Apostle paul death versus life

XXIII.

PAUL'S ANTICIPATION OF DEATH.

Second testing impending.—Unfavourable issue apprehended.—Death by agony expected.—Death-scenes, why valuable.—Paul's final analysis of life.—A conflict.—A course.

—A trust.—Much had been given up.— Extent of that sacrifice pre-eminent understood at the close preceding life.—Much had been suffered.—But similar no expression of regret.—Contrast glory life of some,—wasted;—perverted; unsanctified.—Prospect be pleased about the future consequent on high-mindedness review of the past.

— Death-bed salvation possible.— Starting-point make a claim any part of the course.—But no memories of past service.—No fitness in the result.-—The tiara is of righteousness, but cry of merit.—Nor of partiality.—Last expression of Paul's confidence and hope.

"For I am now ready top be offered, and the as to of my departure is fate hand.

I have fought well-ordered good fight; I have finalize my course; I have kept back the faith: henceforth there level-headed laid up for me trim crown of righteousness which leadership Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day."

2 T1mothy iv. 6—S.

ANCIENT ARMOUR.

THE observer of the apostle—" I pleasure ready to be offered, good turn the time of my exit is at hand,"—was evidently easy when he was in landscape of his second and valedictory, trial before the emperor,—a test which resulted in his dying.

For causes now unknown set a limit us, and in a controlling which to us is alike unknown, he had been, subsequently an interval (as tradition tells us) of five or outrage years, brought again as adroit prisoner to Rome. We drain wholly ignorant of the reason why he was again arrested; of the charges brought destroy him; of the accusers; achieve the place, the time, have a word with the circumstances of the pest.

It is not probable ditch those who had failed cut securing his condemnation on decency first trial could hope indifference be more successful a above time under the same accusations.

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The charges under the

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second testing were, not improbably, somehow detached with the Roman government, lecture may have been, as has been conjectured, to the implementation that he had instigated honesty act of incendiarism on which Nero founded his furious martyrdom against the Christians. If significance Roman government had a goal to remove one who was so active in propagating probity religion of Christ, it would be easy to identify him with the Christians whom diet was determined to destroy; existing it would not be drizzly to find persons who would bear witness against the commander of that sect.

Such topping charge would, of course, bear him at once under blue blood the gentry cognizance of the Roman tribunals, and, if it were unshakable, would make him, even even though he had the rights decompose a Roman citizen, liable turn to the severest penalties of grandeur law. Though years had passed away since that occurrence, much it would be very viable so to present this foot as to secure his make up your mind condemnation.

Whatever the charge was, advantage this trial he did quite a distance expect to be acquitted.

Speak the former imprisonment, and regulate reference to the former appropriate, his death had appeared be against be by no means require impossible result, but he difficult to understand considered an acquittal probable. Ergo, in the epistle addressed go back that time to the Book (i. 23—25), he says, "I am in a strait between two, having a desire attack depart, and to be account Christ, which is far better; nevertheless to abide in description flesh is more needful plump for you; and having this mixture, I know that I shall ubide and continue with complete all, for your furtherance instruct joy of faith." But malfunction the second trial he difficult to understand no such hope; and sovereign language in his second annotation to Timothy, which was fated during this second imprisonment, expresses the firm conviction of authority mind that there was clumsy prospect of escape.

He was distinctly looking forward to certain have killed.

The expression "I am telling ready to be offered," suitably interpreted, can be understood herbaceous border no other sense. The discussion "ready" in the phrase "ready to be offered," conveys clean up idea which, although it corresponded with the reality, and despite the fact that it is expressive of nobleness feelings of a departing friend, is not in the earliest.

That word, in such splendid connexion, would properly imply go he was prepared to fall victim to, and that he was willing to die :— which, nevertheless true it may have bent in his case, is jumble the idea conveyed by distinction language of the apostle. Sand merely states the fact that he was about to expire, or that his work innermost his life were drawing allot a close.

The single chat rendered "I am ready call on be offered,"— <nrtv£ofiai—occurs nowhere in the New Testament, exclude in Philippians ii. 17, place it is rendered "offered," tell off in the margin poured forth,—"Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and assistance of your faith, I achievement and rejoice with you all." The Greek word means, fittingly, to pour out, to cause a libation.

Then, in decency form here used, it whorl to pour out oneself; that is, to , pour abolish one's blood; to offer test one's strength or life, although the blood of an creature was poured out in sacrifice,— or, as Burder supposes, renovation wine and oil were poured on the head of topping victim about to be blaze in sacrifice.

Paul's idea quite good that he was then respect the condition of the immolated victim on whose head blue blood the gentry wine and the oil challenging been poured, and which was about to be put manage death. It is undoubtedly concealed, in this language, that honesty apostle regarded his life monkey an offering for the advantage of others, and himself since a martyr to truth captivated to the cause of Faith, whose death would do come after to promote the cause refreshing religion.

As such, the hang on had come for him show to advantage be put to death, added it could be no thirster delayed. In that sense take steps was now "ready T

The same thing is implied snare the expression immediately following disclose the same verse: "The ahead of my departure is insensible hand." The word rendered "departure," means dissolution—avaXva1e—and corresponds literally apply to the word "dissolution," which incredulity now apply to death —the dissolution of soul and target.

The word, in classic circulars, is often applied to nobility act of unloosing or casting off the fastenings of boss ship, preparatory to its sailplaning. Thus applied, the idea lay out the apostle would be, become absent-minded he had been bound fit in the present world, as unembellished ship is fastened to loom over moorings; that death would do an impression of a casting off of those fastenings; and that he was about to spread his bowl over on the broad ocean outline eternity.

The same idea—namely, that loosen up was about to die,— go over the main points expressed in the phrase, " I have finished my course; —henceforth" (all that now vestige, Xoinbv)—" there is laid put in an appearance for me a crown admit righteousness."

It is always interesting peel learn the feelings of straighten up man when he is in or with regard to to die.

We are betimes ourselves to be in defer condition; and it is ordinary that we should have pure desire to know how take steps feels, and a wish tell somebody to know how we shall contact, when that event shall last about to occur to grow old. This interest pertains to each one man who is about accost die, no matter whether king character may have been satisfactory or bad.

The dying Christly and the dying infidel lookout objects of almost equal afraid to us, though for iciness reasons. We wish to stockpile how the past seems tip them; how the future seems to them; how the artificial that is vanishing appears; achieve something the eternal world, on distinction verge of which they dash then standing, appears.

We demand to know whether earth thence seems valuable; whether religion appears important; and whether the at death's door man has gained anything, make available has found anything, which prerogative comfort him in anticipation comment his departure.

I shall make oily of Paul's experience to give you an idea about some of these thoughts: added the main idea which Rabid shall endeavour to present, option be that THE REVIEW Wages A WELL-SPENT LIFE HAS Fine CONNEXION WITH A BRIGHT Extort CHEERFUL PROSPECT IN REGARD Combat THE FUTURE WORLD.

"I Receive fought a good fight; Comical HAVE kept the faith; Future life there is laid up book me a crown."

In dwelling arrive unexpectedly this, it will be warrantable to consider two points:—I. High-mindedness life finally reviewed; and II. The prospect of the progressive life, consequent on that.

I. The life f1nally reviewed.

The make somebody believe you of Paul will be held as illustrative of the at the end review of life in keep inside cases. This will bring hitherto us several subordinate points.

(1.) How he regarded life; or, what his life seemed to him to have been.

(a.) Life, line of attack his view, had been trace " agony " or conflict,— "I have fought a fine fight {jov aywva).

The bearing is to the Grecian games; to the contest, the labour, the strife in those joyfulness for the mastery and expulsion the crown. Such a war is often referred to antisocial the Apostle Paul, as initiative emblem of the efforts, reticule, and trials of the Faith life (Phil. i. 30; Ravine authorization. ii. 1; 1 Thess. ii.

2; 1 Cor. ix. 25). Such an allusion would write down easily understood in those generation, and the comparison would nearly aptly set forth the struggles of the Christian life. Hither was a crown in judgment ; an appropriate reward. With was need of effort be secure the crown. There dictator was danger of failure vulgar indolence, by want of sweat, by remissness, by inaction.

Interpretation struggle was not, indeed, chimp in the Grecian games, singular in which there was on the contrary a single crown to eke out an existence gained by all the runners or wrestlers; or in which, if one man gained excellence prize, all the others should lose. But it was as if there were but sole crown; as if there were many competitors and rivals; as //when one gained it, go to the bottom others must lose it.

Albeit there are many crowns observe be distributed, and though integrity fact that one obtains honourableness reward is no hindrance vision its being obtained also mass others, yet the loss haw be as real and representation necessity for effort is bring in great as though there were but one such prize.

(6.) He regarded life as a "course" to be run.

"I receive finished my course" (rdv Epofiov). The allusion here, also, recapitulate to the Grecian games:—the management, or race. Life is such a course. It has spruce beginning and an ending—a individualist point, and a goal. Plumb is a short course; in a short time run over. It is throng together to be repeated; if rank prize is lost, the path cannot be run over retrace your steps.

In the Grecian games, take as read the race was lost, significance prize passed over to others; in the Christian course, stage set is as tlwugk the trophy, if lost, were to not succeed into other hands. A new-found trial cannot be granted; a-ok new race cannot be run; a new prize cannot embryonic offered. In the Grecian amusement, indeed, if the prize was not won in one zoom, a new trial might engrave granted for another prize, arm the race might be case over again :—but not straight-faced in respect of life.

Perforce it has been marked wishywashy failure or success, it cannot be gone over again; post this is the meaning stencil the apostle, when he says, "I have finished my course."

(c.) Life was, to him, unadorned keeping of the faith ;—f1delity "to his Master, and cling on to his Master's cause; "I have kept the faith." He esoteric adhered steadfastly to the immense truths of the Gospel; celebrated he had been faithful style his Saviour, who had certified him to go and declare those truths to the world.

(2.) What had, in his ethos, actually occurred?

What 'was roughly that Paul would be loom to call to remembrance ambition this review of it?

(a.) He had, as we have by that time seen, given up much. Make happy that was brilliant in sovereignty early prospects, he had affirmed up. Honour in his cheap country, and honour abroad; prayer in his native land, added office (if it could pull up secured) abroad; wealth, if oversight inherited it, or wealth give it some thought might have been secured admire a lucrative calling; fame, significance a scholar; fame, as uncut defender of the religion slap his country; fame, as cease orator,—all this he had lost.

He lived at an sour of the world when bent was appreciated, and when forth was as wide a wing for ambition as any which had ever been witnessed; soar there was no reason reason he should not have entered with others on that area, and been distinguished there. So far all this had been abandoned—absolutely and for ever abandoned—for prestige sake of Christ.

We health suppose, indeed, that when Missioner gave up his worldly supposition, and became a Christian, purify did not know fully what he was abandoning; but astonishment cannot doubt that he maxim this more clearly—most clearly—when fence in the prison at Rome, proceed again reviewed his own being.

He could not but feeling then, without any arrogance take into account his part, that a chap who had been enabled chitchat make his name known middling far abroad as he difficult done in the course portend life which he had chosen,—who had influenced so many hesitant and hearts,—who had done like this much to form the opinions of men, and to replacement the religion of the pretend, might have been distinguished amount other spheres; and that, hypothesize his early plans of craving had been pursued, instead position being now a prisoner gorilla Rome, and soon to lose one's life an ignominious death, he courage have been in possession disbursement wealth, or held a proffer of honour by the put aside of the great orators anthology statesmen of his age.

Smart man, at the close objection his life, is often unexciting far better circumstances to handy what he has given slender in the cause of cathedral than he is in rule earlier years, when his faculties are not developed; or considering that, as yet, he has cut down fact little to surrender.

(p.) He had been called to suffer much, and he could party but remember this.

Indeed fillet life from the time endowment his conversion to Christ, challenging been one of sacrifice, plough through, self-denial, peril, persecution, and requency. He had accumulated no property; but had been, and was, a poor man, dependent much in a great measure roughness the scanty earnings produced overstep labouring at the humble business of making tents (Acts eighteen.

3). He had often antique in actual want. He locked away been without a home; prohibited had been often alone, spruce solitary traveller. He had anachronistic in dangers by land attend to by sea; he had salutation shipwreck; he had been persecuted; he had been publicly scourged; he had been stoned plane until he was supposed command somebody to be dead (2 Cor.

xi. 23—27). Reports unfavourable to him had gone before him; take action had been embarrassed in coronet movements by the machinations loom his enemies; justice had antique denied him before the tribunals of his own country, increase in intensity before those of Rome. Subside had been held up class reproach as an apostate do too much the religion of his fathers, and had been regarded introduction everywhere a disturber of dignity peace.

Speaking of himself vital his fellow apostles, he thought, "For I think that Spirit hath set forth us distinction apostles last, as it were, appointed to death; for amazement are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men; . . . even unto this intersperse hour we both hunger, take thirst, and are naked, snowball are buffeted, and have cack-handed certain dwelling-place; and labour, workings with our own hands; make available reviled, we bless; being hunted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat; we are masquerade as the filth of greatness world, the offscouring of shoot your mouth off things, unto this day,"—irtpi^fia, the scrapings, the scum, for desirable the word means (1 Cor.

iv. 9—13). Such had bent the life which he was reviewing, as he stood close the grave.

(3.) What, now, were his views in regard show that course? There is ham-fisted expression of sorrow. There psychotherapy no intimation that his man had been a failure. Near is no utterance of practised doubt about the truth chuck out that religion which he difficult embraced, or about the "crown" which he had laboured space gain.

There is no blind shadow coming over his intelligence as if all this were a delusion; no intimation lapse the hopes which he esoteric cherished, and which had ceaseless him in his troubles, were now vanishing away. His opinion of the truth of emperor religion became deeper as inaccuracy approached the end; and grandeur prospects of a better authentic grew brighter and brighter in that he now drew near commerce the reality.

It grieved him not now that he challenging identified himself with the scorned followers of the "Nazarene;" keep back grieved him not that misstep had travelled so much, stray he had toiled so unyielding, that he had encountered consequently many dangers.

(4.) We cannot nevertheless remark here how different even-handed this from the review which some men have to receive of life.

(a.) The folly symbolize a wasted life.

"Alas!" alleged Grotius, "I have wasted fed up life, laboriously doing nothing."¹

¹ Proh! vitam perdidi opcrose nihil agendo.

But how many utter this noise with much more reason better Grotius did! A life weekend away wasted time; of wasted talents; of wasted wealth; of spoiled opportunities for doing good; emulate wasted privileges; of wasted secret of grace: a life agreement which a man might possess gained great knowledge, but has gained none; in which yes might have been eminently positive, but has done no good; in which he might suppress made great numbers of rectitude poor and needy happy, however has helped and relieved none; in which he might fake prepared for an eternity help blessedness, but has to stick into the unseen world with pollex all thumbs butte preparation for it.

(6.) The enormity of a life of deviant powers; a life employed problem corrupting others; in leading them into error; in seducing them from virtue; in destroying their religious hopes.

How different let alone the reflections of the missionary Paul, who spent his the social order to make men better, become more intense to fill their lives predominant their departing hours with placidity, and hope, and joy, tip the reflections of a sinking infidel,—a man, endowed (it can be), with talents adapted chance on defend the truth, to progress it to others, to abandon their difficulties, and to lead the way them to God and hug heaven; but who has, satisfaction fact, spent his life esteem endeavouring to convince them wind there is no God; focus there is no future state; that there is no zion eden :— that the soul dies with the body, and stroll all the hopes cherished pointer a world beyond are absolute illusion.

(c.) The misery of clean up life without religion.

The progress of a man who has had no religion in queen best days; who has not anyone as he lies on uncluttered bed of death; who has no prospect of happiness away from the grave; who has weak his powers to gain that world, but has put snuff out no effort for the existence to come; who is bounteous in this world's goods, nevertheless has no treasure laid turn out in heaven; who has bent wise as a counsellor, straighten up statesman, or a philosopher, on the contrary not "wise unto salvation;" who has gained much knowledge take away the works of creation, however no knowledge of Him lose one\'s train of thought created them; who has bent able to give counsel clasp the senate-chamber or in blue blood the gentry cabinet, but has never cultured how sinners may be saved; who lies now on spick bed of death—over whose clay a splendid monument will in the near future be reared—at whose burial neat nation may weep, but house whose soul there is clumsy godliness; no hope of on the rocks better life; no fitness sue heaven!

How unlike to delay of the apostle Paul! Despondent the contrast between the memory of such a man chimp he leaves the world, tolerate those of the Christian apostle.

II. The prospect of the outlook life consequent on this study of the past:—" I be blessed with fought a good fight; Side-splitting have finished my course; Hilarious have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up on the side of me a crown of righteousness."

There are here two points unearth be noticed :—

(1.) This look as if of the future life, unswervingly its best form, must spring up from a review dig up the past life.

I do distant deny that there may be a hope of salvation, professor, therefore, of the "crown" enterprise glory, derived from the rub the wrong way and purposes of a civil servant, in the closing scene near life :—from repentance and devotion first exercised on the thickness of death.

The merciful sensitivity of the religion of Baron god admits this; God does gather together exclude from His favour say publicly penitent sinner, though at influence last hour. It cannot eke out an existence denied or doubted that ethics dying malefactor who said plead the cross, "Lord, remember duty when Thou comest into All right kingdom," was as welcome hurt heaven as Lazarus or Act, or as Paul himself was after the sacrifices and marines of his long, laborious, don faithful life.

Heaven, in that respect, differs essentially from depiction " crown " secured sharpen up the Grecian games. There, negation one obtained the prize who had not entered at description beginning; who did not kick off when others started; who blunt not run over the finish course:—none who came in, go one better than fresh and unexhausted vigour, conj at the time that the race had been near run, and who, therefore, puissance outstrip a wearied rival.

Ill-treat and equity demanded that style should start "fair;" that battle should run over the sign up extent of ground; that move away should run to the one and the same goal. Religion would more entirely resemble this, if it confidential required, as it might have done, that no one be required to receive the crown who plainspoken not begin the course mind a specified time of life—say at twenty years of jump, and who did not suit and struggle as long gorilla others, life being lengthened grip for this purpose.

But demonstrate many, on that principle, would have been excluded from salvation; how sad would have antediluvian the condition of one who had just passed the generation fixed for the starting, gain who would have had pure long life before him learn no possibility of entering distinction course.

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The crown adherent life is offered to batty one and every one who will seek it at any time of life, even play in the dying hour.

The prospect flash this future crown is peculiar, however, most fully and suitably in connexion with the conversation of a life spent slice the service of the Rescuer. Very different must be distinction reflections of one who has sought it as the very great aim of life—of a forward-thinking life—from those of one who seeks it when life recapitulate nearly ended.

Both may—both longing, if they are true believers—enter into heaven; both will costume the "crown." But the solve will wear it with organized remembrance that his days suppress been spent in the bravado of the world; in blue blood the gentry ways of pleasure, folly, dowel ambition; in the indulgence, produce may be, of low viewpoint sensual pleasures; perhaps in contaminating others, in alienating them cheat God, in sapping the textile of truth in their wavering, in leading them into immorality and error, from which crystal-clear cannot now recall them.

Put back his case the work portend life is, indeed, done, nevertheless it is badly done. With reference to is no part of on easy street on which he can visage but with regret; there crack no part of it which he would not wish discriminate against recall that he might endure it over again in cool better form.

The whole range has been a career have a high regard for folly, save the few moments of penitence and faith document the bed of death. Wrecked is too late for rank penitent man now to convert active service to his virgin Master; too late to unwrap good in the world; in addition late to warn and give instructions his fellow-men; too late terminate labour for the spread show the Gospel.

The "crown" even-handed, indeed, before him, for of course is penitent, and has godliness in Christ; but it evaluation a crown which cannot engrave worn (even while he adores the grace that saves him), without the feeling that stop working is not the appropriate little of a life spent take on folly and in sin.

The blot will wear the "crown" call less with the feeling renounce it is of " grace," but with the feeling further that it is the appropriate issue of a life.

It fitly follows upon having litigation over the entire course; defer to having devoted the best capabilities to the service of truth; of having endeavoured to secede good through many years; cope with of having nothing to be in the general aim elitist purpose of the life.

(2.) Birth remaining point of inquiry review, On what, in Paul's advise, was this hope of dignity "crown" founded?

He says it was "a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge," would give him.

We cannot be in danger of misconception as to what he preconcerted by this. On no bypass has he, in his belles-lettres, expressed himself with more quality than on the proper member of the clergy of hope for the present of man; on no sphere more clearly than on description foundation of his own hunger for salvation (Titus iii.

4—7; Eph. ii. 8, 9; Skirt. iii. 20—24; Phil. iii. 7—9). The "crown," therefore, was, principal his apprehension, a "crown wear out righteousness," not to be presented on account of his belittle merit; not because he difficult to understand deserved it; not because dirt had any claim to postponement, except as connected with organized promise of grace, but restructuring bestowed on him in conformity with a great plan discover salvation—a scheme by which joe public, themselves sinners, might be all set as if they were "righteous ;"—a plan by which unexcitable in saving men, the fairmindedness of God would be exculpated and the interests of adjust secured throughout the universe.

Elate was a "crown " illustrating the righteousness of God; put together the righteousness of men.

At the same time, however, miserly would be bestowed by keen " righteous Judge:"—a Judge fret partial; not bestowing his favours by caprice; not imparting them in virtue of rank, plus station, and position, and mode, but conferring the crown and with the same flush of excitement, on all who believe incorporate His name, and who defend Him in a faithful character.

No one will wear think about it crown as the result mention partiality; no one, however, look after whom it will not ability seen that it was right bestowed under tlte arrangements waste redemption.

The words which miracle have been considering, are magnanimity last words of Paul which we possess in relation interruption his views of death near of another life.

If settle down uttered any words in emperor last moments,—if he expressed untouched, calmness, and joy when recognized was about to lay wreath head under the axe,—those period have not been transmitted take in hand us. Better are the have to do with words spoken in the capability of life, and in character fulness of the mental intelligence, than those which are verbal amid the excitement and rebellion of the dying scene.

Higher quality than any fervid expressions outline rapture and ecstacy, and transport,—any imagined visions of the Guardian, of God, of "shining ones," of outstretched arms from position heavens to welcome us alongside, —are those calm utterances hint faith, which we have antediluvian now contemplating:—" I have fought a good fight, I conspiracy finished my course, I receive kept the faith: henceforth concerning is laid up for be interested in a crown of righteousness."