+I. To secure the widest diffusion of the Gospel great centres should
be the first places chosen for the concentration of its forces.+
+II. The Gospel of universal adaptation has a world-wide
mission.+--The first three converts embraced different nationalities,
employments, social grades,--Lydia, the oriental trader, the Grecian
female slave and soothsayer, the Roman keeper of the prison. Christ
has demolished all barriers to the exercise of Divine mercy.
+III. The duty and privilege of Christian parents to consecrate their
children and home to Christ+ (Acts xvi. 15, 33, 34, 40).
+IV. Civic distinctions subordinated to Christ will further the
Gospel and adorn the Christian name.+--Paul's Roman citizenship
gained his freedom and silenced his enemies. His chain connects the
history of Rome and Philippi. The Christian's spirit can defy the
inner prison to suppress its praise or prayer (Acts xvi. 25).
Ver. 2. _God our Father._--Christ aimed at raising men from the
bondage of mere servants into the freedom of sons. He taught that God
our Father was henceforth to be--
+I. The sole Model of perfection.+ (Matt. vi. 48).
+II. The sole Rewarder of almsgiving.+ (Matt. vi. 4).
+III The sole Hearer of prayer+ (Matt. vi. 6).
+IV. The sole Observer of fastings+ (Matt. vi. 18).
+V. The sole Provider of daily wants+ (Matt. vi. 26-33).--_Lay
Preacher._
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 3-8.
_Eulogy of Christian Excellence_--
+I. Prompted by pleasant memories of faithful co-operation in
Christian work.+--"I thank my God upon every remembrance of
you, . . . for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until
now, . . . inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and
confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace" (vers.
3, 5, 7). The apostle remembers with joy the way in which the
Philippians first received the Gospel, the effect it produced upon
their lives, the eagerness with which they entered into his plans for
its wider propagation, the liberality, though not themselves a rich
people, they showed to their needy brethren in other Churches, the
affectionate attachment they displayed towards himself, the help they
afforded him when in imprisonment, and the many ways in which they
cheerfully co-operated with him in the defence and establishment of
the truth. They had laboured, suffered, triumphed, and rejoiced
together. The apostle's eulogy of their character was not flattery,
but sober and just commendation of tried and sterling excellencies.
Our happiest memories--memories that become more vivid as life
advances--are of those days in which we laboured most earnestly in
the service of God.
+II. Springs from a loving appreciation and tender Christian
solicitude.+--"Even as it is meet for me to think thus of you all,
because I have you in my heart. . . . For God is my record, how
greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ" (vers. 7,
8). There was something about the Philippians that captivated the
heart of the apostle. He loved them because they loved his Master,
and because they sought to spread the Gospel he preached. Love begets
love, and there is no power in uniting hearts like the love of
Christ. The love of the apostle was manifested in a yearning desire
for their advancement in personal godliness. "All real spiritual
love," says Alford, "is but a portion of Christ's love which yearns
in all who are united to Him." Christian love is not mere
self-indulgence of a personal feeling; its unselfishness is evident
in seeking to advance the highest spiritual interests of the person
loved. It is something more than a refined and noble sentiment. The
finest feeling may be very superficial. Some friends were drinking
tea one evening at the home of Mr. Mackenzie, the author of _The Man
of Feeling,_ and waited for some time for his arrival. At length he
came in heated and excited, and exclaimed: "What a glorious evening I
have had!" They thought he spoke of the weather, which was singularly
beautiful; but he went on to detail the intense enjoyment he had had
in witnessing a cock-fight. Mrs. Mackenzie listened some time in
silence; then, looking up in his face, she remarked in her gentle
voice, "Oh, Harry, Harry, your feeling is all on paper!"
+III. Strengthened by the assurance of increasing Christian
devotion.+--"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ" (ver. 6). Even man, fickle as he is, does not begin work at
random and without purpose; some time or other he hopes to finish it.
But God, who begins the work of the new spiritual creation in the
soul, is constantly striving to finish it, until it shall be
presented perfect at the day of Christ. The apostle had no doubt
about the Divine working, and he rejoiced in the evidence he had that
his converts were increasing in spiritual fervour and devotion.
Faithfulness to God strengthens fidelity in every duty of life. On
board the flag-ship of a celebrated commander a complaint was made by
the captain against a number of the crew for disturbing the ship's
company by frequent noises. The admiral ordered an inquiry to be
made. The accusation was that these men were Methodists, and that
when their watch was below they were in the constant habit of reading
the Bible to each other aloud, of frequently joining in social prayer
and singing of psalms and hymns. After the statement had been proved,
the admiral asked, "What is the general conduct of these men on
deck--orderly or disobedient, cleanly or the contrary?" "Always
orderly, obedient, and cleanly," was the reply. "When the watch is
called, do they linger, or are they ready?" "Always ready at the
first call." "You have seen these men in battle, sir; do they stand
to their guns or shrink?" "They are the most intrepid men in the
ship, my lord, and will die at their post." "Let them alone, then,"
was the decisive answer of this magnanimous commander; "if Methodists
are such men, I wish that all my crew were Methodists."
+IV. Expressed in thanksgiving and joyous prayer.+--"I thank my
God . . . always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request
with joy" (vers. 3, 4). Joy is the characteristic feature in this
epistle, as love is in that to the Ephesians. Love and joy are the
two firstfruits of the Spirit. Joy gives especial animation to
prayers. It marked the apostle's high opinion of them, that there was
almost everything in them to give him joy, and almost nothing to give
him pain (_Fausset_). The labour of prayer is sure, if persisted in,
to merge into the joy of prayer. Prayer is a blessing to others as
well as to ourselves. The father of Sir Philip Sydney enjoined upon
his son, when he went to school, never to neglect thoughtful prayer.
It was golden advice, and doubtless his faithful obedience to the
precept helped to make Philip Sydney the peerless flower of
knighthood, and the stainless man that he was--a man for whom, months
after his death, every gentleman in England wore mourning.
+Lessons.+--1. _Christian excellence is a reflection of the character
of Christ._ 2. _Christian excellence is acquired by praying and
working._ 3. _Genuine Christianity is its own best eulogy._
_GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES._