feetly no.tum! tho.t, starting from Cmsarea, lel passf\ge in Col. iv. 10. As to Epaphras, U,e apoetle should lake Coln,,m on the roo.d see above. llllarcUB, he.vi11g once foree.ken to Rome. Hut the one seems almost e.s pro- the apostle (Acts xiii. 13; xv. 37-39), he.d be.hie e.e the other. The apostle, on his now remmed, and was with him in Rome. relee.ee, he.d, so fe.r e.s we know, no definite AristarchUB was " a Macedonian of Thessa- plans; the cities of Aeio. Minor Wl're familiar lonice.," and had accompanied St. Paul in to him, and he woulrl nature.Uy prepare to his memorable voyage to Rome (Acts u:vii. go wherever the first pressing occasion, that 2). Demo., was now the "co-worker" of of Onesimus, called hi,n. I:< roo.ds tka-,rdlET<u, the apostle at Rome, but "t a later period "so.lutes." he had departed unto Thessalonice. (2 Tim. Vere. 23, 24.-Balute. The salutations iv. 10), and we know nothing- of his subae- ,oorrespoud generally to those with which quent history. Tradition (Epiph., • Her.,' the Epistle to the Colossiaos closes, but xii. 6) relates that he also apostatized from they are fuller, as is natural, in the longer Christianity; but the apostle's phrase, though Epistle. The order is in- a strong one, does not necessarily mean this. Luoas (see 2 Cor. viii. 18). Colouiam: Phi"lemon: Ver. 25.-The grace. A omits .kµ-f,v. TychicUB Epaphras Theodoret has appendet.l the following to Onesimus Marcll8 his commentary: "It is fitting that those A.ristarch'IIII Aristarohu who httve obtained the privilege of handing Harcus Demas on the holy doctrine should so teach aer- Jesus Justlu Lncu vants to submit themselvea to their lords, Epaphr&11 that through all things Jesus Christ may ho Luoas praised, to whom with the Father and the Demas most Holy Spirit belong glory and greatness KJ fellow-prisoner. The word ocoms elae- now and alw11.ys l\nd for ever. Amen." whe1e only ill Rom. xvi. 7, besides the pare.I-
HOMILETIUS. Ven. 1-3.-7'7M, hallowing of the ordinary intercoune of life. The ,alutation. t'hilemon's house had become a church, and the Church was in his house ; thereby the household was made holy. Every household should likewise be made holy by the Christian profession and practice of its heads-the master and mistress. A prefe.B3ion of religion alone will not have this effect; there must be the daily practice of self- restraint, forbearance, Christian charity, and mutual love. Religion not wholly or chiefl._v an intellectual or doctrinal belief, though it is founded upon historical facts and shaped by the truths of the Creed. It is essentially practical; belief issuing in action-" faith which worketh by love" (Gal. Y. 6; Jas. ii. 20-22). I. No KIND OF INTERCOURSE BETWEEN CHRISTIANS BUT IS CAPABLE OF BEING THUS HALLOWED. As e.g. that arising from the relations of hwbund and wife (Eph. v. 25-31; Titus ii. 4); of parents "nd children (Eph. vi. 1; 1 Tim. iii. 4); of ma11tt1Ts and servants (Eph. vi. 5-9; 1 Cor. vii. 21, ~2); of citizens bound to obey the govern- ing power of the state in all things lawful (1 Pet. ii. 13, 14); of friends and equals (John xiii. 34; 1 Cor. viii. 13); of rich persons and poor persons, unequal in worldly station, but brethren, nothing less than brethren, as they can be nothing more, in Christ (Jas. ii. 6-9). II. How THESE RELATIONS ARE TO BE HALLOWED. 1. Speaking generally, by the practice of religious principles. But specifically, by restraining the natural selfishnes, of human hearts. Love draws people together; selfishness separates them-isola.tes each in the pursuing of his own objects: "All seek their own, and not the thing:s which are Jesus Christ's." 2. By the endeavour to restrain the tongue from speaking evil (Pa. xxxiv. 13). Angry words, retorts reckleBS of truth and only meant to wound the hearer, scandal, angry and inconsiderate words to depc11dents,-what frequent occasions of sin are these I 1'he tongue is the great medinm of social intercourse, and it mWlt be brought undor control, if that is to be hallowed (Jas. iii 6, 6). 3. The fav,.ily relation is hallowed eapecially by family prayer. God dwells in an especial manner In the homes where he has been thus invoked by the family as II whole. Family prayer at once the ~ of the Christian character and the meana of preaerving ,t and making it punr. PHILKM.ON. C 6 THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON. [l-26,
Ver. 3.-TM Ohristian family. The family of Philemon wae Christian doubtleas both in profession and practice. Many families at the present day are c'hristian id profession, but not in practice. The family really Ohristian may be known (like the individual) by its fruits (Matt. vii. 20). L IN IT GoD's NAME 18 HONOURED. Be is habitually regarded and spoken or as the Giver of all the family happiness, and of whatever measure of prosperity it enjoys. The parents have received from him their children as a charge to be brou~ht up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Children recognize without hesitn- tion the duty of obedience as paramount to all self-pleasing (Eph. vi. 1). Il. IN IT, THEREFORE, THE LAW 01' GoD 18 BEOOQNIZED AS THE GUIDE OF LIFE by both parents and children. III. IN IT (that is, by its members) THE PUBLI0 OBSERVANCES OF RELIQION ARE DILIGENTLY KEPT. The habits of the household are so arranged as not to put unneces• sary hindra.nce in the way of either the family or servants attending public worship at the proper times. Unnece=ry labour on Sunday is not required, nor even permitted. IV. IN IT, FURTHER'MOBE, Goo JS WILLINGLY ENTRUSTED WITH IT8 DESTINIES. NJn everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. iv. 6), and, as the correlative of this," be careful for nothing;" that is, anxious and distressed about it. These are the rules which have been found of sovereign power in the Christian family. V. As the law of God is in it the restrainin~ rule, so THE LOVE OF Goo IB THE INSPIRING MOTIVE. " Followers of God, as dear children" (Eph. v. 1), not performing the mechanical aud enforced obedience of the slave, nor even merely the habitual obedi- ence which can be instilled by education e.nd training ; but the free, unforced, willing, elastic service which is prompted by the love of a child. VJ. Lastly, IN THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY CHARITY IS TAUGHT BY PRECEPT AND BY EXAMPLE. The voice of s~nder is not heard in it. The elders ine not "weary in well- doing," and the younger learn (I John iii. 17) that to help those who have need is to nave something of the likeness of God, and to act under the direction of God's good Spirit.