Philemon 1

Philemon 1:4-7

In reflecting on your well-known faith in Christ, and love to all the saints, I heartily thank God for his kindness bestowed upon you; and pray that your faith and love may be still more and more effectual to render you still more generous and benevolent; that they who hear of, and especially they who receive your favours, may be excited to make the most grateful acknowledgments of those kind and holy dispositions which, by virtue derived from Christ, and to his honour, work for the relief and support of his servants and poor members for his sake. It is a great comfort to me in my imprisonment, and to Timothy, my brother here, to understand that the hungry appetites of poor private Christians and holy ministers are abundantly relieved and satisfied by your charitable donations

Faithful ministers affectionately care for, and rejoice in one another’s gracious comforts and success. And it is an honour for the wealthy to bestow abundantly on the cause, servants, and poor members of Christ. God can marvellously bring great good out of great evil; can make robbery, and the running away from lawful service, an occasion of bringing a person to the gospel, attended by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven—and sinful falls the means of bringing about saving conversion. What an inexpressible alteration for the better converting grace makes on a person! And readily we ought to forgive such as have offended and injured us, if they return to their duty, and especially if God’s grace has made them our brethren in Christ. An high esteem and affectionate regard should Christians shew to the instruments of their conversion. And with earnestness and prudence ministers, or others, should interpose their influence in favour of those who penitently return to their duty.—Thrice happy is that church where ministers and people are knit together in cordial affection, and labour for one another’s real welfare, temporal, spiritual and eternal, by much fervent prayer; and where peculiar care is taken to refresh, comfort, and provide for, the aged, poor and persecuted