Ver. 4.-Wa;rni11g against mibecoming speech. '''Neither· filthiness nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks," J. 'l'HERE ARE TITREE VARIETIES OF UNEDIFYING SPEECH. 1.. "Filthiness:"· This term, tho_ugh_ refcrr!ng to_ acts as much as words, points espec!ally to that obscenity of speech which 1s so disgustrng to the moral sense of man. It 1s proof of a.corrupt heart--for "out-of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh "-and,-more tha1i'anything else, makes the tongue "a fire, a world of iniquity," even "set on fire ·o{ hell." 2... Foolish tai.king." Thi.sis the talking that will have many idle wo_rds to answer for at the day of judgment (Matt. xii. 36). It is more than mere _random gossip; it is the talk of fools which is folly and sin; it includes " corrupt speech'' ( eh. iv. 29), It· i_s aimless, sen.sele..,<s, fri.-olous ulk. Our talk ought to be full of reason and purpose, and bright 'llith happy suggestion. 3. "Jesting." The apostle does not condemn the ple:L-;antry which lends such a grace and joy to conversation, but the wit that is allied to lewdness, brimming over in: doullle entendres, and tending to demoralization. IL TB1i APOSTLE'S JUDG~"T UPON THESE KINDS OF SPEEOH. "Which are not con- venient." 1. They a.--e not so in themselves, for the character of impropriety essentin,lly attaches to each of them. 2. They are not so in the speakers, who incur a: still deeper reproach and prepare for themselves a grover jndgment. 3. They are not so for the hearers, who, though they may be amused for the moment; are not profited, but rather debased by such conversation. , • • :• III. THE RIGHT USE OF THE TONGUE. "Giving· of thanks." Christian cheerfulness ought to express itself, not in buffooner:(or levity, but in thanksgiving and praise'. We have much to be thankful for in our daily lot, and the thought of the indulgent. kindness which supplies all our need ought to repress anything like foolish or scurrilous discourse. The langnage of. thankfulness will: minister grace to the hearers.-T. C. Ver. 6.-Diuine W'T'ath upon disobedience. It was necessary for the apostle to mark the true nature and real end of impurity in all its manifestations. "Let no man deceive yon with vain worcls." ·, L IT IS ~O 'm."'C'SU AL EXPElllE..'<'CE FOR WI=D MEN NOT TO SEE THE WICKEDNESS OF THEIR ACTS. The heathen regarded moral purity as a thing i!1dilferent, and many of their moral guides palliated sorue of the worst features of pagan.sensuality. They argueci, as 50me have argued in modem times with a wicked levity of purpose, that ElllS of imprairy have their origin and their justification in the very constitution of our nature, that thev ace not inconsistent with many social virtues, and that they are not injurious to others. It is one of the blindiDg effects of sin that men do not see their sin u throuuh the iroorance 0 that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart'' (eh. iv. 18f II. IT IS A ?dL~TAKE TO SUPPOSE THAT THE WRATH OF GOD IS LIBITED TO TflE PilEBENT LIFE, and is merely entailed through the connection established by the Divine government between sin and suffering. 'fhere is such a connection written i11 the physical constitution of man. Sinners often in this life receive in themselves "that recompense of their error which is meet" (Rom. i. 27), 'l'be drunkard is punished here in broken health, in loss of substance, reputation, and happiness. But we arc not to suppose that the laws of Providence which ensure these results exhaust the fulness of Divine wroth against sin. Scripturo tells UR plainly that sins of impurity entail exclusion "from the kingdom of Christ and of God " (ver. 5); that he will judge whoremonger11 and adulterers (Heh. xiii. 5), and that "the abominable, ancl murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall havo their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone" (Rev. xxi. 8).-T. C,
.'" er. 7 .-¶twn fr(Jffl erm. The apostle counsels believers not to be partakers with siLnr:r;;. That is, in their sins, not their punishment. We are here taught- 1. 'lll.AT lT IS pc,,,~'lllLE FOR BY.LJEVEP.S TO PABTAKl: (J}' Tin 81!\6 OF OTflEilS. 'l'hey OII, V, 1-33,] THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE EPHESIANS. 211J