“Why should I fear death?” said Sir Henry Vane, as he awaited his execution; “I find it rather shrinks from me than I from it.”
“Death wounds to heal; I sink, I rise, I reign;
Spring from my fetters, fasten in the skies,
Where blooming Eden withers in my sight,
Death gives us more than we in Eden lost.”—Young.
III. The undaunted sufferer is confident of continued opportunities of advancing the joy of believers in the truth.—“And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith, that your rejoicing may be more abundant” (vers. 25, 26). This assurance was verified by the apostle’s return to Philippi on his release from his first captivity. “Man is immortal till his work is done.” Life is short, and every moment of its duration should be spent for God and the good of others. Shall we repine at our trials which are but for a moment? “We are nearing home day by day,” wrote General Gordon. “No dark river, but divided waters are before us, and then let the world take its portion. Dust it is, and dust we will leave it. It is a long, weary journey, but we are well on the way of it. The yearly milestones quickly slip by, and as our days so will our strength be. The sand is flowing out of the glass, day and night, night and day; shake it not. You have a work to do here, to suffer even as Christ suffered.”
Lessons.—1. The highest virtues are not gained without suffering. 2. Suffering for the truth strengthens our attachment to it. 3. Suffering for the truth is often a means of spreading it.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES.
Ver. 20. Christ the Christian’s Life.
- Christ was the recognised Source of the apostle’s life.
- Christ was the supreme Object of the apostle’s contemplation.
- The glory of Christ was the great end of the apostle’s endeavours.—H. Simon.
Ver. 21. The Christian’s Life and Death.
I. The Christian’s life.—1. It is a life in Christ. (1) Begun in regeneration. (2) Realised by faith. (3) Sustained and increased by Divine knowledge.
2. It is a life for Christ.—(1) The example of Christ is its model. (2) The will of Christ is its laws. (3) The glory of Christ is its end.