The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 142

immeasurable;" Who by searching can find it ont?" And yet, though it passeth the knowledge of the intellect, there ie a sense in which it can and must be known- knowc. as a matter of consciousness, known as an all-controlling power. "The love of Christ conetraineth us; because we thus judge," etc. 5. The reaching of Divine per- fection. "That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God "-that ye might be filled up with the fulness of God. The idea is that you may "be perfect even as God is perfect." This is the standard set before us; we are to be holy, even as God is holy. Infinitely high as this is, nothing lower will meet the cravings of our moral nature or the full wifoldment of onr endlessly advancing being. Heaven has predestinated us to be conformed to the image of God (Rom. viii. 29). Such was Paul's intercessory prayer. Let us seek that Divine philanthropy which made him such a mediator between God and man. The priesthood of this philanthropy is what we want. Avaunt to all others! They are impious impostors, profane intruders. The priesthood of Christian philanthropy is the only Divine priesthood in the universe.-D. T. Vers. 20, 21.-Exultant praise. "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according t-0 the power that worketh in u~, unto him be glory-in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." 'l'he passage leads us to consider the subject of exultant praise. Worship is praise; it is a higher service than prayer. It is in truth the highest end and the completest answer to prayer. In the preceding verses Paul prays; here he prais~. He passes from asking to adoring. The "Passage leads us to consider religions praise in relation to the Object, the Church, the Redeemer, and the ages. I. In relation to the OBJECT. He is here represented in his absolute and relative capacity for helping man. 1. In his absolute capacity. "He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." (1) Men can ask for much. They can ask for ages of blessedness, paradises of beauty and of bliss. (2) They can think of more. Imagination transcends desires. We only ask for what we desire; but we can conceive of a universe of things which it has never entered into the heart to crave for. But the Divine capacity to give is "exceeding abundantly" beyond the power of asking or of thinking. Nay, it is " beyond all things:'' all things that euer have been. It is greater than the universe. All things that ever will be; the possible with God will always be greater than the actual. How great is God's capacity for helping ! What a God does the gospel give us to love, worship, and adore I .And yet, stre.nge to say, finite though we be, no God of meaner type could match the measure of our souls. 2. In his relative capacity. "According to the power that worketh in us." Infinite as is .u.is capability to help, his power to help us is determined by the nature and measure of t.hose spiritual aspirations and cravings which the power of his grace within us has pro- duced. Unless we desire knowledge, he cannot eulighten us; purity, he cannot purify us; pardon, he cannot pardon us; spiritual strength, he cannot strengthen us. Our moral contractedness limits his power to help us. His communications will be according to our receptivity. As the indolence of the farmer limits those fructifying influences of nature that would yield to him a golden harvest; as the stolid ignorance and base sen- suality of the people limit the influence of the geuuine reformer to raise the millions in the social and political scale ; as the duluess or idleness of the pu pi! limits the power of a great teaoher to enrich him with the treasures of knowledge; so the moral contracted- ness of the heart limits the power of the Holy One. He cannot do many mighty works for us, because of our unbelief. It is "according to the power that worketh in us" that God's power to help us is determined. II. In relation to the CHURCH, " In the Church,'' etc. The Church is a company of redeemed men, part of which is in heaven and part in various portions of the earth. Why does Paul single out the Church to praise and adore the great God? Because the Church is under special obligations to do so. All things in heaven and on earth, from the lowest to the highest creature, should praise their Maker. "Let everything that bath breath praise the Lord." But the duty of redeemed souls to do so transcends in urgency that of all others. He has not only created them and preserved them, but he bas redeemed them, and redeemed them not with" corruptible things "-such ns silver nnd gold-but with the "precious blood of Jesus Christ.'' For them his only bogotten Sou became  110 THE EPISTLE '1'0 THE EPHESIANS. [oH. m. 1-21.