The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 62

from giving them their due by jealousy, We might better encourage one another if we were more ready t.o anticipate the great Master's generous" Well done good and faithful servant." At the same time, it must be remembered that the glory is due to God, as the grace came only from him. Thus our congratulations should pass into thanksgivings. Ill. WHILE THANXFULLY BEOOGNlZING SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY, WE SHOULD PRAY FO'a THE INCREASE OF IT. The present graces are not enough. We shall deceive our brethren if our congratulations lead them t,o think that there is no needj for further progress. On the contrary, the prese!lt attainme?ts are reasons for praying for greater mcrease. Thus St. Paul makes mention of the faith and love of the Christians of Asia in bis prayers. The reward ol one grace is the addition of another. One prepares the way_ for another. Cer~in spiritual attainments are grounds on which new and higher attainments may be bnilt.-W. F. A. ' Vars. 17-19.-Spiritu.al lm.owledge. After thankfully recognizing the faith and love of the Christians he is addres.5ing, St. Paul describes his prayers for their further endowment with Divine graces, and shows that he is especially anxious that they should recefre a Spirit of wisdom. Possibly the Christians of Ephesus and its neighbourhood were backward on the intellectual side of the spiritual life; but more probably wisdom u-as desirable for them just because they were exceptionally capable of high thinking, and would therefore profit abo'>e others by enjoying the light of heavenly revelation. In any case, it is to be observed that faith and love are the more es.5ential graces; that they must precede wisdom and knowledge, which are not, as is often assumed, to be expected as the first and fundamental grounds of religion; . but that, nevertheless, the intellectnal side of religion is important as an addition t,o the-moral. , L Tim SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE. 1. This knowledge comes from God. St. Paul makes it a matter of prayer; It is not to be attained·, then, merely by intellectual cnlture, nor even by our own spiritual experience alone. 2. It is given· as a retJelation. In revelation God makes known what was naturally a.nd previously hidden. While the curtain ie drawn no guesses can tell what lies behind it.· Specu- lation, unaided by revelation, is as much at sea in discussing the unseen universe to-day as it was at the dawn of Greek philosophy. 3. It res1,1lts from an inspiration of the Spirit of God. We receive a" Spirit of wisdom." The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of knowledge; leading us int.o all truth, at once purging us of the sin that blinds our -risiDn, quickening the life within to a more keen sensitiveness, and bringing 'US into that sympathetic state in regard to spiritual things which makes us feel their presence and undemand their character. IL 'IRB OBO.Ali' OI' 6PIRITOAL KNOWLEDGE. The eyes of our heart have to be enlightened that we may know spiritual thi.n,,us. L The hearl has ita eye,. Ther~ is a.n inner sighL This is not merely speculative. It is alive with feeling; it is in tbe heart. Thus the poet will see what the naturalist overlooks; the mother will know b.e.r children aa the schoolmaster cannot know them; the saint will have visions of Divine truth to which the philosopher is blind. 2. All that the heart needs in order to see the highest truths is light. What is wanted is no new declaration, but ·an eulight.en.ing of our eyes. The la.ndscape is lia present when invisible at night as when seen in clear daylight. Divine truth lies open before us. We require no new voices from heaven. All that is wanted is a change in ourselves-the unstopping of c,ur deaf ears and the opening of our blind eyes. • Ill. THE SUBJECTS OF sPmITUAL KNOWLEDGE. 1. Ohrist. It is "the knowledge of him., for which St. Paul first prays. We must begin with knowing Christ. -In knowin~ him we know all; ~or all the treasures of tb? gospel dwell in hiD?· 2, The future in.heritance. How vainly we speculate about th1SI We can know 1t only by 11piritual illumination. Not that the formal nature of it can be discerned, but the true character and worth of' it will be appreciated. There are riches in this inheritance of which we little dream. lo our coldness of heart they look dim and faint. We have yet to learn how infinitely glorioWI they are. Such a discovery will gladden, chi:er, and encourage t1S in the dark battle of the present. 3. The Divine power. B,Y heaping up expression.e, the apostle makes 118 realize the Importance of this subject. G'.1.i gives t1S the i.nh:;ritance. It iB vast and glorio118. But terrible difficulties stand OH, L 1-23.] TRE EPISTLE TU THE EPHESIANS. 69