News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-05-28
FOR SUNDAY READING.
A SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR THE
YOUNG.
Christ orr Example. Philippians II, 5-1e.


YOUNG.
Christ orr Example. Philippians II, 5-18.
The particular matter In which Christ
Is here presented as our example is un-
selfshness. The apostle, in the verses
just preceding these of the lesson, has
been exhorting the Philippian disciples
to discard self-seeking, so that each one
shall think OF others, rather than of him
self. And this injunction he explains,
as well as enforces, by citing the
Saviour's example. He exhorts them
to have that love for others which the
Saviour had. The Lord Jesus was
divine; but he did not deem it as most
to be priced to enjoy the delights of his
high station. He counted it better to
be servant than divine ruler, and 80
he took upon himself the nature of man,
that he might serve, and he gave him.
self to the most thorough service, even
suffering death in his consecrated SUBJ
lection. And it is because of this hum
bic service that he has his greatest exal-
tation. 1t is because he was such SER
want that his name is so glorious that it
commands the alteration of all created
beings. And SO the apostle counsels
them to discard all selfish murmurings
and disputings. 80 that they may set be-
fore an ungodly world blan.eless ex-
aropIa. an6 bo oJJo Il, x,arca IT x,,b;ob
really belongs to this lesson, that he is
willing himself to do what he has coun-
seled them to do-viz., to serve his beth
rem; and even if in this service death
shall become his portion, and he shall be
sacrificed, he will rejoice therein. The
whole passage is one of pathos and of
power, a glowing exhortation to unsel-
fishness and to self-sacrifcing devotion
to the good of others.
The term "the form of God" ". g.
implies true deity, as ''every form of
human nature" means real human
nature, and "every form of evil" means
real evil, not merely what looks like
it. The reality is here indicated, as
"taking the form of servant" implies
becoming really servant, not merely
having the appearance of service.
The words, ''it is not robbery" would |
mean that he knew that there would be
no wrong in his retaining his high estate.
He was divine, and he had right to re-
main such. The Revised Version reads |
counted it not a prize (margin-'a
thing to be graspedO to be on an eqality |
with God" The meaning is that he did |
not consider his primeval divine estate |
that which was to be cherished above |
everything else. He did not cling to
that exalted condition, but Invested him.
self Of his glory-''emptied himself is
the literal wording, as in the Revised
Version-became man with all human
limitations and descended to the lowest
estate of depressed humanity, suffer-
ing death, and that death of ignominy.
The assertion that he "emptied him.
SELF teaches that, in his incarnation,
the Divine Son came within true imita-
tions, the Infinite became Finite. The
was the assumption not
merely of an apparent but of real hu-
manity with all its imperfections. We
mean, of course, the imperfections in
from humanity, which would |
not include sin, as this is an accident,
not an essential of humanity. The in
was not theophany in human
form, like the appearance of Jehovah to
Abraham on the plains of Mamre. The
child Jesus was as truly human as any
infant. The assertion that he increased
In wisdom involves the truth that his
intellect was at first undeveloped. When
q boy he had just as much trouble
with his lessons as any boy, and in al
points he experienced "the feeling Of
our infrmities.
The declaration that his name is
"above every name" is an assertion that
the God man is more glorious than pure
deity, that the greatest ezaltation Of
the divine is in its service 70 its creatures;
that Gods highest glory is his love.
The apostle applying the lesson, calls
the disciples ". 12) his "beloved,' dis
closing, in this tender address, the
spirit of the living Christ. He urges
them, as they have always obeyed, or as
in the Greek have listened to him, they
shall "work" with redoubled zeal, shall
work not only as they had done wher
be was with them, but even more ener-
getically, now that he their teacher was
taken from them. He urges them to
work out their salvation from selfishness
and other evils, s'with fear and tremb-
Ing; not slavish fear, but that tremb-
ling anxiety which a physician might
feel in an important case, or which an
artist might feel in giving the final
touches which he hoped should make
his work thing of beauty and glory.
And they are to work all the more ener-
getically that they may be co-workers
with God, who is lovingly pleased to be
on his work in them. Gods
spirit is at work in the hearts of us all,
and instead of resisting til at spirit, We
should work with it.
The apostles warnings against self
seeking are an echo of the Saviour's re-
proofs to the disciples who desire to be
greatest" and every thoughtful OBJ
server will discern the fact that in self
sacrifice is the truest glory. The really
great men in the worlds history are
not those who have obtained the most
from their fellow-men, but those who
have done the most for their fellow men.
He that would be greatest, let him be
more than others a servant.