Vere. 8, 9.-The advantage of true goaliness. The apostle gives a reason for his exhortation to godliness. II. THE SUPERIORITY OF GODLINESS TO ANY MERE DODILY EXERCISE. "For bodily exercise profi.teth to a email extent." 1. The allusion here is not to the ascetic discipline already noticed, because: (1) Though it might apply to the more developed austerities of later times-flagellations, pilgrimages, and weary vigils-it cannot fairly apply to the disuse of marriage and of certain ki11ds of food. There is no bodily exercise implied in such a quiescent habit or aspect of life. (2) It is impossible to think that the apostle should even concede that such austerity was profitable to the smallest extent, for he is opposed to the whole idea of it. (3) Bes!des, this was not t~e i°;lmediate subject i!3 hand, which was the excellence of true piety. 2. The allusion is to the gymnastic training which occupied so mU,Ch of the time an<l energy of the Greek youth. It was profitable for the healthful development of bodily life, but by its very nature it wae both temporal and temporary in its results and its rewards. II. THE GROUND OF THE SUPERIORITY OF GODLINESS. "But godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now i■, and of that which is to come." It has the profit and the promise.of a double _life. 1. It has the profit and th_e prom_ise of this present life. (1) There lS the promise of length of days. "The wicked live not half their days." (2) There is the prophetic promise th_at they "shall inherit the earth." (3) There is the profit (a) of a good name, (b) of riches and honour; for they will want no good thing. (4) Godliness is profitable for all things included in the scheme of a holy life. 2. It has the profit and the promise of the life to come, (1) This doee not signify that it merits eternal life, but that it is essentially connected with it in the Divine scheme of salvation. (2) Thus godliness is "great gain" for the whole life of man in the next life. It involves the highest blessedness of man. (3) Happy is the man whose future ie provided for as well as his present. IIL CoRROBORATION OF THE APOSTLE'S ASSERTION RESPECTING GODLINESS. "Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation." It was a truth of universal acceptance among Christian people, because, in spite of all the drawbacks of a persecuting time, it had been happily realized in their checkered experience.-T. C.
Ver. 10.-The practical, effwu of this trueh in apostolic ~ o e . Looking t.o the OIL IV, 1-16.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. 77