seated a
prisoner for Christ's sake; his name was Paul. During a visit to Rome
they showed me the place where this was supposed to have occurred.
There is Paul, in this prison-cell, writing a letter which he wants to
send by one who, having visited him in prison, is now returning to his
own people at Philippi.

The prisoner is reviewing his life. He writes that he was well-born, a
Hebrew of the Hebrews, and that he became very zealous, and persecuted
the Christians until the Lord met him and converted him. He went on,
'But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea,
doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of
all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.... That
I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship
of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.' And on the
same page of his letter Paul says: 'Brethren, be followers together of
me'. It is one of the plainest things which the Bible and Christian
history confirm, that the union of service does very often include the
fellowship of suffering.

5. The last feature of this relationship which I want to name is
_fellowship of victory and glory_. Thank God, we are in for that
fellowship!

We all know that a great victory will crown our Blessed Lord's
sacrificial life and service; that the great Victor over death and the
grave shall not only see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied,
but as He sits upon His throne there will be many crowns of glory. But
the blessedness of that knowledge is the fact that if we suffer with
Christ we are also to reign with Him--glorified together--not only
workers and victors, but 'more than conquerors'. We are to sit down
among that company who are able to say that they overcame by the Blood
of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. We may have to go on
with the service and suffering, but we know that we shall be
transformed into His blessed likeness, and be sharers of His glory.

Salvation, love, service, victory, glory! These are the things which we
share with our Lord, and that is what I mean by Divine fellowship.

I do not think, however, I can leave this soul-entrancing vision of
fellowship without specially indicating how men may enter into it. How
shall I do this? By reading to you these words from the First Epistle
of John: 'This then is the mes