3. Of the work he has wrought in us —
[We are apt to undervalue the work that is already wrought in us, because so much remains to be done. But when God shines upon his own work, we entertain very dif- ferent thoughts respecting it. It is no light matter then in our eyes to have been quickened from the dead, and "created anew in Christ Jesus." It seems no less a work than that which was " wrought for Christ, when God raised him from
* Job xlii. 5. y Eph. iii. 18, 19.
z John xiv. 21—23. and xvi. 14, 15. a Matt. xi. 27.
» 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. c Eph. i. 13, 14.
the dead," and " set him at his own right hand, above all the principalities and powers," whether of heaven or hell. We were dead and buried ; and Satan set, as it were, the stone, the seal, the watch, to keep us securely under the power of the grave. But our God came " by the mighty working of his power," and made us triumphant over all the powers of darkness, and still " always causeth us to triumph in Christ." Truly the believer, when he views these things, is a wonder to himself: he is a burning bushd, a captive ruling over his oppressors6, a worm threshing the mountains f.]
Address —
1. Let us seek to attain the Christian's character —
[The Ephesians were already Christians : they possessed the two distinctive marks of the Christian character, " faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and love unto all the saints." These marks we must possess. It is in vain to hope for the higher manifestations of the Spirit, till we have received those com- munications which are of prime and indispensable necessity. Till these evidences of true religion appear, neither can ministers have any joy over you, nor you any scriptural hope for yourselves. Come then to Christ as perishing sinners, and cast in your lot with his people, that you may have your por- tion with them in a better world.]
2. Let us seek to enjoy the Christian's privileges —
[We would not that any of you should live below your privileges. " The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory," is willing to bestow on you the richest gifts, and to exalt you to the sublimest happiness. He is ready to make all his glory pass before your eyes, and to proclaim in your hearing all his goodness g. Though he will not catch you up to Paradise, as he did the Apostle Paul, or make the heavens open to you, as he did to the dying Stephen, yet will he shine into your hearts, to give you light and knowledge, of which you have at present scarcely any conception11. Seek then these sublime attainments, which will at once enhance your present happiness, and increase your meetness for your hea- venly inheritance.]
d Exod. iii. 2. e Isai. xiv. 2.
f Isai. xli. 15. s Exod. xxxiii. 18, 19.
h 2 Cor. iv. 6.