The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 49

produces in our hearts. This is the hope of the inheritance which bas already be, n referred to in the fourteenth yerse. Having, then, connected the Divine purpose wi ·h the inheritance, he now prays that they may have some worthy wnceptwn of it, as th \t to which they were called. There is an accumulation of language to impress us with the greatness of the inheritance as worthy of the donor. 'l'he glory of the inheritance in the saints. 'l'he glory of a thing is its highest, most beautiful form, as when the fields are in their summer loveliness. The glory of the inheritance in the saints is i,.ll that an inhetitauce can flower out into for them, the final thought of God regardil'lg the condition of his own. It must excel what was the glory of Canaan, as it is .n inheritance formed with richer materials. Th6 riches of the glory. The riches of his grace ends in the riches of the glory. The open flower, of which there was a repre- 6entation in the Jewish temple, is but a suggestion of the glory which God will manifest in the saints. The higher the existence the richer the efflorescence. So rich is the glory in the saints that it is difficult to form a conception of what it shall be. It is difficult for us to think of ourselves beautified as we shall be in our nature and in our surroundings. But that it may be worthily conceived is an object for which we are to pray for ourselves and for others. It is true that "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God bath prepared for them that love him;" but that is not the whole statement, for it is added, "God bath revealed them unto us by his Spirit." We are therefore to seek, with the materials we have, some clear, vivid, uplifting conception of the future inheritance. VI. IT 18 A. PRAYER TO KNOW ABOUT Goo THE POWER WHICH IS TO El!'l"EOT THIS GLORY TO THE SAINTS. "And what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe." Again the apostle heaps up languag~ as though the idea were too great for expression. The power of God has ;not only greatness; it has exceeding greatness. "'l'he power of God is that ability and strength whereby he can bring to pass whatso- ever he pleases, whatsoever his infinite wisdom can direct, and whatsoever the in.finite purity of his will can resolve" (Chamock). "God bath spoken once; twice have I heard this: that power belongeth unto God." It belongs to him originally, inalienably. Job discourses of the power of God as seen in the lower parts of the world, in hanging the earth upon nothing, in holding up the clouds, in compassing the waters with bounds till day and night come to an end, in commotions in air and earth, in his garnishing the heavens. Then sublimely he concludes: "Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?" The apostle goes to a different field in which to study the power of God. It is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-we.rd who believe. It is the power of God as manifested toward the Church of Christ. VII. IT 18 A. PB.AYER TO KNOW A.BOUT THE DIVINE POWER THAT WBIIJH WA.B H...u."'I- FESTED IN THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. .. According to that working of the strength of his might which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead." He bas spoken of the power of God abstractly; this gives colouring to it. He would show what God can do for the Church, by pointing to what he has already done for Christ. It was power displayed upon Christ in extraordinary circumstances. For how powerless was Christ, when his body was taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb I He continued for a time under the power of death. His humanity was unnaturally divided. The spirit was disembodied, leaving the once active body a pale and motion- less corpse. But upon this utter powerlessness the power of God was signally put forth, that power by which he can subdue even death to himself. He recalled the spirit, and gave it to retenant the body subdued to a nobler mould. This, then, is the power which is to give us the riches of the glory of the inheritance. And is it not pertinent as well as sufficient? For our being raised by a similar forthputting of power is preparatory to our being instated in the inheritance. VIII. IT IS A. PRAYER TO KNOW ABOUT THE DIVINE POWER THAT wmcH WAS MANI- FESTED IN TIIE RAISING OF CHRIST TO HIS RIGHT HAND. .. And made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." The working of the strength of the Divine might did not terminate with the raising of Christ from the dead. For a time he remained on earth, and was seen by mortal eye. But by another grand fortbputting of power Christ was raised  16 THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. [OH, I, 1-23,