rensation for p1W811t snfl'erlngw, not only in its quality, but In ita being eternal. How 1 hen, WIii! he to help forward the destiny of the elect, and at the same time hi■ o~ de~tiny? Be could not preach in his dungeon; but he could follow np the preaching of others by a brave bearing. He could show that he could act what he had preached . .-\ tHi did not much depend on hie going forward bravely to martyrdom? 3, ..d saying of the mart_11r-timn. "Faithfol is the saying." (1) How the Christians encouraged ,me a,,otAer to con.stancy I Pa8t a.a. "For if we died with him, we shall also livo with him." 'l'hey first went back to a detinite act in the p~t, viz. the profession of fRith with which they commenced their Christian career. They thus in obligalioo came up to the martyr-point. They said they were willing, should the Master call them to it, to she.re death with him. If this was the true reading of their act the bright side of it was that they would also be called to share life with Christ. .Abiding stare. "If we endure, we shall also reign with him." They next thought of their pr,·sent sufl'erlng calling for an abiding spirit of endurance, and they used to say to one another, that, if they did not flinch, their future would be brightened to them by their being called to sit with Christ on his throne. (2) How the Christians discouraged one another agai'Mt aposlasy ! Future act. "If we shall deny him, he also will deny us." They next thought of their being put to a severe test in the future, The time might come when their choice would be between Christ and life. Far be it from them, for the sake of life, to deny Christ; for that act of denial on their part would carry with it an ~ct of denial on his part. Abiding ata.te. "lf we are faithless, he e.bideth fe.ithful; for he cannot deny himself." They next thought of an act of denial followed by no penitence, and they said to one e.nother, that if that was their perme.nent state, their future would be earkened, even by reason of the uncl,anging che.racter of their Se.viour. It waa impoaible for him to contradict himself, and, as surely as he shows his e.pprove.l of faith, mll!lt he show his diae.pproval of unbelief, The martyr-times he.d already commenced. The first persecution was under Nero in the year 64, the last under Diocletian in the year 303. The first persecution had not yet ceased. The Christians, charged with setting fire to Rome, were subjected to the most inhume.n treatment, As the historian Tacitus informs us, they were sewn in sacks made of the skins of wild beaata, and thrown to be tom by dogs, They were smeared with pitch, and set on fire as torches to illuminat11 the imperial gardens at night. "Thia persecution extended beyond ihe walls of Rome, and continued with more or less INverity to the end of Nero'■ reign, four years afterwards." It was in the last year of Nero's reign that Paul was now awaiting his martyrdom. This ma.rtyr-ae.ying may be viewed as the fruit of thoae years of persecution. .AE. here incorporated by Paul into this Epistle, it would be a precious legacy to the Church in the many years of persecution to come.-R. F.
Vera. 14-26.--0tmduct m m.o of heresy appeanf!.9 in the OhurcA. I. METHOD OF TIIB IIEBETICS. "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not e.bout words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hee.r." The method of the heretic11 called for solemn warning from Timothy. Its CSBential character was word-fighting. It dealt with the form, and not with the reality; and so it came to be controv.,rsial The word is not unimportant, but it hu no impor- tance apart from its being the vehicl• of the truth. The morl)l defect of the method was i6a want of regard to edification. The disputants only used it for dialectic display. Theni WB6, therefore, no good result to be laid to their account, The only result to be expected wu the subTersion of any who, by hearing, placed themselve11 within their inftuence. II. THI: TBUB llBTBOD. "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, e workm1m that needeth not to be aahameci, handling aright the Word of truth.'' The lwretics sought to be approved. unto them that heard them, for their ■kill in word- 6.ghting. Timothy was to follow another cour110, and to display his zeal in quitting bimselr so as to be approved unto God. The way in which he was to do this was by anaweriog to the idea of a workman. He was not to amuse himself with profitless dis- putAtion, but be we ■ to give profitable work. He was to work with 1uch rigorouN rege.rd to the Divine rule that, whether he met with e.pproval or disapproval from men, he did not neeil to be ashamed. Eapecie.lly wu he to show the better way of <lee.liug with the Word. He we.a t.o cut ril!htly, or cut straight, the Word of truth. Whatever OH, D, 1-26.] THE BEOOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY.