"at the things which are seen, but at the things "which are not seen. For the things which are seen

σε

are temporal; but the things which are not seen "For we know that if our earthly

"are eternal." "house of this our tabernacle be dissolved, "we have a building of God, a house not "made with hands, eternal in the heavens," V. 1. &c.

There is a peculiar energy in all the epistles that Paul wrote from Rome, where he was two years a prisoner, expecting his condemnation or acquittal at the tribunal of the emperor, to whom he had appealed from his perjudiced judges in Judea. Then too he was far advanced in life, and sensible that his continuance in it could not be long. In these circumstances his epistles are like the dying advices of an affectionate parent, urging upon his children such considerations as he then felt would be of the most importance to them. And a view to a future state of rest and reward would naturally be uppermost in the mind of one who had laboured and suffered so much as he had done in the cause of christianity. Accordingly, we find that a view of this was constantly upon his mind, and that he was upon every occasion directing the views of his fellow christians to it.

F 4.

In

In the christians at Philippi Paul had found his most generous friends, who, it appears, had been,. more particularly attentive to him than those in o>> ther places. The Philippians, as well as himself, had been exposed to peculiar hardships from their first reception of the gospel. But how light did he make of all his sufferings, thereby intimating that they ought to make as little account of theirs in the same cause, when he says, Phil. III. 8. "Yea “doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all

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things, and count them but dung that I may win "Christ, that I may know him, and the power of his "resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by

any means I may attain to the resurrection of the "dead" (Phil. II1. 8. &c.) "Our conversation is in

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heaven, from whence also we look for a Saviour, "the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile

'body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glo"rified body, according to the working whereby he " is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Phil. III. 20. &c.

We have no account of Paul ever preaching at

Colos

Colosse, but by some means or other the gospel had been preached and received there, as indeed it soon was in all the cities of Asia Minor. To these christians the apostle now writes from Rome, and in his epistle he does not neglect to remind then of their great interest in a future state, as a recompence for all their good deeds and sufferings in this. "We give thanks to God and the Father of our "Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you since

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we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and the "love which you have for all saints; for the hope "that is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye have "heard before in the word of the truth of the gos66 pel." Col. I. 3. &c.

Timothy was a favourite disciple and fellow labourer with this apostle, who, after travelling with him, as an assistant and an evangelist, resided at Ephesus, a city of the greatest note in Asia Minor, and the metropolis of Asia proper. This, there fore, was a station of peculiar importance; and accordingly the apostle, in the epistle which he wrote to him from Rome, which is the second (for the first epistle to him was written long before when Paul was at Corinth) takes great pains to encourage and animate him, urging more especially the considera

consideration of their future glorious prospects. "Be "not therefore," says he, (2 Tim. I. 8.) "asham"ed of the testimony of the Lord, nor of me his "prisoner. But be thou partaker of the afflictions "of the gospel, according to the power of God, who "has saved us, and called us to a holy calling; not according to our works, but according to his

purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ "Jesus before the world began, but is now made "manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus

Christ, who has abolished death, and brought "life and immortality to light through the gospel."

As a farther encouragement to him, he expresses his own satisfaction in the near view of his death. "I suffer," ," he says, (II. 9.) "as an evil doer, but "the word of God is not bound," as he then was, "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, "that they also may obtain salvation which is in "Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This is a faith"ful saying, that if we be dead with him, we shall "also live with him; if we suffer, we shall also "reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us."

"

In this near view of death he rejoices in the prospect of it, as the termination of all those labours

which would entitle him to a glorious recompence "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of

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my departure is at hand. I have fought the good

fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the "faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown "of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me "only, but to all them that love his appearing." 2 Tim. IV. 6.

From these weighty considerations he gives Timothy the most solemn charge to attend to his duty as an evangelist, with a view to this great reward. "I charge thee before God (IV. 1.) and the Lord "Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the "dead at his appearing and his kingdom. Preach "the word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering " and doctrine."

Titus was another disciple and fellow labourer with Paul, and was by him stationed in the isle of Crete. Here likewise he earnestly exhorts to diligence, reminding him, as he had done Timothy, of the hope of eternal life, which he says, I. 2. "God, who "cannot lie, has promised before the world began." "The grace of God, has appeared unto all men,

"teaching