The St. Louis Republic., 1903-01-03

are ordered for good by the all-wise Father.
CRom. wifi, 80 Hence. Paul exhorts the
Philippians to be anxious for nothing. and
urges them to pray and to give thanks.
These two exercises are very properly
Joined. Prayer alone. a request for God
help, might awaken desires that could not
be gratified, and so lead to disappointment,
unrest and even sorrow. But gratitude sup
plements every petition. when the soul IS
sires are moderated and conditions are
created upon which blessings may be be-
slowed. There shall follow as natural
God bestows John xiv. 20. unlike any other
a peace to which the world IS a stranger
one that even surpasses all power OF under,
standing, peace that keeps the mind ana
MEDITATION-Verse 81 There Is one
remarkable popularity in all Of PauFs writ
before leaving It to go down to some fun
damental principle on which his utserances
rest. This sets him apart among all the IN
theologian, and one must be both In order
to be either. Here he enjoins meditation
as the secret In building Christian charac,
he had prescribed would be difficult perhaps
impossible. And he named the themes Tor
their Observation-Disclosures was true, h0'!-
est pure. lovely and Of good report These
qualities attach to all subjects that are
worthy Of human investigation. Paul knew
full well the power Of prolonged thousht
xiii. ., on this point. 1t is only by con-
tinuous contemplation upon the truth that
Its power Is felt and its beauty perceived
Meditation is kind Of mental digestion.
process by. which the soul derives nourish-
ment, needed much as the body needs
food. Many people starre because they 90
INsTRUcTioN-tterse s) The privilege
and duty Of meditation do not render the
living teacher unnecessary. While one may
get much alone and may be enriched by as
sim;lating It. he may profitably listen to the
words of another who has been engaged in
study. Indeed the student will be eager
and he will be prepared for them. Accord
ingly. the sermon is ever to be held in high
esteem, not to displace study. but to quick.
private study and sermon hearing ought
not to have for their chief end the acquisi-
tion of knowledge. desirable as it may be.
tiers into the life, forms the principles and
governs the conduct. Hence, Paul urges the
Philippians to reduce to practice whatever
word is that do" which he presents: II
action Is three-fourths Of life, as Mathew
Arnold says. then the apostle strikes here
tian living. In this he was in rIl accord
with Jesus who said: Whose hearetn
these sayings of mine and doeth them.
peace. will be with you" Right doing brings
BENEVOLENCE-v 10. Il. 12) Aft
eT all tnS duN1Ce faul dlluSeu W
ness which the church of Phiilippa hlo
shown to him. This was done in a way TO
show his own character and make MIN
worthy example. First Of all he expressed
his joy because of the benevolence SHOWN
toward him, not because he was the recip
lent of benefits, but because the chuTSn
possessed such a generous disposition ne
esteemed the source of the gift more tnan
the gift itself. Moreover, his joy was IN
the Iord-it was n religious or spiritual re-
joicing recognition that all had been
done because of the grace OF GOD in the
heart of the donors and because he was
servant of Christ. It seems that this WIS
not the first act on their part tverse lS) for
he refers to gifts previously received;
Cor. ri. 81 To avoid any mistake he plain
" declares that he was not an object OF
charity, that he had not appealed to them
in his want. He had learned how to ad-
tust himself to circumstances. he had at
times been in prosperous conditions and ar
other times in straitened conditions. but
in every State he was content. q Tim, vi.
6) This fact lifted the act of the Philip
plans into the realm of pure generosity.
ABILITY-Werse 49, Following this ref
erence TO the benevolence of the Philippian
Church, there is i sudden elevation of
thought in the apostles letter. Paul was
as he priced the gifts of his friends and
much as he rejoiced over their liberality
verse 40, he felt assured that he was quite
in a sense independent of such favors. His
mind turned toward the support which is
from above, which never fails. which is
adequate to every circumstance in life.
Upon that he rested with utmost confidence
and repoee II can do all things through
Christ which strengthened me-" he declared