The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 57

in the knowledge of him." He wished for them clearer and broader views of the Eternal. 2. In Christian privilege. "The eyes of your understandin" beinaO enli"htened, 0 that ye may know what is the _hope of h!s calling,'.' The general idea is that you may know the transcendent and rnexhaustible blessmgs that God has provided for you. 3. Jn pers°"!'al ~ttainment. "What is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward." The idea. 1s that you may more deeply feel the cha.nge that God's power has wrought in you. How ·grea.t _was the. change that God's almighty energy had wrought in these people (see Acts x1x.) I Such was the knowledge that Paul was anxious to promote and this, indeed, is the knowledge to bless humanity. ' IV. HIS PHILANTHROPY TRACED ALL GENUINE IMPROVEMENT IN HUMAN CHARACTER TO THE DIVINE POWER THAT WAS MANIFESTED IN CHRIST. The mighty power which had done such wonders for them was the "power which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the deacl," etc. The power: 1. Was manifested in the resurrection of <Jhrist. Christ's resurrection might be regarded (1) a.s a symbol of the spiritual resurrection of the soul : " If ye then be risen with Christ," etc. ; (2) as the procuring cause of the spiritual resurrection of the soul. Had Christ not risen from the dead the spiritual resurrection would be impossible. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to bis abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead." 2. Was manifested in the ezaltation of Ghrist. He exalted Christ "far above all principalities," etc. That power will also exalt the soul, give it a dominion over self and circumstances; that power makes men" kings and priests unto God." Paul's philanthropy led him to trace all the improvement at Ephesus, not to his own labours, though he had laboured there long and hard, but to God's power, and to God's power as manifested by Jesus Christ. V. His PHILANTHROPY IDENTIFIED MAN'S INTEREST WITH THE LIFE OF THE SON OF GOD. Those only, he felt, were truly blessed of men who were vitally connected with Christ, as body and soul. "Which is his body," etc. The figure implies: 1. Ohrist's animation. The soul animates the body; Christ animates the good. 2. Christ's C011,trol. The soul controls the body; Christ controls the good. 3. Christ's manifesta- twn. The so.ul manifests itself through the body; Christ manifests himself in the good. 4. (Jhrist's ahwrch. It is a unity. The body, with all its members, is one whole.-D. T. Ver. 3.-The Christian bles8ings. I. CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH MANY BLESSINGS. 1. Uhristianity involves blessedness. The declaration of its truths is a gospel It is the religion of the cross ; yet it is far happier to bear Christ's cross than to wea.r the yoke of sin, and there is no other alternative. 'l'he way of the cross is itself the way of peace and highest happiness. 2. Christian blessedness is now enjor~d. "Bath blessed us "-literally," did bless us." The gifts of the gospel are not all reserved for the future world. Indeed, if we enjoy none now, we are not likely to be able to appreciate any after death (1 Tim. iv. 8). For (1) Christ has already done all that is necessary to secure us the highest blessings; and (2) many of the best blessings are already within our reach, and do not depend upon any change of state to be produced by death. 3. The Christian blessings are numerous and various. "Every spiritu~l blessing." If we have received some blessings there are more to follow. Already what we have had is beyond reckoning. All do not receive just the same kind of blessings. Each may look for fresh varieties. II. THE CmtIBTIAN BLESSINGS ARE BPIBITUAL AND HEAVENLY. 1. They are spiritual. This word describes them subjectively; it shows what they are in us. 'l'ney are inward graces, not material possessions. We may receive temporal prosperity, and, if so, should ascribe it to the Source and Author of every good gift. Bnt we may be denied it, and •yet be none the less blessed of God. It is a mistake for any of us to look for specially Christian blessings in this category, or to be perplexed at not receiving them. The true Christian blessings are such things as peace and joy, light and love, purity and power. 2. They are heavenly. This word describes them obJectively ; it points to what they are in themselves and in relation to their Divine origin. Coming from God, they belong to "heavenly places." They are such things as the forgiveue~s of Bins, and the sympathy and fellowship of Christ, the beatific vision vouchsafed to the pure in heart, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Because they are heavenly things t.hey are not beyond our rca~lu for hea.ven is let down to earth now that the kingdom  THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE EPHESIANS.