Vers. 19, 20.- Personal obliga.tion. "Thine own self." This is more than all else. We can call nothing "our own " but " the self." We are not rich in what we have, but in what we are. A.II things, houses, estates, lands, are outside us. The self is all. I. INDEBTEDNESS OF PeILEMON. Philemon owed his spiritual conversion, all the rich inheritance in the soul, to the ministry of Paul; and he delicately enough reminds him of this in an indirect form of speech, "Albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self." It is one of those touches which show what a true _qentleman St. Paul was. There is more than claim of right to counsel him, viz. the modest reminder that, if need be, he would repay any loss that Philemon might have sustained through the detention by Paul of Onesimus. IL EXPECTATION oo~CERNJso HIM. "Let me have joy of thee in the Lord." "Refresh me." What by? 'I11at which alone can rejoice the heart of a true father in the gospel, viz. Christ's own Spirit in Christ's disciples. The gospel was to be spread, not alone by eloquence or erudition, but by Christ's own religion alive and in action in all who conressed his Name.-W. M. S.
Ver. 22.-Needful preparation. "Prepare me . . . a lodging." Their prayers he hoped would open the door for him to come and see them. He knew that the golden key of prayer had opened many doora closed as fast as his own. L A. LODGING SEEMS ALL HE EVER HAD. And not always had he that. A prison can scarcely be called a lodging-for, in one sense, when we lodge we have pro~ction and rest, and are at liberty in our onward journey in life. This man gave up fnends, country, home, for Christ's sake, and now he is completing his course and gives up dear life itself. Will he ever have this lodging? No; it is the time of his first imprison- ment • he is treated as a malefactor, and we know what his end will be. IL 'Ills NEXT LODGING-PLACE WILL BE THE GRAVE. But, in one sense, the idea that we associate with thu resting-place was not fulfilled in his life: His death was probabl_y one by the lions, or the executioner's axe, or the cross, which would leave even his poor body a prey to cruel hands. . m His LODGlNG wAS TO GIVE PLACE TO SOME. Soon now, very soon, his words were fulfilled, "I have finished my course, . . . henceforth there is laid up for ~e a crown of righteousness." Here the volume of his life, illustrated with so many etchings from his own hands of his pains, forsakements, temptations, and tribulations, now comes to a close. "Finis" is written upon all. Yet it is not Vale, vale, in mternwm vale I that we inscribe upon his aims and hopes. No; it is the catacomb motto,. In pactl; for henceforth he enjoys the immortal reward, tb.e great peace ; be is at rest 1n God.- W. M. 8.
Vera. 1-3.-Tlu, addnu and ~w.. This 1trictl1 private letter, whloh DI 1-2S.) 'l'1IE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON. 13