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well…being； he may be enabled to labour； and to acquire and
preserve property； for the aid of those who are in want； that
thus the stronger member may serve the weaker member； and we may
be children of God； thoughtful and busy one for another； bearing
one another's burdens； and so fulfilling the law of Christ。
Here is the truly Christian life； here is faith really working by
love； when a man applies himself with joy and love to the works
of that freest servitude in which he serves others voluntarily
and for nought； himself abundantly satisfied in the fulness and
riches of his own faith。
Thus； when Paul had taught the Philippians how they had been made
rich by that faith in Christ in which they had obtained all
things； he teaches them further in these words： 〃If there be
therefore any consolation in Christ； if any comfort of love； if
any fellowship of the Spirit； if any bowels and mercies； fulfil
ye my joy； that ye be like…minded； having the same love； being of
one accord； of one mind。 Let nothing be done through strife or
vainglory； but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better
than themselves。 Look not every man on his own things； but every
man also on the things of others〃 （Phil。 ii。 1…4）。
In this we see clearly that the Apostle lays down this rule for a
Christian life： that all our works should be directed to the
advantage of others； since every Christian has such abundance
through his faith that all his other works and his whole life
remain over and above wherewith to serve and benefit his
neighbour of spontaneous goodwill。
To this end he brings forward Christ as an example； saying； 〃Let
this mind be in you； which was also in Christ Jesus； who； being
in the form of God； thought it not robbery to be equal with God；
but made Himself of no reputation； and took upon Him the form of
a servant； and was made in the likeness of men； and being found
in fashion as a man； He humbled Himself； and became obedient unto
death〃 （Phil。 ii。 5…8）。 This most wholesome saying of the Apostle
has been darkened to us by men who； totally misunderstanding the
expressions 〃form of God；〃 〃form of a servant；〃 〃fashion；〃
〃likeness of men；〃 have transferred them to the natures of
Godhead and manhood。 Paul's meaning is this： Christ； when He was
full of the form of God and abounded in all good things； so that
He had no need of works or sufferings to be just and savedfor
all these things He had from the very beginningyet was not
puffed up with these things； and did not raise Himself above us
and arrogate to Himself power over us； though He might lawfully
have done so； but； on the contrary； so acted in labouring；
working； suffering； and dying； as to be like the rest of men； and
no otherwise than a man in fashion and in conduct； as if He were
in want of all things and had nothing of the form of God； and yet
all this He did for our sakes； that He might serve us； and that
all the works He should do under that form of a servant might
become ours。
Thus a Christian； like Christ his Head； being full and in
abundance through his faith； ought to be content with this form
of God； obtained by faith； except that； as I have said； he ought
to increase this faith till it be perfected。 For this faith is
his life； justification； and salvation； preserving his person
itself and making it pleasing to God； and bestowing on him all
that Christ has； as I have said above； and as Paul affirms： 〃The
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son
of God〃 （Gal。 ii。 20）。 Though he is thus free from all works； yet
he ought to empty himself of this liberty； take on him the form
of a servant； be made in the likeness of men； be found in fashion
as a man； serve； help； and in every way act towards his neighbour
as he sees that God through Christ has acted and is acting
towards him。 All this he should do freely； and with regard to
nothing but the good pleasure of God； and he should reason
thus：
Lo！ my God； without merit on my part； of His pure and free mercy；
has given to me； an unworthy； condemned； and contemptible
creature all the riches of justification and salvation in Christ；
so that I no longer am in want of anything； except of faith to
believe that this is so。 For such a Father； then； who has
overwhelmed me with these inestimable riches of His； why should I
not freely； cheerfully； and with my whole heart； and from
voluntary zeal； do all that I know will be pleasing to Him and
acceptable in His sight？ I will therefore give myself as a sort
of Christ； to my neighbour； as Christ has given Himself to me；
and will do nothing in this life except what I see will be
needful； advantageous； and wholesome for my neighbour； since by
faith I abound in all good things in Christ。
Thus from faith flow forth love and joy in the Lord； and from
love a cheerful； willing； free spirit； disposed to serve our
neighbour voluntarily； without taking any account of gratitude or
ingratitude； praise or blame； gain or loss。 Its object is not to
lay men under obligations； nor does it distinguish between
friends and enemies； or look to gratitude or ingratitude； but
most freely and willingly spends itself and its goods； whether it
loses them through ingratitude； or gains goodwill。 For thus did
its Father； distributing all things to all men abundantly and
freely； making His sun to rise upon the just and the unjust。
Thus； too； the child does and endures nothing except from the
free joy with which it delights through Christ in God； the Giver
of such great gifts。
You see； then； that； if we recognize those great and precious
gifts； as Peter says； which have been given to us； love is
quickly diffused in our hearts through the Spirit； and by love we
are made free； joyful； all…powerful； active workers； victors over
all our tribulations； servants to our neighbour； and nevertheless
lords of all things。 But； for those who do not recognise the good
things given to them through Christ； Christ has been born in
vain； such persons walk by works； and will never attain the taste
and feeling of these great things。 Therefore just as our
neighbour is in want； and has need of our abundance； so we too in
the sight of God were in want； and had need of His mercy。 And as
our heavenly Father has freely helped us in Christ； so ought we
freely to help our neighbour by our body and works； and each
should become to other a sort of Christ； so that we may be
mutually Christs； and that the same Christ may be in all of us；
that is； that we may be truly Christians。
Who then can comprehend the riches and glory of the Christian
life？ It can do all things； has all things； and is in want of
nothing； is lord over sin； death； and hell； and at the same time
is the obedient and useful servant of all。 But alas！ it is at
this day unknown throughout the world； it is neither preached nor
sought after； so that we are quite ignorant about our own name；
why we are and are called Christians。 We are certainly called so
from Christ； who is not absent； but dwells among usprovided；
that is； that we believe in Him and are reciprocally and mutually
one the Christ of the other； doing to our neighbour as Christ
does to us。 But now； in the doctrine of men； we are taught only
to seek after merits； rewards； and things which are already ours；
and we have made of Christ a taskmaster far more severe than
Moses。
The Blessed Virgin beyond all others； affords us an example of
the same faith； in that she was purified according to the law of
Moses； and like all other women； though she was bound by no such
law and had no need of purification。 Still she submitted to the
law voluntarily and of free love； making herself like the rest of
women； that she might not offend or throw contempt on them。 She
was not justified by doing this； but； being already justified；
she did it freely and gratuitously。 Thus ought our works too to
be done； and not in order to be justified by them； for； being
first justified by faith； we ought to do all our works freely and
cheerfully for the sake of others。
St。 Paul circumcised