The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 194

or ecclesiastical, for there may be doctrinal. and ecclesiastical unity where there is spiritual srp..~rntion. It i~ ~he unity of souls in Christ. Now, every one belonging to this corporat!on s_houl~ d1hgently endeavour to maintain its unity. This unity is c[lusonant with d1vcrs1ty; the waves are different, but the ocean is one; the branches arc differe~t, but the tree is one; ~he members ,are different, but the body is one; the stoirs arc different, but the system 1s one. Men s thoughts may be different, but men's loves may be one, and loves are the bonds of souls. (2) The method/or promoting this purpose. Three things arc indicated here. (a) Humility. "With all lowliness and meekness." Pride, arrogance, and haughtiness in all its forms, have ever been amongst the most disturbing elements in Church life. (b) Mutual forbearance, "For- bearing one another." The best members of this Church are imperfect in belief, sympathies, and conduct; hence mutual forbearance is necessary in order to maintain unity. He who feels disposed to quarrel with every fault of his associates may spend bis time in doin~ nothing else. (c) Brotherly love. "Forbearing one another in love." Lo,e is the healer of discords. No hand but hers can retune the discordant harp of Church life. These-lowliness, meekness, long-suffering, loving forbearance-quiet, u:ipretending, unshowy rutues are amon~;; the best means for promoting true unity in t'J.e Church of God. Wbo is the most useful Christian? Not as a rule he who has t'..;e r..1ost t=scendent genins, brilliant talents, and commanding eloquence, but he who has the most of tbis quiet, loving, forbearing spirit. The world may do without :;:s Sia,,,craras, whose thundering roar and majestic rnsh excite the highest amazement of mankind, out it cannot spa.re the thousand rivulets that glide unseen and unheard crery moment through the earth, imparting life and verdure and beauty wherever they go. And so the Cbnrch may do without its men of splendid abilities, but it cannot do without its men of tender, loving, forbearing souls.-D. T. Vcrs. 3-6.-1?!,e unitiu of <Jhristianity· a reason for union amongst <Jhristians. "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" These various unities in Christianity are here specified by the apostle in order to enforce the importance and obligation of a loving concord amongst all true Cbristians. By noticing these unities with a little closer attention we shall see how they formed in the apostle's mind an argwment jor a loving union amongst all the di.scip"les of Christ. L All Cbristians are members of ONE SPIRITUAL OBGA.NIZ.ATION. "One body." Thongh t"hey are ,ery numerons and ever increasing, though they differ widely in many morally 1Ulfundamental points, and live in different lands and different worlds, still they are parts of one great whole. The tree, thongh it bas a thousand branches all varying in liize and shape and hue, is an organic whole. 'l'his nnity, though not visible, really exists. To be a Cbristian is to be a branch of the one tree, a stone in the one building, a member of the one body. Now, this fact is certainly a str011,g reason for the cherishing amongst all of brotherly Jove and hearty fellowshlp. " That there should be no schism in the body• but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one' member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it." II. All Christians are animated by ONE GBEAT SPmIT. "One Spirit." What the body is to the human :soul, this great organization, this universal Church, is to the Spi:it of the living God. 1. Servant_. As every member o( ~he body i~ th~ serva~t of the 11◊ul every genuine Christian 1s the servant of the Spmt, obeys his dictates m every- thing. 2. Symbol. A.B the body reveals and expresses the soul by its looks, words, 11nd operations, so the true_ C~ur?h reveals the Diyine Spirit j reveals ~ts quick~ning, redeeming, elevating, sanctifymg mflucnce. 3. Residen<XJ. As the body 1s the re~1dence of the soul even so the Church is the temple for the Holy Ghost to dwell Ill, If there is this one Spirit running through all, guiding, animating, ovem1ling all, should there not be through all a mutual, loving sympathy and interest? IIL All Christians have ONE GLOBIOUB HEAVEN, "One hope." What ie the object of a true Christian's hope? Not happiness. Be whose grand object in life is his own bappirie85 is under the influence of that selfishness which is the essence of sin and the Oil, IV, 1-32.] THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 1!)3