A Common Fact and a Rare Experience. "PRINCES HAVE PERSECUTED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE," &c. Ps. cxix. 161-164. THESE words present to us a common fact and a rare experience. FACT. I. A COMMON "Princes have persecuted me without a cause." From the Pharaohs in Egypt, in every country down to this hour, princes have persecuted the good. "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against His anointed saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us" (Ps. ii, 2, 3). The history of persecution and martyrdom has been, if not always inspired, sanctioned and enforced by princes. Godly kings, kings in ruling sympathy with the progress of humanity in liberty, virtue, and religion, are the rarest characters in the annals of the race. First: Their conduct in this respect is in direct antagonism to the Divine intention. Providence gives men this high position, or permits them to reach it, in order that they may further the moral advancement of the world; the king who fails in this is no true king. Secondly: Their conduct in this respect is gradually alienating the hearts of people from their class. The princes and the rulers that give themselves up to festive carousings, to the pampering of their appetites, and the gratification of their lusts, to theatrical amusements, brutal sports, and to pompous pageantries, do more to sap the foundation of thrones, and to spread republicanism, than all the demagogism of the world. The peoples are beginning to think now. The words present to us 66 II. A RARE EXPERIENCE. In the experience here represented there is First: Reverence for God's word. My heart standeth in awe of Thy word." The meaning of this perhaps is, I have a greater dread of violating Thy law, than I have of all the persecuting powers of princes or potentates. This is right, this is sublimely noble. Secondly: Delight in God's word. "I rejoice at Thy word as one that findeth great spoil." I have more pleasure in Thy word than if I had won a kingdom. The word of God makes us "more than conquerors." Thirdly: Loyalty to God's word. "I hate and abhor lying, but Thy word do I love." The "law" and the "word" are here used as convertible terms. A man who is lovingly loyal to truth, must "hate" and "abhor" lying. "The more we see of the amiable beauty of truth, the more we shall see the detestability of a lie."M. Henry. Fourthly: Gratitude for God's word. "Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments." Judgments here, here, too, means the same as word," law," "testimonies," "statutos" in other places. "Seven times a day." Not only morning and evening, or three times a day (Ps. lv.), but seven times, that is again and again, constantly. Eternal thanksgiving for God's communications. 66 66 Notes on the Epistle to the Colossians. REFERRING our readers for all historical and critical remarks about this Epistle to the able Commentaries of LIGHTFOOT and ELLICOTT, and FARRER's more recent" Life and Work of St. Paul," it is nevertheless necessary to carry into and throughout our consideration of the entire Epistle, what was its main purpose. Throughout St. Paul is dealing with the twofold evil that had arisen in the Colossian Church--an error half Judaic, half Gnostican error that was theological and practical. It arose from the wrong conception of matter as inherently evi and as demanding intervening mediators between the material system of things and God; and at making abstinenc from contact with material things, as far as might be possible. verv incumbent on the godly. This error has its modern analogies in Sacerdotalism, and in Pietism. To combat the error then and now the Plenitude of Christ must be preached; Christ the fulness therefore the all sufficient Mediator, therefore too the all sufficient Consecrator of the material system. The errors of the Ritualist, and of the Recluse are both met by this great fact. No. XV. RELIGIOUS REGULATIONS FOR MASTER AND SERVANT. SERVANTS, OBEY IN ALL THINGS YOUR MASTERS ACCORDING TO THE FLESH; NOT WITH EYESERVICE, AS MENPLEASERS; BUT IN SINGLENESS OF HEART, FEARING GOD: AND WHATSOEVER YE DO, DO IT HEARTILY, AS TO THE LORD, AND NOT UNTO MEN; KNOWING THAT OF THE LORD YE SHALL RECEIVE THE REWARD OF THE INHERITANCE: FOR YE SERVE THE LORD CHRIST. BUT HE THAT DOETH WRONG SHALL RECEIVE FOR THE WRONG WHICH HE HATH DONE: AND THERE IS NO RESPECT OF PERSONS. MASTERS, GIVE UNTO YOUR SERVANTS THAT WHICH IS JUST AND EQUAL; KNOWING THAT YE ALSO HAVE A MASTER IN HEAVEN." Col. iii. 22-25; iv. i. THE length of the paragraph on this topic is probably partly the result of Paul's having then and there so much to do with Onesimus, the runaway slave, whom he was sending back to his master. Bought and adopted, 46 and in Christ a brother, society of the Colossian time, an for this K I. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRUE SERVANT'S SERVICE. It is marked by: (1) Obedience. Engaged for given duties: do them. Refusal to do them, neglect in doing them is immoral, is irreligious. You cannot be a good Christian and a bad servant. This obedience is marked by: (2) Thoroughness. Not "eyeservice." This happy expression is probably the apostle's coinage. It describes obedience that is superficial, inconstant, hollow. The obedience he enjoins is marked by: (3) Simplicity of motivesingleness of heart." Not having two purposes, nor secondary aims. This obedience is marked by: (4) Earnestness. "Do it heartily." Whatsoever ye do, work at it. The lazy and lethargic are repulsive, the enthusiastic are noble. II. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRUE MASTER'S MASTERSHIP. The duties of a master are as clearly enforced as those of the servant. "The same light attempers various colours, SO the same principle regulates various duties." There is claimed from the master: (1) Justice. That is what the law demands, what is legally right and square. There is, however, much more: (2) Equity. "What is equal." Equity is more than law; more than legal claims. It is a liberal interpretation of justice in common matters; a response to the intuition of what is right, even though no law defined it or enforced it. It was this teaching about equity that was really the insertion of the leaven that has destroyed slavery in Christendom. What is the touchstone of this equity? Surely this golden rule "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even the same to them likewise." III. THE MOTIVES BOTH OF TRUE SERVICE AND OF TRUE MASTERSHIP. The motives put before them are two: (1) They both sustain a common re lationship to Christ. (a) All are His servants Lord Christ": Masters, ye also have a Master in Heaven." (B) All work is done in His sightTherefore do it "fearing God." (7) All may be done for His glory. "There is no respect of persons." (2) Christ will rightly deal out retribution and reward. With Christ is "the reward of the inheritance." From Christ men shall receive for the wrong which they have done. Our conclusion is First: Cherish a Christian ambition to serve well. Second: Cherish a Christian ambition to rule well. URIJAH R. THOMAS.. Happy those times When lords were styled fathers of families, And not imperious masters! When they number'd Shakespeare. |