finds or makes the public profession of the Gospel, by commemorating with a "Christianity Christian Church the dying love of Christ, said that she was first honourable."excited to give religion a serious attention by the habitual obser- Trapp. vance of family worship. Here her mind was prepared to receive those impressions which laid the foundation of permanent religious character, and "a good hope through grace." a and others α 8-10. Amplias, no more known. Urbane (belonging to the Amplias city, polite). helper, Gk., fellow-helper. Stachys (an ear of corn). Apelles, acc. to trad. aft. Bp. of Smyrna or Heraclea. Aristobulus (excellent counsellor), prob. a pers. of distinction. household, family, slaves, and others. Amplias the beloved in the Lord. This description implies-I. His true conversion. II. His lovely character. III. His happiness-loving and beloved. IV. His final salvation-beloved by God.-Urbane the helper and Stachys the beloved.-Types of-I. The active; II. The passive graces of the Christian character.Apelles the approved.-I. The elements of such a character-faith -self-denial-stability-zeal-fortitude-purity-love. II. Its advantages—truly honourable-unspeakably blessed, here and for ever.-The household of Aristobulus.-I. A Christian; II. A consistent; III. A happy household; IV. A household deserving the commendation and affectionate remembrance of an Apostle; V. One meet for heaven.b Winer, Bibl. R.W.H. "To be in Christ means here, as in other places, where 'tis said of churches, house holds, and of single persons, to be Christians. But it means Christians, not in judgment and opinion only, but in life and practice."-Dr. Alles tree. b Dr. Lyth. c Cawdray. are like stars, that shine Nominal Christians.-Like as a heathen man, being asked why he did wear such a long bushy beard, answered, that, so often as he beheld it, he might commit nothing unworthy the gravity of the same; so, likewise, if any man shall ask the children of God why they are called Christians, the Church of God, the Spouse of brightest in the Christ, citizens of heaven, and by such like names of love and darkest night; honour, they are to answer, that, so often as they remember these like gold, that is names and titles, they ought not to commit anything unworthy furnace; like inbrighter for the the gravity and majesty of the same.c-Relationship of Christians. cense, that be-Every well-doer on the face of the earth is my blood relation comes fragrant through Jesus Christ. I feel his heart beating right up to my by burning; like ribs, and mine beating back to his. All the good passed away plant, that and transfigured into glory are mine. My own mother is not fastest when more really, though more tenderly mine, than is the mother of trampled on." St. Chrysostom or St. Augustine.d the camomile grows a Mk. xv. 21. 11-13. Herodion, no more known. Narcissus, not, as Herodion some think, the favourite of Claudius; that N. was executed at and others begin. of Nero's reign, and this Ep. was written later. N. was a com. Ro. name. Tryphena (delicate), and Tryphosa (living delicately), two Christian women; perh. deaconesses, since they laboured in the Lord. Persis (perh. of Persian origin), also, prob. a deaconess. Rufus, perh. the son of Simon the Cyrenian, who carried the cross.a mine, so called bec. at some time she had treated him as her son. and Tryphosa we may recognise two sisters, or at least near relatives, for it was usual to designate members of the same family by derivatives of the same root. The name Tryphæna, though not com Salute the beloved Persis.-Here is a biography in half a verse. Concerning this woman, let us consider-I. Her inner life. Once an alien, she is now a child of God. II. Her manifested character. She was beloved-a general favourite. III. Her labour."-Rufus the chosen.-(Possibly of British origin, vide Dr. Smith's Religion mon, was found of Ancient Britain, 3rd edition, p. 132). His happiness: I. Chosen in the imperial in the Lord-truly converted-through sanctification of the Spirit about the time -by belief of the truth. II. Blessed with a pious mother, whose when household at or Paul wrote."-Dr. Light-maternal kindness and Christian character are tenderly acknowfoot. ledged by the Apostle himself. III. Privileged with the friendship of Paul. IV. Recorded in the book of life. b Dr. W. Arnot. true Christian is a right traveller: his life his walk, Christ his way, and heaven his perfect, his home come short of as 66 Rufus.-Rufus is mentioned in Mark xv. 21, along with Alexander, as a son of Simon the Cyrenian, whom the Jews compelled to bear the cross of Jesus on the way to Golgotha (Lu. xxiii. 26). As the Evangelist informs his readers who Simon was by naming the sons, it is evident that the latter were better known than the father in the circle of Christians where Mark lived. Again, in Ro. xvi. 13, the Apostle Paul salutes a Rufus, whom he designates home. His walk elect in the Lord," and whose mother he gracefully recogpainful, his way nises as having earned a mother's claim upon himself by acts of pleasing. I will kindness shown to him. It is generally supposed that this Rufus not loiter, lest 1 was identical with the one to whom Mark refers; and in that home: I will not case, as Mark wrote his Gospel in all probability at Rome, it was wander, lest I natural that he should describe to his readers the father (who, come wide of since the mother was at Rome while he apparently was not there, home, but be conhave died, or have come later to that city), from his relationtent to travel ship to two well-known members of the same community. It is I walk right, so some proof, at least, of the early existence of this view that, in the shall my safe way Actis Andreæ et Petri, both Rufus and Alexander appear as comfind its end at panions of Peter in Rome. Assuming, then, that the same person home, and my painful walk is meant in the two passages, we have before us an interesting make my home group of believers-a father (for we can hardly doubt that Simon welcome.' ."-- Warbecame a Christian, if he was not already such, at the time of nock. the crucifixion), a mother, and two brothers, all in the same family. Yet we are to bear in mind that Rufus was not an uncommon name (Wetstein, Nov. Test., Vol. I. p. 634); and possibly, therefore, Mark and Paul may have had in view different individuals.d hard, and be sure Asyncritus and others may 14-16. Asyncritus (incomparable). Phlegon (flaming). Hermas, by some thought to be the author of "The Shepherd a Of wh. the oriof Hermas."a Patrobas (one who treads in his father's steps). ginal Gk. was disc. in 1859 by Hermes, unknown. Philologus (lover of learning). Julia, Tischendorf at perh. the wife of former. Nereus, unknown. Olympas, unthe end of the known. holy kiss, a Jewish sign of friendship; holy, as dist. Eminent critics fr. kiss of love.d Churches.. you, Christians sending greetings ascribe it to Her- to others, afar off, who are yet one family in Christ. Codex Sinaiticus. mas, bro. of Pius I. Bp. of Ro. A.D. 141. b Origen. vii. 45. Christian fellowship.-I. A necessity. II. A privilege. III. A safeguard. IV. A duty. V. An earnest of eternal happiness with Christ.-Philologus and the little company of saints.-I. Their character-saints. II. Their loving fellowship. III. Their c2 S. xx. 9; Lu. enjoyments and privileges.-The holy kiss.-A seal of-I. Pure affection, in contrast to the kiss of lust; II. Fidelity and truth, in contrast to the kiss of Judas; III. Heartfelt Christian union, names of in opposition to mere salutations of politeness.-The Churches.— those selected in II. this chap, The Churches of Christ are-1. Many, yet one in Him. Caesar's House-Divided by distance, yet united by faith and love. III. Scattered hold," in com- on earth, but gathered in heaven.e d 1 Pe. v. 14. For see pians, p. 169.--Dr. Lightfoot. ment on Philip- Increase of Christians.-There are several classes of persons who croak over the prospects of Christianity in this country, viz., infidels, backsliders, impracticable religionists, old fogies, and desponding Christians. These individuals are often heard demock destruc- claring that our Churches are losing ground, falling behind the tion; they sur- increase of our population. Statistics show that the ratio of e Dr. J. Lyth. "Names alone communicants to the inhabitants, ten years of age and upwards, vive the doom of was as follows: all creation.". the world for his During this same period, the population has increased nearly bright heralds sixtyfold: but the communicants of evangelical Churches have before him, to increased nearly fourteen and one-half fold; or the increase of prepare Church-membership has been two and a half times greater than coming."-Hare. that of the population. Comment is unnecessary. The figures f D. Dorchester. speak louder than rhetoric./ a to be avoided 17, 18. cause, by offensive teaching or conduct. divisions, factious men factions, parties. offences, occasions of stumbling. contrary a 1 Ti. vi. 5; 2 .. learned, by former hearing; and, now, by this Ep. avoid, Th. iii. 6, 14. as breeders of mischief who walk disorderly: not dispute with, "The but avoid. but.. belly, their own fleshly lusts. good words, guilt of schism plausible discourse. fair speeches, hypocritical wishes of happi- lies with that ness. simple, innocent, single-minded, without suspicion. whole Church which imposes sinful the Contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.-Lying Chris- terms of commutianity and Anti-christianity are one and the same under different nion; and aspects. I. Lying Christianity and Anti-christian, is assuming party who does Christ's place. II. Anti-christianity exerts its influence through cate with her, Christian means, which it perverts. not communi cannot properly be said to separate himself, that guilty of schism. He is not the ininjured; he does jurer, but the not commit evil, but suffer it." is, he is not Dissensions in the Church.-That which they say of the pelican -that when the shepherds, in desire to catch her, lay fire not far from the nest, which she finding, and fearing the danger of the young, seeks to blow out with her wings so long till she burns herself and makes herself a prey in an unwise pity to her young -I see morally verified in experience of those, which, indiscreetly meddling with the flame of dissension in the Church, rather increase than quench it, rather fire their own wings than help Bp. Wordsworth. others. I had rather bewail the fire afar off than stir in the coals b Lange. of it. I would not grudge my ashes to it, if those might abate the c Bp. Hall. burning; but, since I see this daily increased with partaking, 1 will behold it with sorrow, and meddle no otherwise than by prayers to God and entreaties to men; seeking my own safety and the peace of the Church in the freedom of my thought and silence of my tongue.c a Ro. i. 8. b 1 Co. xiv. 20. 19, 20. obedience, in the practice of Christianity, as opp. believers to to idolatry. come.. men," reported throughout the Empire. be wise and simple I.. behalf, I rejoice on your account. wise.. simple,' a good comment on the words of Jesus [i. 69]. God.. peace, who loves and gives peace. bruise.. feet,d producing peace by crushing the cause of strife; Satan, the evil spirit that worketh in the hearts of the disobedient. grace, favour, love, protection. with you, in ea. of you; and in your Church as a whole. Ma. x. 16. xii. 9, 10. Practical wisdom recommended.-I. The state of mind we should cultivate: 1. "Wise unto that which is good;" 2. "Simple is not in its own nature schism; concerning evil." II. Our encouragement to live in the exercise and those of it: 1. The evils against which we would guard you arise, in a Churches which, great measure, from the agency of Satan; 2. His influence, how-by their corrupever, shall soon be destroyed; 3. And therefore we should main- tion or tyranny, schismatics: S marks. He that undertakes to Thomson. • C. Simeon, M.A. f Hartwig. *Here is assembly the most hely and 66 render separa- tain the conflict with lighter hearts. Application:-Are any of tion necessary. 'you-(1) Unconscious of the difficulty of stemming the torrent? are the true (2) Discouraged by reason of the difficulties you have to contend that, as Vincent with? Then " encourage yourselves in the Lord your God."e Asep witty re- Use of the Church.-Some years since, there were a couple of gentlemen passing through Ratiand, the one acquainted with, the play this great other a stranger in the place. As they drew near the upper end gun has need to of the town, the stranger, pointing to a building, asked, “What be very careful is that house occupied for?"-"That is the regular Baptist and spunge it well, lest it fire Church," replied the acquaintance. A few hundred yards farther at home."- 4. on, the use of another edifice was inquired after, to which it was replied, "That is the Christian Church." "Ah, yes!" As they entered the thickly settled portion of the town, “ Why! here is another church," remarked the stranger. "Yes: that is the Freewill Baptist Church," said the acquaintance. Below the town, half a mile, they came to another house. "That is the Presbyterian Church," remarked the acquaintance. "Well, I declare!" said the stranger, "Rutland has the most forts to keep the Devil out of any place of its size that I ever saw.”—Influence of the Church.-The sand-reed which grows on the sandy shores of Europe represents the influence of religion and the Church upon society. Its roots penetrate to a considerable depth, and spread in all directions, forming a network which binds together the loosest sands; while its strong tall leaves protect the surface from the eyes of God drought, and afford shelter to small plants, which soon grow is most august." between the reeds, and gradually form a new green surface on the -Quesnel. bed of sand. But for the sand-reed, the sea-wind would long "As the different since have wafted the drift-sand far into the interior of the counoceans, called by try, and have converted many a fruitful acre into a waste; but different names, that invaluable grass opposes its stubborn resistance to the most form one body, so the different furious gale. Like a radical Democrat, the wind would willingly denominations of reduce all to one common level; but the Ammophila, an obstinate Christians form Conservative, opposes an indefatigable resistance to its fury, and, after a war of centuries, still lines the flat coast with long undulating chains of protecting sand-hills. beloved of God that ever met on earth; but it was unknown to the world. A hole, & cellar, a garret, of which men are ignorant, sometimes re ceives what in one Church. salutation from Timotheus and others a Ac. xvi. 1; 1 21, 22. Timotheus, Timothy (see intro. to Ep. to Timothy, etc.) Lucius (see intro. to Lu.) not Lu. the Evang., nor, necessarily, Lu. of Ac. xiii. 1. Jascn (one who will heal), prob. the Thessalonian whose house was a refuge for Paul and Silas. Ti. i. 2; 1 Th. iii. Sosipater (preservation of a father). Some think the same as Sopater of Berea. Tertius (the third), nothing known of him, beyond the fact stated here, that he was Paul's amanuensis at this time. Some think Silas was the same person bec. his name has the same meaning. salute.. Lord, on the ground of the com. relation to the Saviour. 2. b Ac. xvii. 5, 9. c Ac. xx. 4. d T. Robinson. "Paul appears to employed some one to own mouth, or In the Lord.-As a Christian brother and member of Christ's have generally body. All our words and actions to be in the Lord. I. In union write with Him. II. In His strength. III. In His sight. His prehis epistles, sence to be realised and His glory to be sought in everything.d either from his Plain signatures.-What a silly pedantry that is that induces another copy he some little people to sign their names so that no one can decipher gave him; but them! If anything that a man puts upon paper ought to be bold then, to avoid the and unmistakable, it is his signature. The habit of signing with a always wrote a hieroglyph sprang up with people in high places-no credit to little probably them--and those in lower places contracted it, aping their betters his Benediction as usual, and thereby honouring the character inherited from their abuse of it, he e Gents. Mag. own "To write well at once to is Darwinian progenitors. Scores of letters from conspicuous no-in his bodies come under my eye, wound up with conglomerations of hand, expressly to prove it to be dashes and flourishes, that, supposing them to be excusable as the his own, and to signs manual of Bishops and First Lords, as the subscriptions of guard the people Littleworth, clerk in the assurance office, or Fribble, a small to whom he wrote, against parish curate. The culminating point of inconsistency is reached any imposition." when the name is written so vilely that the writer has to enclose Paley. his card to tell what it really is. Often the body of a letter thus signed is legible enough, showing that the correspondent has learned to write properly, and that his scrawly signature is a mere affectation. It may be said that the hieroglyph prevents forgery; think well, to but this is a bad argument, for the more complicated a writing the feel rightly, and to render propereasier it can be imitated. Far more difficult it is to counterfeit a ly; it is to have, simple hand which bears, as all simple hands do bear, a character at the same time, peculiar to him who wrote it. The habit is quite unpardonable; mind, soul, and a man who puts a puzzle in the most important part of his taste."-Buffon. epistle ought never to be disappointed if he gets no answer; for the time that could be given to a reply may be completely used up in disentangling the web that shrouds the name.e 23, 24. Gaius," or Caius, a Christian of Corinth, whom Paul baptized. There were two others of that name. host, on second visit to Corinth (at his first with Aquilac). whole Church, at Corinth. Erastusd (amiable). chamberlain, public treasurer. Quartus (fourth). grace, etc., see on v. 20. Distinctions even in the Church. Here is-I. Gaius the respectable-known of all-hospitable to all-beloved and well reported of all. II. Erastus the official-esteemed and honoured by those without-not many wise, not many noble are called. III. Quartus a brother-unknown, yet well known-"prized and loved by God alone.”—Grace for all.-Grace-I. Is needed by; II. Is provided for; III. Is offered to; IV. Is supplicated for; V. May be enjoyed by, all. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.-I. What it supposes. II. What it includes. III. For whom it is desired. IV. How it is secured.e also Gaius b Ac. xix. 29; c Ac. xviii. 3. d Ac. xix. 22; 2 Ti. iv. 20. "Under the name of Church I understand a or collecbody of come persons, professing faith in Christ, gathered together in seve ral places of the same corpora "The Church of Christ, which is militant Origin of surnames.-Such names as the Saxon royal Ethulwulf, or "noble wolf," of course originated in similes intended to world, for the be complimentary, after our own fashion of terming a soldier worship of the brave as a lion." The Norman names still translate themselves, united into the same God, and as Beaufoy (a faithful adherent), Beauclerc (good scholar), &c. Others from personal bravery, as Napier or na peer (without tion."-Bishop equal), from the undaunted conduct of a Scottish ancestor. Pearson. Others from occupation, as Spencer, from Le Despenser, or the Steward; Landseer, from a bailiff; and Granger, from the super-partly' intendent of a grange. Many names are undoubtedly the mere and partly triresult of mistake or misspelling. A late resident officer of our umphant, resemb'es a city built hospital informs me that he has received bills made out against on both sides of the institution, in which that word has been spelt in forty-six a river. There is different ways, a list of which he sends me. In 1844, one Joseph but the stream of Galliano died in Boston, and in our Probate Records he has the alias of Joseph Gallon-that having been his popular name. Plamboeck, in some of our conveyances, became Plumback. These are names in a transition state. So likewise a Spanish boy, having the Christian name of Benito, pronounced Beneeto, who shipped with Dr Bowditch in one of his voyages (as mentioned in his Memoir, 1839), became Ben Eaton; and a foundling, named Personne (i.e.," nobody "), became Mr. Pearson. Perhaps death between grace and glory." Toplady. e Dr. J. Lyth. f Bowditch. |