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. His bonds, and their sympathy with him in his affliction, had endeared them to him. He felt therefore a strong affection for them. They had also shown themselves not uninterested in his cause, when he stood on his defence before the people; as well as when the word of the truth of the gospel had received Divine confirmation, by means of the power of God being manifested as engaged to protect and preserve His servants. They had thus proved themselves to be partakers of the same Divine grace as had been bestowed upon him.

And as he had been the instrument through which the blessing had been communicated to them, he was most anxiously desirous of their spiritual welfare.

He could appeal to the Searcher of hearts with regard to the great interest which he felt in the promotion of it. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. How strong and ardent was the affection which prompted him to speak in this forcible manner! What compassion for perishing sinners was ever exhibited by our blessed Saviour in the days of His flesh! How affecting His address when, descending the mount of Olives, He was come near, and beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in

this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace; but now they are hid from thine eyes." How kind is the language of the Lord God to His afflicted people. When Zion said, the Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me: He graciously replied, Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. So it is said respecting our Lord Jesus Christ, our great High Priest that is passed into the heavens, the Son of God: We have not a High Priest, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin; and in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted. Such are the bowels of Jesus Christ. His infinite compassion and kindness towards His church and people are such as are no where else to be found, such as were never manifested by any other. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." The apostle Paul expressed his anxiety for the spiritual welfare of the Galatians, in similar language with this towards the Philippians. He addressed them, My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.45

41 Luke xix. 41. 42Is.xlix.14. 43 Heb.iv.14; ii.18. 44 Rom. v. 8.

And as our Saviour showed His love to His church by giving Himself for it, so the apostle says of himself to the Colossians respecting his own willingness to suffer, in order that he might make known the gospel of Christ: I fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for His body's sake, which is the church.46 And he declares to Timothy, I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." And in still stronger language he professes to the Philippians, Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all.48

After having expressed his thankfulness to God on their behalf, and his anxiety for their spiritual welfare, his great longing after it, he mentions the subject of his supplications for them at the throne of grace. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. Wherever true faith in Christ exists in the heart, it worketh by love; it produces love to God and His people in particular; and also universal benevolence. But it is not a blind love; it is a love confirmed and increased and established by knowledge and judgThe knowledge of Christ, as the Saviour of sinners, and the perception of His wonderful

ment.

45 Gal. iv. 19. 46 Col. i. 24. 47 2 Tim. ii. 10. 48 Phil. ii. 17.

love, and the greatness of His salvation, is the foundation upon which it is built. And this knowledge is to be increased by an acquaintance with the revelation of the Divine will, by searching the holy scriptures, and exercising the judgment upon them, and praying for a right understanding of Divine truth, as it is revealed in the word of God; that by this means we may be led to love Him, because He first loved us,49 and thus by reason of use may have our senses exercised to discern both good and evil.50 From this would follow that for which the apostle prays, That ye may approve things that are excellent. As he himself showed that he did, when he said, Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ, and be found in Him. He had proved the religion of Christ, and found it to be most excellent and valuable; more to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.52 And he was anxious that all who were made acquainted with it might, in like manner, ascertain its excellence in consequence of love to Christ abounding in them. This he knew would produce a powerful effect upon their conduct. And therefore he prayed that they

49 1 John iv. 19. 50 Heb. v. 14. 51 Phil. iii. 8, 9. 52 Psalm xix. 10.

might be sincere and without offence, till the day of Christ, avoiding all hypocrisy and falsehood and insincerity, all false pretences, which are so common in the world; and, as he afterwards exhorted them, might be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, shining as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life. To avoid giving needless offence to any is the duty of the children of God. But if the cross of Christ gives offence to the children of this world, and they take offence at it, St. Peter says, If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf. At the same. time he warns believers against that conduct which would bring a reproach upon the gospel of Christ. Let none of you suffer as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a busy body or meddler in other men's matters. This Christian spirit and conduct is to be observed till the day of Christ; that is, as long as we live in this world, until death come, which will be succeeded by the judgment of the great day.

And the love of Christians to their Lord and Master is to be manifested still further, by being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the praise and glory of God. The fruits of righteousness are otherwise termed

53 Philippians ii. 15, 16.

54 1 Peter iv. 15, 16.