Ver. 2.-HoBpitality. Note the connection of vers. 1 and 2. First ,p,:>..a.o,:>..q,ia. is enjoined, then ,p,:>..o!•vla., The stranger as well as the brother must have a. proper place in our consideration. Brotherliness must not lead to exclusiveness. We must go by the golden rule. If we came to a strange place at nightfall, footsore with a loncr day's walking, we should be very grateful to any who would open the door and !rive us shelter and food. 'fhe injunction to hospitality very needful in times when r:cilities of travel were not what they are now, Hospitable feelings are strong in many who have not yet attained to Christian virtues ; let the Christian, then, be in no way behind. He will be prudent and cautious in his treatment of ~trangers, he will be wise as the serpent; but he will remember, too, that he is under the protection of God. Now and then he will be deceived and robbed, but this is a little matter compared with the maintenance of hospitable duties. It may seem at first as if a. low motive for hospitality were here introduced; but if it be considered, we shall sec that it is not so much a motive to hospitality as to unremitting watchfulness in hospitality. Let the strnng:er be ever in your mind. Let not one slip past your gates, or go away knocking in vain. What will it avail to admit a thousand who bring you nothing but their needs, if you let thll one go who will bring you blessings far more than anything you can do for him ?-Y. Ver. 3.-Sufferers to be remembered. I. THOSE IN DONDS. Doubtless those in bonds for Christ and conscience' sake, In the worst of persecuting times there seems to have been a body of Christians suffering nothing, or comparatively little. Some, in bonds, have preached all the more effectively; others have continued free to make known the gospel far and wide. This admonition becoming ever less needful so far as literal imprisonment for Christ's sake is concerned, But still we must bear in mind the admonition, so far as the essence of it is concerned. For the persecuting spirit of the world remains; the world persec_utes, not meaning to persecute; does not know all the suffering it inflicts. We must be quick to discover all sufferers for conscience' sake, and intercede for them. Then let the exhortation also include those in bonds a.s evil- doers. Of such, alas! there is still abundance. Civilization is not able to do without the prison. Let us consider that in less favourable circumstances we also might have been criminals. Let Christians be forward in all that tries to prevent the child growing into a criminal manhood, and the liberated criminal lapsing again into evil ways. "Put yourself in his place," and so let your heart go out in pity and effort for the vilest of mankind. II. THEM WHICH SUFFER ADVERSITY, All that a man can suffer because he is in the body-let that draw out your pity and help. Here, again, no doubt, the primary reference is to a state or things that has largely passed away. Christians had to suffer physical violence. This was a readier and cheaper way of venting hatred against them than putting them in prison. The fist and the cudgel are soon got in action. And here aaain, too, let the exhortation pass far beyond the limits of its first occasion. Yon are i; the body, and can suffer pain through the senses; and what you can suffer, many actually do suffer. III. 'fHE MEANING OF THE REMEMDRANCE, Merely to remember would do no good. The remembrance must be so constant, so burdensome, as to make you act. There is a kind of reproach in the word; it implies that we only too easily forget the prisoner and the oppressed.-Y, Ver. 5.-The love of money. No body of the most important precepts for practical Christian life can bo without some admonition bearin~ on the proper use of money. Money, with all it represents, has a most insidious and potent charm for the great majority of men. Even in times of trial and persecution this spiritual peril has to be remembered. A man may become so deluded by external possessions that the risk of losing them m.i.y lead him to apostasy. Money must not be allowed to become the great centre of attraction, the controller or our life's orbit, elso how shall we be properly influence,l by nobler things? Distinguish, of course, between tho possession of money anu. the love of 416 THE EPISTLE 'J.'0 THE HEBREWS. [cH. XIII, 1-26.
money. There may be possession of much wealth with no love of it, and there may be Yery little in actual possession with a most intense desire after it. The writer indicn.tcs two reasons e~pecial_ly for guarding against love of money. 1. There can be no content- ment along with this love. The Christian is to attain his true contentment in that which becomes e.n integral po.rt of his own lifo. 2. There can be no honouring trust in God. God has se.id, 11 I will not leave thee," yet every act of the money-lovin"0 man expresses doubt on this point.-Y.