IT is a wonderful thing that we should be let into the thoughts of the apostle he innocently tells us about himself. He was taken up with Christ, and could say, " To me to live is Christ." He thought of nothing but Christ; if it was a question of himself, to him " to die was gain." But he did not think of himself at all; he left everything to the Lord. If we think of ourselves, and take ourselves in hand, we take upon ourselves the responsibility which God keeps Himself if we leave all to Him, The vantage ground of a Christian, is, that he has not to think of himself. The apostle could say, " To me to live is Christ, to die is gain." Some have tried to say that on a death-bed, but they left out the first part altogether he was in a strait, he was sorry he had to stay, though he was willing to stop a little longer, for their sakes; to die was positive gain to him. Nor did he speak of going to a place; it was a Person he was going to. Nor was it a relief, as some say, when the body is racked with pain (even a worldly man can say that); it was no relief to him, but positive gain, to be with that Person, though, even then, not yet in the state of perfection, for that would not be till he had his glorified body.
Which of us could say that? We have not only an example to follow in Christ, but to follow a man with like passions as ourselves. " Be ye followers of me, as I am of Christ." W. B.
FAITH, we may say, is synonymous with life; faith is not life, but if you have faith, you have life, and if you have life, you have faith. What characterizes those who are of the world is, that they have no faith. The world is at daggers drawn with God; association with the world is association with the devil, as he is its prince. Real prayer brings a man into direct communication with God. If you really had on the whole armor of God, you would be unassailable, for God is. W. B.