I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, (5) Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; (6) That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. (7) For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
It is a blessed thing, when we find errands to the mercy-seat in blessing God, for grace shown to his people and it should seem, that Paul found frequent cause to go there, for the Lord's blessing on his ministry. The Apostle hath given a very honorable testimony to the character of Philemon. But let the Reader observe to whom Paul gives all the glory. Every good thing in Philemon is ascribed wholly to the Lord Jesus And though Paul was now writing to this man on a subject of favor he would not compliment him at the expense of truth, and in the fashion of modern times, extol the creature, and bolster him up in fancied worth, when both his ability to refresh the bowels of the saints and an heart to do it, were from the Lord. Oh, how much to be wished it were, that such faithfulness was in all ministers, and people, professing Godliness. What volumes, on the contrary, have been printed and published, of thanks to men, where no mention hath been made of God.