The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 243

"And now, before the word we spcok That knits the bond mon must not break, Wo fa.in would know tby mind. Lorcl, be the sweet conviction given To both thot thou thyself in hca.ven The hallowed bond host twined." It is in that spirit that it ought to be contemplatecl. Without this there can be no ~ecurity for happiness or for Christ being honoured in connection with the union formed.-R. F. Vers. 3-7.-0ovetoii.mess amongst the worst of human crima. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as bccometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which arc not convenient : but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, bath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things com,1th the wrath of· God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye there- fore partakers with them." The subject which we gather from these words is that covetousness is amongst the worst of human crimes. I. IT IS HERE CLASSED WITH CRIMES OF THE WORST OHARACTEB. There are three sins amongst which covetousness is placed in the text: unbridled licentiousness, "for- nication," and "whoremongery "-revolting_ indecency; "filthiness," that which is so un<;haste and impure as to awaken universal disgust; and immoral speech-speech that is frivolous, untruthful, obscene, profane. These are sins confessedly of enormous magnitude. All true souls recoil from ·them, all pure minds renounce them as a degra- dation of the race and an offence to Almighty God. But mark, amongst these covetous- ness is placed. It is ranked with them as related to them in moral vileness. More than this, it is singled out as worse than these-" a covetous man, who is an idolater." ·what is idolatry? Holding anything nearer to the heart th1m God. 'l'he " covetous man " loves money more than anything else, and money is his god. We here iu England are very zealous for the conversion of heathen idolaters. We create and sustain costly organizations, but thero is no idolatry morti real, more powerful, morn damning, than the idolatry that prevails throughout Engl:i.nd. What god in heathendom is more earnestly and constf)ntly served than Mammon is served in this island? Before tµe introduction of Christianity into this country there were many i<lols here. " In Scotland stood the temple of Mars; in Cornwall, the temple of Mercury; in Bangor, the temple of Minerva; at Maldon, the teD?ple _of Victoria; in Bath, the temple of Apollo; at Leicester, the temple of Janus; at York, where St. Peter's now stands, the temple of Bcllona; in London, on the site of St. Paul's Cathedral, the temple of Diana; and at W cstmillster, where the Abbey rears its venerable pile, a temple of Apollo." But Mammon now has a temple everywhere, a temple on every hill and in every valley, in every church and house. Mammon has said to England, "Thou shalt have none other gods beside me," and England heartily responds, "Amen." I!. lT IS IlEBE CLASSED WITII TIIE WORST OF CRWES, .AS EXCLUDING FROM THE KINGDOM OF Goo. "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, bath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ aml of God." From this passage may be inferred: 1. '!'bat heaven is a kingdom. Theru is rule and order there. 2. That heaven is a Divine kingdom. "Kingdom of Christ and of God." Christ reigns there. He is in tho midst of the throne; his Spirit animates all; his Spirit fills all with adoring wonder and worship. Christ reigns as God there. BcunAdq.. -roii Xp1<T-roii ,cal e.oii. Christ and God. The heavens are a king- dom managed, not by Divine partncrship,-it is governed by God in Christ. 3. That heaven excludes evil_ characters of all descriptions. How clearly and forcibly this is declared in Scripture 1-" The works of tho flesh are manifest, which are thoso; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness . . . of the which I tell you beforo, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit tho king- dom of God" (Gal. v. 19-21). "Without are dogs, and sorcerers, an<l. whoremongers, and murderers, 1md idolaters, nnd whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." \Vith the cxcludetl will ba tho covetous man. Y<1s, though he has been a member or a Christian  THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. [cu. v. 1-33.