al glory but the whole
blessing possessed now and always in the _Soter_.
[8] "Observe the holy paradox of the thought here. The fulness of
divine power in the saints is to result primarily not in 'doing some
great thing' but in enduring and forbearing, with heavenly joy of
heart. The paradox points to one deep characteristic of the Gospel,
which prepares the Christian for service by the way of a true
abnegation of himself as his own strength and his own aim." (Note on
Col. i. 11 in _The Cambridge Bible_).
[9] A. Vinet, _Hymn on the Crucifixion_, translated by C. W. Moule.
"O thou who makest souls to shine
With light from brighter worlds above,
And droppest glistening dew divine
On all who seek a Saviour's love,
"Do Thou Thy benediction give
On all who teach, on all who learn,
That all Thy Church may holier live,
And every lamp more brightly burn.
* * * * *
"If thus, good Lord, Thy grace be giv'n
Our glory meets us ere we die;
Before we upward pass to heav'n
We taste our immortality."
J. ARMSTRONG.
TIMOTHEUS AND EPAPHRODITUS
"Puisse la meme foi qui consola leur vie
Nous ouvrir les sentiers que leurs pas ont presses,
Et, dirigeant nos pieds vers la sainte patrie
Ou leur bonheur s'accroit de leurs travaux passes,
Nous rendre ces objets de tendresse et d'envie
Qui ne sont pas perdus, mais nous ont devances."
A. VINET
CHAPTER VII
TIMOTHEUS AND EPAPHRODITUS
PHILIPPIANS ii. 19-30
Epaphroditus--The variety of Scripture--Contrasts in context--Henry
Martyn's letter--"The human element"--"His letters I have read"--The
two aspects of Scripture--Divine messages in human context--"Together
with them"
Ver. 19. +But I hope in the Lord Jesus+, with an expectation
conditioned by my union with Him in all things, and with you in Him,
+promptly to send to you Timotheus,[1] that I too+, I as well as you,
who will of course be gladdened by his presence, +may be of good cheer,
getting+, through him, +a knowledge+ (_gnous_) +of your circumstances+
(_ta peri humon_). I send him, and not
Ver. 20. another, +for I have+--at hand, and free to move--+no one
equal-souled+ with him,[2] +one who+ (_hootis_) +will genuinely take
anxious care about your circumstances+; the "care" which is not a weary
burthen, better cast upon the Lord (iv. 6), but a sacred charge,
undertaken in and for Him, and
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