is no tone of finality, however, about hie language In the strictest sense. The end was only a post which he had to pass, not a grave in which he had to aleep. For to him to live was Christ, and to die waa gain.-W. M. S. Ver. 8,-TIM, grwl reward. "Henceforth there ls laid up for me a crown ol righteousness." This is the key-note. Many sul:C"ssful Roman generals and some or the philosophers of the old world committed suicide in w~ariuess and disgust or life. To Ii ve was ennui, and worse; for all was "vanity and vexation of spirit." I. THE FUTURE IB PROVIDED J'OB. " Henceforth [or, ' aa to the rest '] there is laid up for me." Christ will not let any one of his faithful servants go uncrowned; all receive the prize--only their crown will be the perfecting of character, as the flower bloBBOml in its summer beauty. Heaven is the everlasting summer of the saints; and there" the crown of rigb teousness," which never was fully attained upon earth, will be given to all those who endure unto the end, Sometimes it is called "the crown of glory," sometimes " the crown of righteousness," and sometimes " the crown or life;" for the crowns of God are not the tinsel of earth's corruptible gold, but crowns of conscience., mind, and character-in one word, crowns of lift. II. THE BIGHTEOUB JUDGE WILL BB T.llEBB. He before whom all hearts are open, he whose judgment is according to knowledge, and who understands all the unknown and unnoticed conflicts of every earnest soul. He is the righteou8 Judge. Humau j11dgment at its best cannot be perfectly righteous-it may approach to it, but "What man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?" None, indeed, but himself and God. III. THE UNIVERSAL CBURCB WILL BBABE IN THE CORONATION. "And not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." Some men dread that appearing. They never have liked thoughts of God, and how shall they like the presence of God? Those who have Ii ved in pleasure, and said to God, "Depart from us!" may well tremble at his appearing. But the true Christian, who has walked by faith, loves Curist's appearing. l. We long to see equity or righteous judgment triumphant in the universe. So much judgment seems to miscarry now. 2. W.e long to see the Sa~iour, whom not having seen, we love; for at his appearing "we shall be like him, for we shall see him aa he is." St. Paul was no rhapsodist, but he desired to depart and be with Christ, which was far better,-W. M. S. Ver. 21.-7'imothy's presence desired. "Do thy diligence tit come before winter." Travelling would be difficult then, if not impossible, and perhaps the white snow would be the shroud of the apostle. Anyway, he bas been delivered once for a britf space out of the mouth of that lion-Nero. But it is not easy to believe that this ferocious lion, satiated for the time with blood, should seek to devour him no wore. But a Roman prison in winter is a very desolate place, and he who has been hurried from place to place by his keepers has left even his warm cloke behind him, and hopes to cover himself with that black goat's-hair skin 'l'!'hen winter comes. Bring the cloke, Timothy, and the papyrus books-old vellum manuscripts, perhaps the roll of Isaiah and the prophets; let not Timothy forget them, for there are songs of prisoners in those inspireJ proplmtic rolls. And let Timothy remember that St. Paul wants to see his face again. L HERE IS ABSENCE OF IIIURMURING. We may and ought to learn what the gospel can achieve. Here is Paul prevented from preaching, with arrest laid on all bis missionary work. In a dreary Roman dungeon he is "persecuted, but not forsaken ; " "struck down, but not destroyed." Yet mark this-he never suffered one murmuring word to pass his lips. II. HERE JS PRESENCE OF GREETING. He would cheer Timothy, and sends him various greetings, froJD the Roman saints, as we may see by their names-Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren-send greeting. What sublime s11lf- abnegaL1on there was in St. Paul I Forgetful always of himself I How like the Ma..:iterl ln the hour of expected dissolution he is thinking only of others.-W. M. S.
Vers. 1-8.-Solemn cha1·ge to Timothy. I. CHARGED TO BE FAITHFUL IN TD PEB- ~ORMANVI! OF HIS on'ICIAL DUTIES. 1. Witnessing the charae. (1) C.:hrisl Qllsocirite<~ 71 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. [on. IV. 1-22.