I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." 1. The good.fight ended. (1) Every Christian la II soldier. (2) He baa to fight 11gain1t the threefold enmity of the world, the flesh, and the devil (3) He overcomes through faith e.s hia sole weapon (1 John v. 4, 6). (4) There la II limit to the duration of the fight. Death ends it. 2. The race tmded. (1) It ia a long race; (2) a wearying r11Ce; (3) yet a glorious race, because it has a happy ending. 3. 2'Aii faith preserved. (1) It is a precions deposit placed in our hands (eh. I. 14). (2) Errorists of all aorts are continually striving to wrest it out of our bands by their specious sophistries. (3) Believen keep it safest who treasure It in their hearts as well aa their minds. III. THE BI,EBBED PBOBPEC71'11 m BTORB J'OB HIii, " Henceforth there is la.id up fm me the crown of righteousne88, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give to me at that day: and not only to me, but also to all them that have loved bis appearing." 1. The reward. "The crown of righteousness." (1) It was the symbol of excellence and glory. (2) It was a recognition of the righteousness of the wearer. It wa.s not a crown of ambition. It was not won by inflicting miseries on the human race. 2. The certainty and manner of ila bestowal. (1) It is laid up in reserve securelv for its wearers. (2) It is conferred (a) as matter of grace, fur the Jurlge "awards" it of grace; and (b) as matter of righteousness, for, as righteous Jud;;e, he will not allow the works of believers to go unrewarded (Rev. xiv. lJ). 3. The eharal!ter of those reaiving the reii-ard. "Them that have loved his appearing." (1) Belieue'rs do not dread Christ's appearance in Judgment. (2) They 'look forward with hope, satufal!tion, and joy, to the day of final account. (3) All who love him nnw will love him at his appearing, when they shall aee him in his glory. ( 4) TM day of reward; the day of judgment.-T. C. Vera. 9-12.-The apostle', lonelines, and nud of a,5i,<t11nee and romfort. The longing for sympathy and help in bis hour of trial was natural "Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me." There were several reasons for bis desire to see Timothy, apart from the natural anxiety ta see the most attached of his faithful disciples. I. THE APOSTLE BAD DEEN DESERTED BY DEMAS. .. Demas bath forsaken me." 1. This brought great distress to tM apostle; (1) Because Demas had been a fellow- labourer and friend (Col. iv. 14). (2) Because be forsook him at a critical time in his personal history, when he was already disheartened. by the Asiatic deserters and in the near prospect of death. (3) Because there was a special need for such as Demas to stand by the gospel in the city which waa the heart of paganism, and to show courage and constancy in persecution. 2. The c:auae of tM desertion waa more dis- trel&ing. "Having loved this present world." It may have been love of life or love Qf ease, or the desire to get back to old aasociationa at Thessalonica (probably bb native place), or the desire for pleasure or wealth. But it was a fatal pas,ion. The love of 1his world is inconsistent with the true life, for all that is in the world is evil-" the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life." It is all, in the present. order of things, opposed to God and destructive to man. Nothing but Obrist can deliver us from the power of this present evil world (Gal. i. 4). IL THE APOSTLE was NOW ALMOST ALONE. Other fellow-labourers had gone on their errands of usefulness to various quarters-no doubt with his heart's consent: Crescens to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia, on the Adriatic ; Tychicus, an old friend, and once before sent to Ephesus, goes back there by 1he apostle's directions. Luke a.lone of all the ministers of Christ keeps the aged apostle company ; for though such brethren 11s Enbulus, Puilens, Linus, and Claudia now dutifully attend upon him, yet the apostle is anxious to see Timothy, and begs that Mark may accompany him, for '' he is UBeful to me for ministering," both in evangelistic and in personal aervice. -T.O. Ver. 18.-The apostle's dfrections concerning hia cloke. It has been considered beneath the dignity of inspiration that there should be such a trivial record. But the criticism is singularly superficial. I. THI!I A.POBTLE'e DIRECTIONS. "The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, brln~ whe11 thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments." 1. There is no evidfflce tl,at the cloke was an ecclesiastical vestment; for there is no evidence of vestn,l"nt~ l,ciu~ 8R THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. [OIL IV. 1-22.
worn 11,t all in the primitive Church. It was a thick cloke or mantle which the apostle needed in view of the approaching winter. His death might be near at hand, but, BS its d11,y was uncertain, it was natural he should provide against the winter cold. 2. It U'<JII a precious consignment that was left with Carpu.s, the Ohristian disciple, at Tro11s. It included, besides his cloke, books and p,uchments. (1) Even an apostle could not do without books for his ministry. (2) 'l'be parchments were more valuable 1ha11 the books, containing, as they did probably, some of his own writings, if not the Holy ScripturPs. II. 'fHE SIGNIFICANCE OF TIIE APOSTLE'S DIRECTIONS. 1. The request conceming his cloke impli, d that he was a poor man, as well as e:r;posed to hardship and cold. 2. It suggests that he was partially deserted by the Roman Christians. Why could they not givt him or lend him a cloke? What had become of the Roman Christians "·ho met him, ~o many years before, fifty miles from the city, and gave him such a hearty welcome? 3. It proves his personal independence. He will not ask a cloke from any one.-T. C.
Vere. 14, 15.-The warning against Alezander the coppersmith. I. THE CBABACJTBB' OF Tms MAN. "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil . . . for he greatly withstood our words." This implies that he had beeu at Home,and was still an enemy to the gospel (1 Tim. i. 20), a.q in the day when the apostle delivered him and Hymeumus over to Satan at Ephesus. Probably trade-interests may have inspired the fierceness of his hatred to the apostle, for he may have been an idol-maker. He was insulting and spiteful and obstinate in his gainsaying. II. TBE RETRIBUTION THAT WOULD OVERTAKE HIM. "The Lord will render to him according to his works." 1. This is to state a fact in Divine providence, quite irre- spective of the apostle's wishes or feelinµ:s. 2. Transgressors against the cause of God have to reckon in the last resort, not with humble apostles, but with God himself. IIL WARNING AGAINST HIS WAYS. "Of whom be thou ware also." He was a heretic and a blasphemer, and as such had been delivered to Satan, and was still perversely opposed to the truth. Timothy was warned to be watchful a;:ainst his devices. It was no personal iujury, but resistance to the gospel, that dictated this counael-T. C.