Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-08-19

illusion we are
dead! We are happy to find that the
Bible holds the same view as to the
reality OF sickness rs IL held spon-
taneously by common sense.
Paul tells us. too. that his friend
was sick nigh unto DEATH recogniz'
Ing the reality Of death as well as
that Of sickness. The apostle be-
lieved Christ had abolished death. hut
this last enemy is yet to be de.
stroyed. Paul longed that he might
not be "unclothed." by dying. but
clothed upon with our house which
Is from heaven" that Is. that he
might receive his glorified body by
the appearing OF Christ while he was
still alive UI Cor. 5:1-4).
But we are especially struck with
Pauls statement that God had mer-
cy on" Epaphrodltus. the friend OF
whom he is speaking. He considered
this mans restoration to health as
mercy" Yet. we are told In this
same epistle that ito depart Is to be
with Christ, which Is far better"
u IlbN thtu ~Outu - - -
'mercy" for his life to be sparedf
Recovery From Sickness Mercy.
There are several answers to this
question. While death would have
brought this saint into the presence
of his Lord. yet as We have seen.
death In itself is a dark passage. even
to the Christian Ono. l2:1S; II Cor.
$40.
Again, when we die. the service OF
this our pilgrimage Is ended. Says
st, Chrysostum: Those who are de-
parted this life can no longer win
souls"
In this particular instance. there Is
another prominent aspect of the mat
ter. The Philippians. to whom Paul
was writing greatly needed Epaph-
rotlitus. Hence. he shrank from
dying lest they be bereaved of him.
He considered II II mercy to be kept
out of heaven itself. for time. that
others might be blessed
Not only did Paul feel that God
had mercy on Epaphroditus. In spar
Ing his life, but that at the same time
He had had mercy on himself also,
lest he should have sorrow upon sor-
row." Just as we have seen that
sickness nd death are To he regarded
as real. so now we are authorized to
look upon sorrow as both real and
appropriate.
Paul was no stole. nor are Chris
tlans generally hidden to be such
He regarded his Imprisonment as &
"sorrow." True, the things which
had happened unto him. leading to
his being prisoner ut Rome, had
turned out to the furtherance of the
gospel q :l2). Nevertheless, his
prison was n sorrow" to him. He
did not replne: his epistle to the PHI
lippians, sent from Rome. had as its
keynote. "Rejoice." But he would
have been glad for release. and says:
II trust In the Lord that also my.
self shall come shortly" e :2D.
Regarding the prison as SORROW"
he tells us that II Epaphroditus had
died he would have had sorrow upon
sorrow" or course. he would have
rejoiced oyer his friends entrance
into the ''ather's house. but he would
have felt the loneliness and loss OF
bereavement. Only. he would not
have sorrowed "as others which have
no hope" Il Thess. 4:13.
Not Angels but Folks.
When Father Taylor, the sailor
preacher OF Boston, was dying some
one sought to comfort him by saying:
"You will soon be with the angels"
But he answered at once: II don't
want angels want folks" Paul.
with all his spirituality, would doubt
less have approved this robust hu-
man sentiment. God created our hui
manity and would no. suppress II, but
rather would he glorified In our bodies
and In our spirits. which are His. He
would miss His "llttle human praise"
Speaking of our text. the late Blsh-
op Moule said: "Obscrve the perfect
naturalness Of Paurs language. lie
abides in the peace of God he has
strength for all things (4:7. 13).
But that peace Is no frost, or torpor,
Of the heart: that strength Is not
hardness. lie Is released from en-
bitterment and from murmurs. but
every scnsibility Is refined by that
very fact. II was so with his Lord
before him John IL :33. 30, 49,"
Christ does not forbid our tears:
rather. lie weeps with us. But He
stands saying: Il am the resurrec-
ton and the life" and, God shall