Eph. iii. 14 — 19. For this cause I boiv my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height ; and to know the love of Christ, ivhich passeth knoivledge, that ye might be filled ivith all the fulness of God.
MANY who espouse the cause of religion when it is in flourishing circumstances, are apt to decline from it when their profession exposes them to any great trouble. The Ephesians had heard of Paul's imprisonment at Rome, and were in danger of turn- ing from the faith through the fear of persecution. St. Paul cautions them against being intimidated by the tribulations which he endured for their sakes ; and assures them, that they ought rather to consider it as an honour, that their cause had been so vigo- rously maintained by him; and that he was suffering persecution for asserting their rights in opposition to the bigoted and blood-thirsty Jews. Precluded as he was from prosecuting his ministerial labours for their good, he spent the more time in prayer for them. This was a liberty of which none could deprive him : yea, rather, the more his body was confined, the more his spirit was enlarged on their behalf. He considered them as members of the same family with all the Church militant and Church triumphant, of which Christ is the Head ; and, with the profoundest reverence and humility, he implored for them all those blessings which he desired for himself, and which were suited to their state :
I. The strengthening communications of the Spirit —
[The first blessing which a child of God would desire, is strength ; because he longs as much to execute his Father's will, as he does to enjoy his favour. The occasions on which