothy, whom he exhorts to be courageous and earnest in the defence and proclamation of a faith which the imprisoned apostle could proclaim no more. l. TBE PROMISE OF LIFE 18 SPOKEN OF AS THE REVELATION OF CHRIST, It is in Christ Jesus. That is to Hay, we as believers have in vital union with him, the pledge and promise of immortality. No power of earth or hell could touch that life. St. Paul feared not those who could kill the body, and after that had no more that they could do. He knew that the life within no sword or flame could slay, and_ he rejoices in the triumph of faith in Chri~t. II. THE PROMISE OF LIFE 18 SPOKEN OF All A DEVELOPING POWER. It was a promise, an earnest, of the inheritance. He was yet to have life more abundantly. He looked forward to a time when his environment would be heavenly in its atmosphere, and ever without the blight of sin or the blasting& of temptation, he should enjoy the fruition of life at God's right hand for evermore.-W. M. B.
Ver. 3.-TJie ilnfUJf' sel,f. "With pure conscience." There is no music In the world comparable to thia. It is" the voice of melody," and it enabled Paul and Bilu to 1ing OIL 1.1-18.) THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. 13