The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 140

that they should study the manifold wisdom of God. (3) That the Christian Church affords them a grand opportunity for studying this glorious subject. The Church is the effect, the manifestation, and the organ of God's manifold or diversified wisdom. (4) That the use of the Church for this object was according to the eternal plan of God. "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lorri." 6. The high privileges of the office. "In whom we have boldness and acceRs with con- fidence by the faith of him." " The accumulation of substantives in this sentence," says Hodge, "boldness, access, rnnfidence, shows that there was no word which coul,l express what Paul felt in view of the complete reconciliation of men to God through the mediation of Jesus Christ." The privileges of a true gospel minister, as indicaterl in vers. 12, 13, are: (1) Free and fearless access to the great God. (2) Divine support under the various trials of life. " Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribula- tions for you, which is your glory" Paul was now a prisoner at Rome, and yet he felt that inward support which enabled him to exhort the saints at Ephesus not to faint or be disheartened on bis account. Such in brief is the view which this passage presents of a true gospel minister. Ho is a man of vicarious suffering, a recipient of Divine ideas, a messenger of redemptive mercy. Where are the preachers that answer to this sketch? Let such men fill our pulpits, and the conversion of our England will not be far distant; and when all England becomes a true Church, the whole world will speedily be won to Christ.-D. T. Vers. 14-19.-Intercessory prayer. "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." In the whole passage we have Christian philan- thropy and prayer. The apostle, who was a philanthropist of the highest type, here prays, not for himself, but for others; and prays, not for mere secondary and non- essential blessings, but for blessings paramount and vital. Let us attend to this intercessory prayer of hie. A true minister is a true philanthropist, and will, like Christ, not only vicariously suffer for others, as we have seen, but will ever make intercessions for others. Intercessory prayer is the rarest and highest type of prayer. In answer to objections that are raised against it, four facts are ever to be kept in view. 1. Ie is an instinct of social love. Self-love urges a man to pray for himself, social love prompts the soul to address Heaven on behalf of others. What more natural than for a loving mother to pray for a suffering child, a loving pastor for his people, a loving citizen for his country? What is natural is Divine. 2. It is a soul discipline. Nothing exerts a higher influence upon the soul than the realization of the Divine presence in prayer; this quickens and hallows it. In intercessory prayer, however, there is this, and some- thing more ; there is the taking of the soul out of the circle of itself, and expanding it with earnest, loving sympathies for others. Intercession lifts the spirit into fellow- ship with that God who careth for all. 3. It is a manifest Ohristian duty. We are not only commanded in Scripture to pray for others, but we have the highest examples -Moses, Abraham, Paul, L,'hrist. 4. It has been crowned with wonderful success. The Bible abounds with examples. "Peter . . . was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him . . • . And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety that the Lord bath sent bis angel, and bath delivered me out of the hand of Herod; . . . And he came to the house of Mary, where mn.ny were gathered together praying." This is only a specimen. 11 For what are men better than sheep or goats, That nourish e. blind life within the brain, If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer, Both for themselves and those who call thorn friend?" Observe In this intercession- I. THE Gon INVOKED. Who is he? 1. He is a Father, "I bow my knees unt.o  13S THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. [cH. III. 1-21.