The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 76

n-a.l., yet " deRd while they live,•• and unconscious of their death. The term "walking• implies the habitual course and tendenoy of life. Men were dead in sin just as they lived in sin, for the apostle says of the same sins," In the which ye also walked some time, "hen ye lived in them" (Col. iii. 7). The direction of their walking is-away from God, with their backs turned upon him, for unbelief is a departure from the living God; and the end of their walking is death, as it is all through, for "it is the way of death" (Prov. ii 18), and "their steps take hold on death" (Prov. v. 5). Well may we pray with David, " Lord, search me and know my heart : . . . see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps. cx..x:xiL 23).-T. C. Ver. 2.-Tnree fatal gui,des in thi,s walk. They are represented as the world, the flesh, and the devil. These are inextricably linked in the common death of men, for "the whole world lieth in the wicked one," and it includes, as its totality of possession, "the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and ihe pride of life." There is no schism in this dread conspiracy 3eoainst man's life. I. THE WORLD. Sinners walk "according to the course of this world." 1. The w01·ld ~ here t-0 be aistingui-shed fro,n worl,dly objects and pleasures, or mere " things of the trorld.,., which are more definitely included in " the lusts of the flesh" (ver. 3). It refers t,:, men of the world, as where it is said, " The whole world lieth in the wicked one" (1 John •. 19), and, "The world will love its own" (John xv. 19). These are " the children of the world," who are "wiser in their generation than the children of light 21 (Luke rn. 18). The world is a great creat.or of opinion, sentiment, and habit, and thns become; an immense obstacle to the Church of God. 2. The course of the tLJOrld. "E,ery age bath almost a new dress, though it is the same world, and still camal men live according t.o it." Though no age is independent of the ages which go before it, each age has its own ·peculiar drift or tendency, which makes it influential for good or evil. We hear of the spirit of the age-the zeitgeist-which ill supposed to shape the thought and the action of men; but it cannot command Christian homage, except so far as it works in the line of truth and righteousness. The Ephesians were neither before their time nor after their time, but in their time, living like other Gentiles, in the same errors, delusions, and idolatries ; above all, being specially attached to the worship of Diana. 3. It is the d'U,ty of Ohristi,an people to oppose the C011,rse of this wor-ld. The apostle solemnly commands ns, "Be ye not conformed to this world " (Rom. xii. 2), and the reason is because "we have not received the spirit of this world, but we have received the Spirit which is of God" (1 Cor. ii. 12). Let the world be ever so rellned, it cannot divest itself of carnal principles and ideas, and the saying of our Lord will always be true," The things that are in great esteem with men·are an abomination unto God" (Luke xvi. 15). His own mission was "to deliver us from this present evil world" (Gal. i. 4). Therefore, while we use this world, with all its lawful callin~s and occupations, so as not to abUBe it, and honour every trne principle that is held by "them that are -without," let 118 resolutely stem the tide of the world's evil tendencies in the strength of that faith which will yet give 118 the complete conquest of the world (1 John v. 4). II. TBE DEVIL. This enemy, older than the world, has a vast influence in con• trolling its tendencies and movements. 1. He is descrfbed by two names-" the prince of the power of the air,'' which seems to point to his headship over the fallen angels; and "the spirit that now worketh in the children of diso~d~ence," in relation_to his power u the "prince of this world." The moral nature of his influence may be mferred from the character ascribed to him in Scripture: as a sinner from the beginning; as a homicide from the beginning; as an arch-liar-" the father of liars "--as a renegade, who, with the angels under him, fell from his first estate, probably through pride, as the principal cause of his fatal fall. His name is expressly identified with the sin of Adam, the murder of Abel, the treachery of Judas, aud with a constant opposition to the kingdom of God. He is accuser, tempter, corrupter, and has, in virtue of sin, a certain power even in death (Heb. ii. 14). The existence of such a being is no more a difficulty than the existence of wicked men, who live to corrupt and destroy their fellow-me!J.. 2. It is ,wt easy to understwnd the mcde in which he acta 'IJ,['<ITI the minds a,-.d i,':-f~:rts of ,-r=, Mr to distingui.llh a direct temptation of Satan from those which ;;priLg from ti:i.e wr,rJd ,,r frvm our own hearts. He works in and through these two OH. ll. 1-22.] '!'HE EPISTLE '1'0 THE EPHESIANS. 73