we see it was adopted by the Apostle Paul as a mark of honourable distinction. Let us never be ashamed of that in which the Christian world has ever gloried, the spirit and temper of saints. Observe, first, he addresses the Church, then the bishops and deacons. The body of the common people, in primitive times, decided upon all weighty matters that arose in the Church. It is evident from the New Testament that the terms bishops and deacons, or pastors and deacons, comprehended all the teachers at that time found in the Church; and that the distinction arose afterward between the bishops and pastors; certainly, if there had been any other order or orders, they would not have been overlooked or neglected by the Apostle Paul in his various epistles. The salutation is very short, but extremely comprehensive: "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." The apostle was not intent upon their worldly prosper. ity; for he knew it was a stated and an appointed condition, that through much tribulation they must enter into the kingdom of God. "Grace from God our Father," or favour, implying pardon, acceptance, justifying and glorifying grace; and who is there, my brethren, that cannot be satisfied with this? "Peace." This was the term in which they were accustomed to salute each other in their common meetings, and in the streets and market-places. This was sanctified by Jesus Christ. He said, "My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you (by compliment) let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." They were accustomed to express all this by the term peace; and the best thing we can wish for our fellow-Christians and for ourselves is, that "peace may be multiplied." We should wish them an increase of all blessings, but especially spiritual blessings, as the most important; and we should be most anxious to partake of these ourselves. 2dly. The apostle's gratitude and thanksgiving, verse 3: "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you." 4th and 5th: "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now." This is the substance of his gratitude; his heart is affected with emotions of joy on their account. Here, my brethren, is true benevolence; this enlarges the heart and multiplies the sources of joy far more than selfishness; this is the great secret of true happiness while the other excludes from the soul all those fine emotions of kindness and generosity, this expands the heart; none rejoiced but he rejoiced also. The apostle lost sight of his individual sufferings in his attachment to the whole Church of God; they had a fellowship with him in the gospel, which was the riches of the Gentiles. This fellowship melted every other distinction. By professing one common faith, Christianity unites mankind together, and makes them brethren. As national and commercial possessions, territories, and pursuits frequently prejudice and divide men, and kindle animosities, and occasion the shedding of blood where they have a common or separate interest, this tends to unite, to teach mankind to feel them selves as members of one family, for it is wide enough to receive the whole human race. Observe, "This fellowship continued from the first day until now." The seed of the kingdom which the apostle had sown abided in them they had received the gospel in the midst of great persecution; notwithstanding that, he says, the Philippians received it in love. "It is he that endureth to the end shall be saved." It was not like that seed which springs up in a shallow soil, and then withers away. He knew that if they were partakers of this blessing, whatever persecutions or calamities they were exposed to, their great interest was secure, and that they were comprehended in this promise," All things shall work together for their good." Again, verse 6th: Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." 66 The apostle, reflecting on their state and condition, expresses a cheerful and well-grounded confidence that Jesus Christ would not forsake and abandon his own work; it was a good likeness, which was to be completed at his appearance. The principle of religion in the heart, or that renewal of the soul which is effected in all true Christians, is here called "a good work in them." It is said of Abijah, that there was some good thing found in him towards the Lord God of Israel. So real religion in the heart is a good work; not a self-created work, but Jesus Christ, by the influence of his Spirit, forms it in us. It is a growing work. It advances and enlarges itself as the kingdom of Jesus Christ, which continually increases. It is a little leaven that leaveneth the whole lump. "Until the day," or that day to which this looks forward; it is called the day of Jesus Christ; then true Christians will be found entirely like Him, and this work will be complete. It expands towards that day; it is a spring of living water springing up unto everlasting life. How careful, my brethren, should we be to examine our own hearts, whether we know, by experience, what it is to be renewed in our minds; and next to this, that we are pressing forward. Verse 7th: "Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace." The Philippians were lodged in the heart of the apostle, and his poverty and sufferings excited their zealous attention, though removed from them by his bodily presence. The imprisonment and persecution of the apostles were, in the hands of God, the means of purifying the Christian churches. It was a wind that purged the Christian floor. Some, it appears, were offended; but to those who did receive the truth in the love of it, it was a living principle, full of greater regard to the apostles on this very account, so that in this sense the persecution and blood of the martyrs were the seed of the Church. Again, verse 8th: "For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ." The apostle wished to impart that fulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace that Jesus Christ himself left as a legacy to the Church. Lastly. We have the very affectionate prayer of the apostle for the Philippians. Verse 9th: "And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment." Verse 10th: "That ye may approve things that are excellent, that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ." He first prays that their love may abound yet more and more. That which unites us to Jesus Christ is love: "And hereby," he says, ye shall know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another." 66 The obedience of a Christian is distinguished from all other kinds, by its proceeding from a principle of love-love to God and love to man. Verse 9th: "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge," viz., in that which is founded on a true apprehension and reason for love, "and in all judgment;" not merely enlightened, but in harmony, or with the fitness of things in judgment and feeling, in opposition to extravagance and folly. Verse 10th: "That ye may approve things that are excellent," or try the things that differ, viz., to distinguish the excellence of Christianity from every counterfeit, and hold fast your crown: "That ye may be sincere and without offence." The apostle's first desire was, that they might be Christians, and the next, that they might be exemplary Christians; not only free from scandalous offences and from reproach, but to adorn the doctrine of Jesus Christ, and shine as lights in the world. These, my brethren, are among the excellences and virtues of Christianity, and it is of the very essence of piety "to be pressing forward to the prize and mark of our high calling-not to account ourselves as having already attained, or as already perfect." First. See that your profession is sincere, in opposition to hypocrisy, that ye may be truly keeping his sayings and bringing forth much fruit, that your heavenly father may be glorified. Verse 11th: "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness." Holiness is the fruit which Christianity produces in the mind. This is the proper ornament of the Christian. As you would think nothing of a tree without fruit, so riches, dress, and honours are mere adventitious distinctions and ornaments. They are nothing to a Christianthere is nothing to be compared to fruit. He is the best man, and the best Christian, that acts most upon evangelical principles in bringing forth good fruit. We are too much accustomed to examine our Christianity by our profession and feelings, but let us examine it by our fruit. Our Lord says, "By their fruits ye shall know them." You know that the fruit is the last thing which makes its appearance on the tree; without this fruit," without holiness, no man can see the Lord." He that is most desirous to serve God and to benefit his fellowcreatures, has the most fruit and the most of Christianity. These fruits of righteousness are said to be by Jesus Christ. If we are deficient in any sort of grace or excellence, we should endeav. our to seek it at the hand of Jesus Christ. On the whole, this is, my brethren, the prayer of the apostle on the part of the Philippians. How necessary on the part of ourselves! It was for those who lay so near to the apostle's heart; and are you, my brethren, wiser, better, or different from them? Would he not im press it upon you? Remember, the truths of the gospel are eternal truths; like their great Author, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. "All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man is as the flower of the grass: the grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away; the wind passeth over it, and it is gone." It will pass over us, and we shall be gone too, "but the word of the Lord endureth forever," and this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. II. CHAP. i., 12-20: But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; and many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will. The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the go el. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation, and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. In this part of the epistle we have a communication of very pleasing intelligence to the Philippians: "The things which happened to the apostle had fallen out for the furtherance of the gospel." We see all the events of life are here mixed. Another consequence fell from the imprisonment of the apostle : "The brethren waxed confident by his bonds." Some, indeed, preached Christ out of envy and contention, supposing to add affliction to his bonds. Yet Jesus Christ was preached, and he rejoiced; yea, and would rejoice. The apostle closes this account by expressing his confidence in Divine Providence, and that in nothing he should be ashamed, so that Jesus Christ was magnified in his body, whether by life or by death. 1st. Here is a piece of pleasing intelligence with respect to religion. Every thing else is unimportant compared to the advancement of Christianity. The apostle felt himself more happy in the communication of this than of anything else: "The things which happened unto me have fallen out for the furtherance of the gospel." This he knew would give them, also, great satisfaction. "We are, my brethren, no farther Christians than we can rejoice to see Christ magnified." The opposition and persecution the apostle met with had all happened for the furtherance of the gospel. At first it must have appeared very perplexing and gloomy, that so eminent a person should be confined; but it is the prerogative of God to bring good out of evil, light out of darkness: as it is the wickedness of man that prevents good, so God brings good out of evil. The bonds and imprisonment of the VOL. IV.-4 D 578 apostle made the gospel a matter of public notoriety. Christianity There was another effect, still more unlikely, produced from the apostle's imprisonment. He says, verse 14th: "And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." Instead of deterring, it made them more bold and confident. This was a very remarkable effect. They were more ready to throw off every restraint, and to evince their attachment to the cause of Christ. But this has often been found to be the case; and, sometimes, those persons who have attended as witnesses and executioners have afterward professed themselves Christians, and exposed themselves to the same punishments. When they saw the firmness and the heavenly supports afforded to the disciples in the midst of these fiery trials, they found there was that in religion which would sustain themthat which nothing could sink; this induced them to throw off that fear and timidity so incident to human nature. The apostle then rejoiced because men began to inquire about Christianity. The spirit of religion is a public spirit: it calls us to suffer for others, and, if necessary, to lay down our lives for the brethren, as Verse 15th: There Christ suffered and laid down his life for us. was a disagreeable effect produced: "Some preached Christ even of envy and strife; and some, also, of good will." Verse 16th: "The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds." It is melancholy to reflect that there were persons of this description; who they were we are not informed, but it is probable they were Jews, who wished to bind the Jewish religion, with its ritual, observances, and restraints, upon the Christian converts; a disposition to set up one form against the other, and, by disparaging the apostle's ministry, to increase their party. The Corinthians had much of this spirit and temper; they endeavoured to dis"Am not I an apostle? Do not credit his apostleship; and he says, I bear about me the marks of an apostle?" It appears that there were some that did this in order to strengthen a party, and to propagate their own judaizing opinions. They preached Christ, but with a mixture of error; yet behold the noble spirit and greatness of mind the apostle discovers. Some preach Christ out of envy and strife, and some of good will. What then? Notwithstanding, every way, "whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached, and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." |