feligion, and assisting its ministers in their own country, with a truly catholic spirit, these Philippian converts repeatedly sent money to Paul at Thessalonica, that, by relieving the Christians there from the expence which would attend the establishment of the Gospel, they might be led to conceive a higher idea of the religion itself by the disinterestedness of its ministers. This generous superiority to any lucrative views, gave Paul a marked advantage over their philosophical teachers, who bestowed no gratuitous instruction.

The apostle gratefully considers it as one of the practical effects of the confirmed piety of his beloved Philippians, that they were so liberally kind to himself-he received their affectionate services to the aged, afflicted, and now imprisoned servant of Jesus Christ, as a proof of their fealty to his Lord. An ambassador, though in bonds, will still

be considered as a representative of his king by every liege subject. With what cordiality does he solemnly attest the Omniscient to the truth of his attachment to them, and his desire to see them!

Highly, however, as he estimates their. religious improvement, he does not con-. sider them as having attained that elevation of character which renders monition. superfluous, or advancement unnecessary - for he exhorts even " as many as "be perfect," that they press forward. and reach forth unto those things which are before in his usual humble way identifying himself with those he is admonishing" let us be thus minded."

σε

Again." Though he is confident that

he that had begun a good work in them" will accomplish it, yet they must still work out their salvation; but lest they might be tempted to value themselves on their exertions,

exertions, they are instantly reminded who it is that "worketh in them to will "and to do." Though they professed the Gospel," their conversation must be "such as becometh it." To accomplish his full desire, their love, already so great, must" abound more and more." Nor would he be satisfied with an ignorant or disorderly piety- their love must manifest itself more and more "in "knowledge and judgment:" in knowledge, by perpetual acquisition; in judgment, by a practical application of that knowledge.

How little, in the eyes of the sober Christian, does the renowned Roman who, scarcely half a century before, sacrificed his life to his disappointment, at this very Philippi, appear, in comparison of the man who addressed this epistle to the same city. Saint Paul was not less brave than Brutus, but his magnanimity was of a higher strain. Paul was exercised

H 3

cised in a long series of sufferings, from which the sword of Brutus, directed by any hand but that of Paul himself, would have been a merciful deliverance. Paul, too, was a patriot, and set a proper value on his dignity as a Roman citizen. He too was a champion for freedom, but he fought for that higher species of liberty,

"Unsung by Poets, and by Senators unprais'd."

Was it courage of the best sort, in the Roman enthusiast for freedom, to abandon his country to her evil destiny, at the very moment when she most needed his support? Was it true generosity or patriotism, after having killed his friend, to whom he owed his fortune and his life, usurper though he was, voluntarily to leave this adored country a prey to inferior usurpers? Though Cæsar had robbed Rome of her liberty, should Brutus rob her of his own guardian virtues?

*At the battle of Pharsalia.

Why

Why not say to the Romar-3, as Paul did to the Philippians -"Though I desire "to depart, nevertheless to abide in the

flesh is more needful for you?" This would have been indeed patriotism, because it would have been disinterested. Was not Paul's the truer heroism? He also was in a strait between two events, life and death. He knew, what Brutus, alas! did not know; "that to die was "gain;" but, instead of deserting his cause, by a pusillanimous self-murder, he submitted to live for its interest. The gloomy despair of the Stoic, and the cheerful submission of the Saint, present a lively contrast of the effects of the two religions on two great souls.

It is a coincidence too remarkable to be passed over in silence, that Paul was directed by " a vision from heaven" to go to Philippi; that Brutus was summoned to the same city by his evil genius. The hero obeyed the phantom; the apostle

H 4