The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 137

that worketh in us." We adore God as a~ to do for us in answer to our prayers. It is ~ted of us that we ask, that is, actually desire the blessing, and express the desire. But, beyond all that we ask, there is what we think, that is, what comes into our mind as to what we should desire and express. Now, God is able to do above all that we ask or think. And not only so, but the apostle is so struck with the dis- proportion between our asking and thinking, and the Divine ability, that he has ,to add the expression, "exceeding abundantly." And then he would have us look to our being answered, not aocording to our own poor asking and thinking, but according to the power that worketh in us, all our experience of which is fitted to raise our expectation. . II. IN WHAT SPBERE HE IS GOORIFIED. cc Unto him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus." We are to praise God for what has been done for the Church and for what is gifted to the Church. "And the glory which thou hast given me I have given untC1 them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know. that thou didst send me, and lo.edst them, even as thou lovedst me. Father, that which thou hast given me, I will that, where I am, they also may be with me; that they may behold my glory, whlch thou hast gh-en me: for thou lo,edst me before the foundation of the world." It is only in Christ that there is the Church, and that it is what it is (being tbe receptacle of Christ's glory), and therefore it is only in him that we can praise God for the Church. m THE TDl:B DURING WHICH HE IS TO BE GLORIFIED. "Unto all generations for ever and ever." Lit.erally it is," unto all the generations of the age of the ages." There are generations whlch make up an age; then there are ages which make up the grand age. There is suggested the length of time (beyond our narrow conception) which God has for completing his purpose regarding the Church; and also the length of time there- after, during which the full-volu.med doxology will be chanted to God. It becomes us each to add our " Amen." "Through e.ll eternity to thee .A joyful song I'll raise; For oh, eternity's too short To utter all thy praise." R.F. Veni. 1-13.-.Aspeds of tM troe gospel ministry. "For- this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the = of God whlch is given me to you-ward-: how that by revelation he made known ~to me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few word~,lwher!by,_when ye read, ye may U!lcerstand I!lV k:nowledue in the myst.ery of Christ) which m other ages was not 1:;ade known unto the so~ of men, as it is now revealed unto hls holy apostles and prophet.s by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the sam~ ~ody, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a m1?1ster, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by ~he e_!l'ect1;1al worki~g of bis power. Unto me, who am less than -the least of all sa1:11ts, lS this ~race given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable_ riches of ChrIS~; ~nd to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the begmmng of the 'l"forld bath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalitie~ and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom_ we have bold?ess and access w!th c~nfi- dence by the faith of him. Wherefo~e ~ desire ~hat ye famt not :i,t ID)'. tnbulat1ons for you, which is your glory." Hom1let1cally, this whole passage, _1°: ~h1ch there are many digressions and involved utter~nces, ~y ~ regarded_ as exh1b1t1_n~ a. true g~SJ?el -minister in three aspects--as the sub;ect of vzcarunu BUjferi111J, the recipient of Dwme ideas, and as the f'Mesenger of redemptive mercy. I. THE BUEJECT op VICARIOUS SUFFERING. Paul speaks of himself as a "prisoner of Jesns Christ/or you. ~ntiles "and in the thlrteenth verse he says," my tribulations/or y(IU." A:. an ay.,stle, Paul'11 s~fferings were great; tlsewherc he gives a brief catalogue of 11.e:n (G--,riD.thiar.s, etc.); but all his great sufferings aa an apostle were vicarious-1hey QR, IIL 1-21.J THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 135