We must guard ourselves, however, from applying this example of contentment to troubles of our own making. God entrusts every man, more or less, with the means of blessing himself, and of maintaining his own honour among his fellow men. But by sin, or by mistakes of conduct arising from a culpable carelessness, we may lose our position of advantage; and when we do so, we are not entitled to the comfort arising from the thought that, as all events are in God's hands, we must just take things as they come, and be satisfied! The sin which has brought mischief must be deplored; its consequences must be accepted as a Divine correction, and Divine help must be sought so that the chastisement may be sanctified. And if on the lower ground we become less worldly, holier, and more Christ-like, God will have the greater glory and will give the deeper peace. IV. And now for the secret of the apostle's contentment, and the lessons that we are to learn therefrom for ourselves. Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." The language is peculiar; what does it mean? It means that, in whatsoever condition he might be, he had Christ for a Helper and a Friend; that Christ's companionship with him was constant, full, tender; that His sympathy was great, minute, comprehensive, cheering, exalting, all-sufficient. So complete was his identification with Christ that he tells these Philippians that living or dying he was Christ's. But how did this come about? Once he persecuted the Christ whom he now glorifies. And even now his happiness has nothing of the _miraculous_ in it. It does not belong to him merely as an apostle, or in the same way as his "inspiration" or other special, supernatural gifts with which he is endowed. It is the work of God's grace--grace imparted to him through the same channels along which it may come to us. The secret is this: Paul was a Christian--a converted, regenerated man, a believer in Christ, under the influence of the Holy Ghost; and the result was accomplished by such simple means as faith and hope and prayer.