proclnmation harl reached itR climax, anrl the last or the Gentiles had hearrl, 3. Hi 8 de.,cripti<m of the reBult of the trial. "And I was delivered out of the mouth or the lion." The nncient opinion, that the lion here was Nero, may be taken as substantially correct. W~ are not to understand that Paul had become perso11ally obnoxious to Nero since his acquittal by him. Away from Rome, he may not have attracted the attention of the tyrant. But it suit, d Nero, according to the testimony of Tacit11s, to avert the ra~e of the populace from himself to the Christians. As the result of th«t rage, Paul, as the rin~le:ider of the Christians, was apprehended, and put on his trial. In the state of feeling which prevail<·d, it would be very difficult for Paul to get a calm bearing. He was more likely to meet with fierceness than with justice. The Roman rower, of which Nero was the fit embodiment, was like a lion opening its month to devour him. That he was not instantly devourer! was nothing less than a miracle. The Lord standing by him, he was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. We must not put more meaning into this than it will bear. It simply means that he got a respite. Roman fierct·ness was not then gratified; the lion did not get him then between its teeth. But Roman fierceness, consequent on the conflagration, had not died out; the lion might again open its mouth on him. 4. Confident hope of futu,re and everlasting deliverance. "The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingrlom." His respite gave him this confidence. It did not make him self-confident; but, mindful of the source whence bis respite bad come, bis confidence was in the Lord, that he would deliver him still. It was llot a deliverance from death that he expected, as appears from the second clause. But it was deliverance from all that would intimidate him or unfit him for bearing a worthy testimony on the occasion of bis second trial. A wicked 9.ttempt might be made to damage Christianity in him, as may have been made by Alexander on the occasion of the first trial. The Lord would not allow that attempt to succeed. Christianity would come forth out of the trial untarnished. The issue, so far as he was concernecl, would be bis being placed !'afely in Christ's heavenly kingdom. This would be his receptacle after and through death. For Christ's kinii;rlorn is already commenced in heaven. The safe placing of Paul in it meant, on the one side, removal from the sphere of all evil, and, on the other side, the cowing under the highest conditions of happiness in the enjoyment of Christ-barring what is associated with the completing of the number of the elect and the reunion of soul and body. 5. Doxolugy. "To whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen." Doxology is an accompaniment of the highest spiritual mood. It is offered here to the Son, as elsewhere to the Father. For it was the Lord's assista11ce that he had enjoyed, and still expected, and into whose kingdom in heaven he was, by the same assistance, to be safely brought. l t would take the ages of ages to declare all that Christ had been and was still to be to him. • IV. SALUTATIONS. 1. The distant to whom salutations are sent. "Salute Prisca and Aquila, a.ml the house of Onesiphorus." Prisca and Aquila were workers with Paul, who for his life had laid down their own necks. Prisca being mentioned before her husband would seem to point to her eharacteristics being more remarkable. The lwu8e of Oncsipborus is saluted, apparently for the reason that Onesiphorus himself was dead. .Appended notices. "Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus I left at Miletus sick. Do thy diligence to come before winter." Erastus and Trophimus, who were associated with Ephesus, he did not salute, because they were not at the time there, as far as he knew. His feeling with regard to Timothy himself was to ba,·e bis immediate fellowship. Let not winter come on a,,d prevent his corning; for his martyrdom was imminent. 2. The near who send their salutations. "Eubulus saluteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren." The brethren in Rome all sent their salutations. They were numerous enough to be known as Christia.ns by Nero. The membns of the Roman Church whose names are given would be specially interested in Timothy. V. BENEDICTION, "The Lord be with ihy spirit. Grace be with yon." The peculiarity of the benediction is that it is twofold-first to Timothy separately, and then to Timothy and those with him. What Timothy is to have separately is the prcsenc(! of the Lord with his nobler part; what. he ill to ban along with 11th1n ia uadellel"l'ed favour.-R. F. HOMILETICAL INDEX 'l'O
THE SECOND EPISTLE OF
ST. PAUL TO TIMOTHY.
OHAPTER L CHAPTER ll. TREW. •AGE TR'E'IO P.&OlL
Reminiscences 5 Endumnce the Lot of Christ's Mini.s- Constancy in the Hour of Danger 6 ~ra ~ The Apostle's Address and Greeting 7 The Skilful Workman 25 Thankful Decle.re.tion of Love and Exhortation to Tilllothy to be ~lrong 26 Remembrance of Timothy's Faith ... 7 Admonition to Timothy respecting The Apostle's Admonition to Timothy the Appoiotment of Faithful to stir up the Gift of God within him 8 Preachers 26 The Divine Equipment for Arduous The Apostle bespeaks from Timothy Service in the Church 8 e. Cope.rtnership iu Affliction, which We.r~ng to Timothy not to be a.shamed would have its Due Rewe.rd 27 of the Gospel, nor to shrink from -The Contemplation of Christ e.n Incen- Afflictions 8 tive to Comfort and Conota.ncy 28 The Power of God in the Se.lvntion The Example of the Apostle's own manifested by Jesus Christ to the Sufferings-their Spiritual Motive World ... 9 and Design 28 'l'he Grour,ds of his Joyful Confidence A Faithful Saying for Consolation under r.11 his Sufferings ... 10 and for Warning 28 lmport11nce of the Form of Sound An Injunction to put Ephesie.n Be- Words ... 10 lievers in Remembrance of these The Importance of Preserving the Truths 29 Pcecious Deposit of Doctline II The Quulifice.tions of the Gospel- 'f'Le Asiatic Desertion of the Apostle II Preacher 29 The Praiseworthy Conduct of Onesi- A Wa.ruing against Ve.in Babblinge, pLorus .. , 11 with their Tendency to Heresy and " The Promise of Life " 12 Impiety SO The Inner Self 12 The Comfort amidst Abounding Apos- ,\ Holy Ancestry .,, 13 tasy 81 Quickening the Memory 13 The Church in its Visible Aspect Stirring the Fire ... 13 before the World 81 Address 1rnd Salutation 14 The lm}JOrtauce of a Pure and Circum- Contr..ots 17 spect W aJ.k !IS ii lNDK~..