I. INTRODUCTION, 1. The altitude: "I bow my knees;" humility, earnestness. 2. 'l'he designation of God: "the Father;" the character in which Christ taught us to approach God in prayer, and wbiqh gives us most encouragement. 3. 'l'he name of the family is derived from God, constituting an additional plea. That which bears God's Name must be an object, of special interest to him. II. 'l'HE PETITIONS. Three centres ~f petit_ion, a~ording as the grace (1) of the Spirit, (2) of the Son, or (3) of the Father 1s specially rnvoked. 1. Ver. 16: connected with the Spirit. (1) The petition: to "be strengthened with might by bis Spirit in the inner man "-the region where we are weakest, and where the might of the Spirit is most needed. (2) 'l'he measure or standard of the gift: "accurding to the riches of bis glory;" as, for example, that riches as exhibited in the starry firmament, or in any uther scene that exhibits the boundless profusion of God. 2. Vers. 17-19: connected with the B<m. (1) Indwelling, "'!'hat Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;" denoting permaneut residence and interest, to be secured by a faith ever looking to him and resting on him. (2) Stability and force. "That being rooted anrl grounded in Jove;" having the stability and force of Christian character which comes from love; i.e. the love of Christ received and enjoyed, and a loving spirit toward him and his people exercised. (3) Comprehension, with all saints, of the manifold dimensions of Christ's capacity to bless (see Exposition). (4) Knowledge of" the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge;" for the inward, experimental knowledge of that love is the strongest of ali spiritual dynamics, 3. Ver. 19: connected with the Father. "Filled with all the fulness of God." The renewed heart has a capacity to receive the things of God-to be plunged, as it were, into his fulness and filled therefrom. This can never be fully reached; as our capacities increase there is more-io he enjoyed. III. THE DOXOLOGY, 1. The Being praised. "Him that is able," etc. View of Divine infinity, for much has been asked and more thought about; yet, like space all([ time, God's ability to bless extends infinitely beyond. 'l'be blessing is in the direction of what has been already conferred: "According to the power that worketh in us." 2. The ascription offered. (1) The offering: "glory "-the praise, credit, glory of the whole work of grace, with all its blessings and its final consummation. (2) 'l'be sphere: "in the Church "-somethiug different from the glory of creation and providence; the glory connected with the history of the Church-the glory of redemption. (3) The medium: "in Christ Jesus," in vital union to whom the Church has got all her blessings. (4) The duration: "world without end;" fur the story of redemption will never become obsolete, and the songs of redemption will be for ever fresh and living. "Glorious things are spoken of thee, 0 city of our God!" "How goodly :iro thy te1its, 0 Jncob, and thy dwelling-places, 0 Israel I Illessed is he that blessetb thee, e.nd cursed is he that curseth foee I " -
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-"T/ie prisoner of Jesus Christ." The apostle often refers to his prison-life, 11nd here presents himself to the Churches as" an e.mbassador in bonds" (eh. vi. 20). I. HE WAB A MOST CELEDRATED l'RIS0NER. Perhaps he was regarded as of no great accollllt by his Roman jailors, who could have known nothing of the secret of his great- ness; but viewed in the light of Christian history, l'e.ul is the most distinguished of men. He did more than any other apostle to shape the theology of W estcrn Christendom, which, in its tum, has left the deepest imprint on the civilization of the world. The world would not be to-day what it is if Paul of Tarsus had not lived. His influence has long survived the empire of Rome, which held him captive. We sympathize with tho prison-sorrows of the great. Alas I that the best of men, " of whom the world was not worthy," have spent so many weary days and years in prison I !I. fu WAB NOT A PBIS0NER FOR CRIME OR FOR TJIE BREACH 01!' THE ROJUN LAWS, DOT AB THE EFFECT OF THE UNBLEEPING HATRED OF THE JEWS. It was his ministry to the Gentiles which brought down upon him the vindictive anger of his countrymen, and led them to accuse him before the Roman magistrates. The suspicion that he had taken Trophimus, nn Epbesiim, into_ the temple at Jerusalem had, indeed, an immediate con- µection with his first e.rrest, "He we.a e.t once Christ's prisoner, the Jews' prisoner, the 112 THE EPISTLE 1'0 THE EPHESIANS. [oH. m. 1-21.