needs speak, act,
and converse among men, just as Christ was made in the likeness of men
and found in fashion as a man, and had His conversation among men.

Yet a Christian has need of none of these things for justification and
salvation, but in all his works he ought to entertain this view and look
only to this object--that he may serve and be useful to others in all
that he does; having nothing before his eyes but the necessities and the
advantage of his neighbour. Thus the Apostle commands us to work with
our own hands, that we may have to give to those that need. He might
have said, that we may support ourselves; but he tells us to give to
those that need. It is the part of a Christian to take care of his own
body for the very purpose that, by its soundness and well-being, he may
be enabled to labour, and to acquire and preserve property, for the aid
of those who are in want, that thus the stronger member may serve the
weaker member, and we may be children of God, thoughtful and busy one
for another, bearing one another's burdens, and so fulfilling the law of
Christ.

Here is the truly Christian life, here is faith really working by love,
when a man applies himself with joy and love to the works of that freest
servitude in which he serves others voluntarily and for nought, himself
abundantly satisfied in the fulness and riches of his own faith.

Thus, when Paul had taught the Philippians how they had been made
rich by that faith in Christ in which they had obtained all things,
he teaches them further in these words: "If there be therefore any
consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of
the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be
like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let
nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his
own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Phil. ii. 1-4).

In this we see clearly that the Apostle lays down this rule for a
Christian life: that all our works should be directed to the advantage
of others, since every Christian has such abundance through his faith
that all his other works and his whole life remain over and above
wherewith to serve and benefit his neighbour of spontaneous goodwill.

To this end he brings forward Christ as an example, saying, "Let this
mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus