A young sister writes thus of her instructor in college :"Our principal is a very good man, and he frequently quotes the Bible to us, especially the verse, ' Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.'He tells us we must work out our own salvation, and that if we lead honorable, upright lives we need not be afraid of what comes after death. But I know that is not the right application of this verse ; because salvation is ' not of works, lest any man should boast'; but I do not know what it really does mean."

It is not unlikely that there are many young Christians into whose hands this paper may fall who are in the same difficulty with the writer of the above. Therefore it may be profitable to notice a few things in connection with the passage in question.

And first, it may help greatly to realize that the apostle Paul addressed the exhortation, "Work out your own salvation," not to unconverted souls, ignorant of God's way of peace and blessing, but to earnest, devoted Christians who had known the Lord for a number of years, and of whose ultimate salvation to eternal glory he was absolutely assured. This, the first chapter of his letter (Philippians) makes plain. He was confident that He who had begun a good work in them would perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (ver. 6). The salvation of their souls was a settled thing, and of the salvation of their bodies he was likewise assured. See chapter 3:20, 21.

What, then, was the salvation they were to work out with fear and trembling ?

This is one of the many instances in Scripture where the context needs to be carefully weighed in order to prevent a misconception as to the subject spoken of. Let us, then, read verses 12 and 13 of chapter 2:" Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling:for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

These verses, carefully weighed, will be seen to have a far different subject in view than salvation from hell-the salvation of the soul. The apostle had labored at Philippi for some weeks. See Acts 16. When there he sought to care for each young convert as a father cares for his children. His loving and wise counsels had been valued and obediently followed by them. As a result they had been saved from many mistakes and pitfalls which might have greatly hindered their progress in the ways that be in Christ. Could he have always remained with them, how invaluable would have been his pastoral care, as he thus worked out their salvation from so many snares and difficulties.

But this might have caused them to depend too much upon him, and too little upon God. So he is taken away from them. Still, he can guide them in measure by his advice and admonitions. But now he would cast them more directly upon God, so he bids them work out their own salvation-not in their human strength, but in reliance upon Him who worketh in them to will and to do of His good pleasure.

He is not telling them to work for salvation. That would be to contradict all his previous instruction. But they are not to depend upon him as children on a father, but to act for God as mature saints, getting His mind from His word, and thus growing in grace and in knowledge, to work out deliverance for themselves from the hindrances and snares that beset the feet of all saints in their journey through this evil world.

The college professor was clearly ignorant of the gospel of grace, and evidently had no insight into the things that are spiritually discerned. Blind leaders, alas, are still, as of old, the ruin of many. Well was it for the young sister alluded to that she had been instructed by parents who knew more of God and of His Word than the principal of the college. Thus was she preserved from error. Thus, too, was the way paved by one truth for another, making the path of the just to shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. H. A. I.