"The writer speaks of his imprisonment at Rome; the subject is full of Jesus Christ. 'My bonds _in Christ_' is his remarkable description of captivity. And the result of that captivity was, to his exceeding joy, just this, amidst a great variety of conditions in detail, including some exquisite trials to patience and peace: '_Christ_ is being preached'; 'that _Christ_ may be magnified in my body, whether by life or death.' He is kept absolutely cheerful and at rest; and the secret is Jesus Christ. "He has occasion to speak of his trial, with its delays, and its suspense between life and death. The whole is full of Jesus Christ. 'To me to live is _Christ_'; He fills, and as it were makes, life for me. 'And to die is gain'--why? Because 'to depart and to be with _Christ_ is far, far better.' The dilemma in which he stands (for he is 'in a strait betwixt the two') is a dilemma between Christ and Christ, Christ much and Christ more, Christ by faith and Christ by sight. "He dwells, in various places, on the life and duties of the Philippians. His precepts are all this, in effect--Christ applied to conduct. 'Let your life-walk be as it becometh the Gospel of _Christ_'; 'Filled with the fruit of righteousness which is through _Jesus Christ_'; 'It is granted to you not only to believe in _Christ_ but also to suffer for His sake.' "In particular, he has to press on them the homely duty of practical self-forgetfulness. He takes them for model and motive to the heaven of heavens, and shews them 'Christ Jesus' there, as for us men and for our salvation He prepares to come down, and comes. 'Let this mind be in you,' as you contemplate the original Glory, the amazing Incarnation, the atoning Death, of _Christ Jesus_. "He expresses hopes, intentions, resolutions, as to his own actions. All is still 'in Jesus Christ.' 'I trust in _the Lord Jesus_ to send Timotheus,' 'I trust in _the Lord_ to come myself shortly.' "Does he speak of the believer's joy? 'We rejoice in _Christ Jesus_,' 'Rejoice in _the Lord_ alway, and again I say, Rejoice.' Does he speak of pardon and of peace? 'I counted all things but loss that I might win _Christ_, and be found in Him, having the righteousness which is of God by faith.' Does he speak of knowledge, and of power? 'That I might know _Christ_, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death'; 'I can do all things in _Christ_ which strengtheneth me.' "He speaks of a holy immortality, of eternal glory, and of pleasures for evermore. It is no vague aspiration; it is a sure and certain hope; and it is altogether in Jesus Christ. 'Our home, our citizenship, is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord _Jesus Christ_, who shall change the body of our humiliation into likeness to the body of His glory, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto--Himself.'