YeR. 21.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 427
[3.] It preventeth distrust and carking cares : Phil. iv. 6, ' Be care- ful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Acknow- ledge what Grod hath done for you already, and you will the less doubt of his goodness for the future.
[4.] It cureth spiritual pride when we consider who is to be praised for all the good that is in us. They that have more than others are more indebted to grace : 1 Cor. iv. 7, ' But who maketh thee to differ from another ? ' And what hast thou that thou didst not receive ? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it ? ' We have it from God and for God, not for our own glory and ostentation. God will be angry if we rob him of the glory of it ; Acts xii. 23, Herod was smitten because he gave not God the glory.
Use 1. Is it such a duty ? Then take heed of impediments and •enemies to thankfulness.
1. A proud heart. They delight in their own praises ; an humble heart delightetli in the praise of God : Gen. xxxii. 1 0, ' I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast showed to thy servant ; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands ; ' 2 Sam. vii. 18, 19, ' And he said, Who am I, 0 Lord God ? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, 0 Lord God ; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come ; and is this the manner of men, 0 Lord God ? ' The proud think themselves worthy of more, and therefore speak diminutively of all they have : It is but thus and thus.
2. A fleshly mind, which looketh to the pleasing of the flesh, and forgets God : James iv. 3, ' Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.'
Use 2. Is our thanksgiving right ?
1. If the heart be brought near to God by every mercy we receive from him : Ps. xcvi. 8, ' Give the Lord the glory of his name.'
2. If it breed a great delight in God : Ps. xxxvii. 4, ' Delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.'
3. If it be a cheerful thankful obedience : Rom. xii. 1, * I beseech 3'ou therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reason- able service ; ' John xiv. 15, * If you love me, keep my commandments.'
SERMON XXYL
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. — Eph. v. 21.
The apostle had laid down the common duties which belong to all christians ; now he cometh to special duties which belong to us as we are clothed with particular relations ; and he beginneth that discourse with a general exhortation, that concerns both superiors and inferiors,
428 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XXVI.
before he cometh to state the duty of each to other, ' Submitting your- selves one to another in the fear of God.' In the words observe —
1. The connection or dependence ; for the construction is continued from that clause, ' Being filled with the Spirit,' and it is as applicable to this branch as any of the other ; as, for instance, ' Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. ' Anil again, ' Be filled with the Spirit, giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.' So here, ' Be filled with the Spirit, submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.' The construction is the same. The Spirit's influence is necessary for the duties of our relations, as well as the duties of worship. I observe it the rather, because as the apostle beginneth, so he endeth this discourse : Eph. vi. 10, ' Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.' Our corrupt hearts incline U8 to much unsuitable carriage in our relations. Satan, that envieth the felicity of mankind, opposeth the comfort we have in them ; but yet the glory of God is much concerned in a due family converse. There- fore a plentiful measure of the Spirit is necessary, that we may carry it well in our relations.
2. The substance of the duty, ' Submitting yourselves one to an- other.' The exhortation is to mutual submission, keeping the order set by God. The business is how this should be understood. Must the husband submit to the wife, as well as the wife to the husband ; the father to the children, the master to the servant, and all be levelled without superiority and government by the law of Christ ?