was reduced to the lowest. Even in this life the self-seeker is often disappointed: but we must look beyond this life; "whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." That will certainly come true.

There are however many degrees of this fault. The case of Diotrephes is a strong one. But this case differs vastly from that of a person of tender and faithful conscience, who detects in himself a mixture of motives in doing the work of God. Such a person, earnestly desiring to have a single eye, is shocked and pained at finding in himself a lurking love of praise, a secret desire to be thought well of for what he does. But that very pain separates him by an almost infinite distance from such an one as Diotrephes. Well indeed may that example be a wholesome warning to him, leading him to watch and pray yet more earnestly against an evil that, if unchecked, may reach to such a length; but let him not be unduly cast down, or hastily apply to himself the words, "he that doeth evil hath not seen God." It is possible that such a thought as this may cross such an one's mind, "Better not work for God at all than work from so unworthy a motive, with self intruding at every turn." But who whispers that thought to the mind? Is it not he who would hinder all work for God? Let not the tempter be listened to. If that mixture of motive be of him, and if therefore he have so far

Luke xiv. 7-II.

prevailed, let him not triumph yet further; but rather, now that his presence is detected in that very feeling, let him be resisted more humbly, watchfully, prayerfully and faithfully than ever. Is not the power and grace of God mightier than the craft of Satan? And is not the Holy Spirit promised? Satan would spoil all work for God in the world by infusing self-love; and some he would then lead on to the utmost extreme of a selfish ambition, and others he would persuade, in despair of themselves and their motives, to give up all part in the work: God, on the other hand, bids us all go work in His vineyard, and promises pardon for every fault, and grace and strength for all need. Let us never stop, or give up. Let us go on in His strength. Let us ask of Him a pure purpose, and a single eye. Let us trust Him when we pray. It is a fit and suitable prayer, that we so often use -"Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name, through Christ our Lord."

EPAPHRAS.

MONG the Epistles of St. Paul there are two which were written at the same time

and to the same place, and sent by the same messengers—the Epistle to the Colossians, and that to Philemon. They were written at Rome, during the Apostle's first imprisonment there, A.D. 61 or 62, and were sent by Tychicus and Onesimus. In both of them we find Epaphras mentioned, and nowhere else.

Epaphras was a Colossian, and a minister of that church. More than that, it was he who had first introduced the Gospel among the Colossians, and founded the church. Colossæ was a place of some importance in Phrygia, a province of Asia Minor ; nevertheless St. Paul, when he wrote these letters, had never been there; for so I understand his words, "I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.”1 He wrote to them, not as he wrote to the Corinthians, Philippians, and Thessalonians, from personal

1 Col. ii. I.

acquaintance with them, but in consequence of what he had heard from another; and that other was Epaphras.

He wrote from Rome. Epaphras was with him there; probably of his own will, on purpose to help and comfort him. St. Paul, writing to Philemon, calls him "my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus;" but he does not speak of him so to the Colossians most likely however he was actually a prisoner with Paul for Christ's sake, though it is possible that it was only for his loving sympathy that he was called by that honourable title; for this would agree well with the exhortation to the Hebrews, "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them."3 However this may have been, Epaphras was Paul's fellow-servant, and a beloved one, for he calls him "Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant." He was, like Paul, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, engaged in the same work of the Gospel, and probably he was at that time acting as such at Rome.

But how had Epaphras himself learnt the Gospel? We are told nothing; but most likely it was from Paul. The Apostle had been much at Ephesus, the great city of that part of Asia, and it is highly probable that Epaphras may have met with him there, and carried the knowledge of Christ back with him to Colossæ. This is but conjecture, but it is reasonable conjecture. For, though Paul does not write of Epaphras, as he 3 Heb. xiii. 3.

2 Philemon 23.

wrote of Timothy and Titus, as his son, yet the warm approbation with which he mentions him would well agree with the case of a master writing of his own disciple in the Gospel. But further, Epaphras seems to have told the Apostle much about the spiritual state of the Colossians; nay, it almost seems as if he had begged him to write to them and this is just what we might expect, if St. Paul had been his teacher, and the pupil was giving his master in the Gospel an account of his ministry.

Epaphras is spoken of as St. Paul's fellow-servant. That however is a word of wide meaning. Such were Timothy and Titus, and many more. But there is a peculiarity in the case of Epaphras: putting aside what he may have done while at Rome, COLOSSÆ seems to have filled his heart, and engaged his chief interest. He was a servant of Christ," and a fellow-servant of Paul, but mainly as regarded the work of Christ in that place and neighbourhood. All that Paul writes of him is in connexion with Colossæ, and the ministry there, and the spiritual growth of the Colossians. ye also learned of Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit :"4 that is the first mention of him. Further on, we find a fuller mention, but still in the same strain'Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you; always labouring fervently for you * Col. i. 7, 8.

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