it "has respect unto the recompense of reward." But the "reward" is what only love can give, and only love can take. It is love's approval of the service of love. Much discussion has been spent upon the theory of reward, in the matter of our service rendered to "our King who has saved us." The theme no doubt is one which admits of much interesting and important enquiry; and it has many sides. But after all the true philosophy of it lies in "the truth as it is _in Jesus_." Let the Christian be seeking the reward of personal aggrandizement in heaven, "to sit on His right hand, or on His left, in His glory"; and the motive is as earthly as if the scene of its fulfilment were to be an earthly palace. Let him be seeking the "well done" of Jesus Christ, because Jesus Christ has redeemed him, and is dear to him; and he is in the line of the will, and of the love, of God. [1] Dr H. Bonar. [2] _Heth o katelephthen_: grammatically we may render, "inasmuch as I was seized"; cp. the Greek of Rom. v. 12; 1 Cor. v. 4. But the connexion of thought seems to be best met by the above rendering, which is practically that of A.V. and R.V. [3] _Stephanos_, as in 1 Cor. ix. 25, Rev. iii. 11, and often. _Stephanos_ is properly the victor's wreath, _diadema_ the king's crown (Rev. xix. 12).--For a short essay on St Paul's use of athletic metaphors see this Epistle in _The Cambridge Greek Testament_, Appendix. [4] _Klesis_, _kalein_, _kletoi_, in the Epistles will be found regularly to refer not to the general _invitations_ of the Gospel, but to the actually prevailing power of God over the wills of His people. See particularly 1 Cor. i. 23, 24, where the "call" is clearly distinguished from the general proclamation, which alas so many "Greeks" and "Jews" heard, but only to reject it. [5] _Hephthasamen_: the verb seems always to indicate not merely reaching, but reaching _with some difficulty_. I attempt to express this in the translation. [6] There is good evidence for omitting the words _kanoni, to auto phronein_.--_Stoichein_ is more in detail than _peripatein_: "to _step_," not only "to walk." See the Greek of Rom. iv. 12. "Sovereign Lord and gracious Master, Thou didst freely choose Thine own, Thou hast call'd with holy calling, Thou wilt save, and keep from falling; Thine the glory, Thine alone! Yet Thy hand shall crown in heaven All the grace Thy love hath given; Just, though undeserv'd, reward From our glorious, gracious Lord." F. R. HAVERGAL. _THE BLESSED HOPE AND ITS POWER_