\\INTRODUCTION TO PHILIPPIANS 4\\

This chapter contains exhortations to various duties becoming
Christians, the apostle's thankfulness to the Philippians for their
present to him, and the conclusion of the epistle with the salutations
of the brethren: in \\#Php 4:1\\; the apostle exhorts the saints with
great affection to perseverance in the doctrine and faith of Christ;
and in \\#Php 4:2\\; mentions some persons by name, and to whom he
recommends unity and agreement; and in \\#Php 4:3\\; entreats others to
assist them therein; and in \\#Php 4:4\\; exhorts them all in general
to joy in the Lord, and to moderation, enforced by this argument, the
Lord being at hand, \\#Php 4:5\\; and to calmness and quietness of
mind, and to prayer, and supplication, with thanksgiving, \\#Php 4:6\\;
to which they are encouraged, by the promise of having the peace of
God, keeping their minds through Christ, \\#Php 4:7\\; and to conclude,
he exhorts them to everything that is virtuous had commendable; to
which he stimulates them, from the consideration of the nature of the
things themselves, from his own example, and from the presence of God
with them, they might expect to enjoy, \\#Php 4:8,9\\; and then he
proceeds to take notice of the kindness of the Philippians to him,
declares his joy on account of it, and expresses it by their care of
him again; which he corrects, by observing that it was not for want of
care in them before, but of opportunity of showing it, \\#Php 4:10\\;
nor did he take notice of this present of theirs, with so much
exultation on account of his own penury, for he had learnt the great
lesson of contentment in every state, \\#Php 4:11\\; which he enlarges
upon and explains; namely, that he had been taught, and knew how to
behave in fulness and want, in prosperity and adversity; though this
was not owing to himself, but to the power and strength of Christ,
\\#Php 4:12,13\\; however, he commends the Philippians for their
communicating to him in his affliction, both at the first preaching of
the Gospel to them, and at several times since, \\#Php 4:14-16\\, the
reason of which commendation was not because he was covetous of gifts
and presents from them, but to encourage them to bring forth fruit,
which would turn to their own advantage, \\#Php 4:17\\; as for himself
he had enough, and therefore said not this on his own account, but
because such communication was a sacrifice well pleasing to God, and a
return would be made by him; who, as he was able to supply all their
need, would; of which he assures them, and for which he prays,
\\#Php 4:17-19\\, and to whom he gives the glory of what they had
given, and he had received, \\#Php 4:20\\; and then the epistle is
concluded with the salutation of the apostle, and the saints, and
brethren with him, and with his usual benediction, \\#Php 4:21,22\\.