The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 157

thought nothing of in the worldly. If wha.t David did in re Uriah bad been done by Nebuchadnezzar, no one would have said anything. A consistent walk is, by God's help, within.the reach of all. It is an impressive sermon to the world, a continual sermon, a.n unanswerable sermon. Let all preach this sermon, though it be their only tine. 'l'he "walk worthy" is a walk of holiness, humility, forbearance, forgiveness, patience, charity. It is also a walk of brightness and beneficence. It seeks to make the world brighter and better. Let us be urged to it by the sins of the world, by the miseries of the world, by the dangers of the world, as regards the soul. In order to promote it, let us be much with Christ, and as far as we can, with those who are like Christ. Let. us study the biographies of Christ-like men and aim at conformity to their example. Let us often pray the prayer of the third chapter of this book, and other prayers of the like tenor. Let us use earnestly our means of grace, praying that each sabbath, each sermon, each sacrament, may serve to make us more worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, Vere. 2-6.-Details of a wal,k worthy of the 110cation. This walk demands-- I. THE PRESERVATION Oll' SOCIAL CONCORD, THROUGH THE QUIET OR PASSIVE VIRTUES, which, having been very characteristic of Christ, are eminently incumbent on all who bear his Name. 1. Lowliness, arising from a chastened sense of our sin and unworthi- ness. 2. Meekness, which is in speech what lowliness is in spirit. 3. Lrmg-suffering and forbearanee i11 ~'6; in opposition to hastiness, irascibility, impatience, ill temper, which, though often little thought of, are eminently unworthy of the Christian calling. Christian victories are often gained by meekness and endurance-what Milton called "the invincible might of meekness.'' These graces have reference mainly to the ordinary intercourse of social life; what follows has to do more with the public life of the Church. II. THE PRESERVATION OF ECCLESIASTICAL CONCORD THROUGH THE BOND OF PEACE, The concord to be preserved is the "unity of the Spirit "-the unity of which the Holy Spirit is the Author; not mere external uniformity, but inward agreement. It is a fact that there is much inward a.greement wherever the Spirit of God works. It is our duty to preserve, this-to keep it from beiog broken or even appearing as if broken. This unity is to be maintained by the bond which consists of "peace ; " by a peace- loving and peace-seeking spirit, that spirit of which Christ said, " Blessed are the peacemakers:· for they shall be called the children of God." The danger of breaking the unity of the Spirit is great ; readiness to take offence, pride, regardlcssness of the welfare of others, forgetfulness of the vast Christian work and warfare committed to us, are temptations to this, On the other band, the habitual striving after the graces enumerated above, and trying to exercise them habitually, tend to preserve the unity of the Spirit, and to a large extent, too, to preserve external agreement in the govern- ment and worship and work' of the Church. III. In connection with this subject, the apostle shows WHEREIN TIIE UNITY OF TITE SPIRIT CONSISTS, AND Wl!EREIN IT IS TO BE PRESERVED. There is a sevenfold unity (sco Exposition). That true believers are one in Christ is one of thoso truths which h[lppily eveu controversy and sectarianism do not C]Uite obliterate. But a moro full, ricb, and constant manifestation of this unity would make a great impression on the world; it. would remove one of tho most common excuses of scepticism; it would tend powerfully both to edify and to extend the cause of Christ; and it would mako tho fellowship of the Church much more delightful, spreading more of the atmosphere of heaven upon earth. Vere. 7-11.-0hrist's gifts to his Church. The grand object of the apostle in this section of hill Epistle is to show the ample provision made by Christ for tbo welfaro of his Church. The Church may sing as well ag the individual, " The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want." The particular object is to indicato that the gifts conferred by him on the members individually (vers. 7-10), and especially the appointment of the several classes of office-bearers (ver. 10), show the Lord's earnest desire to raise his Church to the highest possible condition of grace and honour; to make her complete and glorious, as the one body of which he is the Ilcad, the one vessel into which ha is to ponr all bis fulnese, the bride on whom he is to exhaust every ornament.  156 'l'HE EPISTLE '1'0 TRE EPHESIANS. toa. IV. 1-32.