The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 203

beggarly deliverance, like shipwrecked mariners flung upon the beach, half drowned and bereft of everything. When we enter the C~ristian life we commence a course of high service, vast enterprise, and splendid aims. 3. The purpose of thi~ vocation is to glorify God and bless the world by realizing the idea of the Christian Church. In the previous chaJ?ter St. Paul has been describing some of the great privileges of Christians, which consist chiefly in their being built into ono great temple and growing together in union. The breaking down of national, ecclesi11st1cal, intellectual, and moral barriers, and the building np of one great family, knit together by love and united throu~h a common union with Christ, is St. Paul's magnificent conception of the fruits that Lhe gospel is to bear on earth. II. IT IS THE DuTY OF CHRISTIANS TO WALK WORTHILY OF THEm mGH CALLING. 1. The responsiln1ity of fulfilling our vocation rests upon us. We are called, not driven, and we can disobey the Divine voice. But though we are free from compulsion, we are not free from responsibility. For God has a right to call us whither he will, aud Christ has laid us under peculiar obligations by his work and sacrifice for us. 2. 'l'his fulfilment of our vocation must be in our daily conduct. We are to'' wc·k worthily." Belief and worship are not enough. The life and the whole work an,l daily occupation are to follow the Pivine call. 3. Christian consistency is sg_W1ring 011r conduct with our calling, Many make much of mere self-consistency; but it is well often to be inconsistent with ourselves, or we can never progress, much less repent and amend. Nor is it enough to make our actions consistent with our opinions, unle:ss both opinions and actions are consistent with truth, with God's will, and with our vocation. Ill. vV ALKINO WORTHILY OF THE CHRISTIAN CALLING CONSISTS CHIEFLY IN MAl:--- TAININO AND INCREASING OUR MUTUAL BROTHERHOOD, Love is the queen of the New Testament graces. Selfishness, moroseness, lack of sympathy, and the like nru sins against the peculiar genius of the gospel. To be zealous in defending the faith, to be pure as white marble in saintly separation from vice, to be strict in integrity, etc., will not be enough; for our cnlling is to o. brotherhood, and our worthy walking must help this. 1. Negatively, we must have lowliness which declines to assert one's stdt before one's brethren, meekness which acts gently to them, nod long-suffering which bears with any provocations they may give us, 2. Positively, we must extend Uhristian unity and tho spirit of peace. The peaceful brotherly spirit must not only be passively harmless, it must be earnest, active, nnd diligent.-W. F. A. Vers. 4-6.-0hristian unity, This is n frequently recurring themo in the Epistle to the Ephesians, and it is always treated with an emphasis that marks its supreme importance, and with a prophetic hope[ulness that regards the higher devclopnwnt of it as one of the grandest features of the i<leal future. 202 THE EPIS'l'LE '1'0 'l'HE EPHESIANS. [cH. IV. 1-32,