The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 262

R-~nts. an,i their p.~nts bronght t.hem up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, ln.,i.'s b!,,,:sing would mit on their efforts and all wonld he well. But if the npostle did nN ~!'<'-'lk to children in the modern fushion, it is all the more importnnt to notice an,i. p,,:ider t.he m=-"6-.e which he actually gives them. I. l)UTY OF CHILDREN. 1. 7b obey. 2. 1'o honour their panmts. The reasons nre- (1) it is right; (2) it is a commandment; (3) it is the first of tho commnndments with a promise; (4) that promise gives expectation of long life and prosperity. In ,,uc of t-hc best books of the early Church, written by one of its greatest men-' The C0nfessions' of St. Augustine-there is a chapter in which he humbly confesses his disob~~ience as a ~y, in neglecting his lessons, and going to see games and sights in oppos1tion to the wishes of his parents. Long after, when he came to be a Christian, the thought haunted and distressed him until, confessing it, and laying it on Jesus, he obt.ained the mercy and forgiveness of God. Long life among the Jews was a token of the Divine favour, and it seems to have been an emblem of the life to come. We need not count in all cases on a literal fulfilment of the Jewish promise; but we may rest assured that a spirit of honour to our parents tends to make our earthly lot better and brighter, and will have some recognition likewise in the life that is to come. II. DUTY OF PAREn"S. 1. Negativdy. Not to provoke or irritate their children. But : 2. Positively, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In the Old Testament, Samuel, and in the New Testament, Timothy, are samples or chilJ.ren so brought up. The Lord's command is," Bring up this child for me, and I will pay thee thy wages." What infinit-ely precions results depend on the execution c,f these rn-o precepts! E,ery well-trained Christian household is a nnrsery or all that .en~ to bie;,s the world; while disorderly and unchristian families are hotbeds of vice :me. ffil. The prayer of the hundred and forty-fourth psalm is never out of date : " That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; our daughters as corner- swnes, polished after the similitnde of a palace. . . . Happy is that people that is in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord." Vers. 5-9.-Duties o/ servants and masters. I. DUTY OF BEBVAN'l'II. Recognized as constitnrnt members of the Church, and, however little esteemed by man, as greatly regarcied by God. In Christ all are brethren, for all are brothers of Christ, therefore of one another. I. The duty of servants is obedience. Qualities of the obedience. (1) With fear and trembling (see Exposition); (2) in singleness of heart; (3) as unto Christ and not to men; (4) not with eye-service, but as servants of Christ; (5) doing the will of God from the heart; (6) with good will. 2. The reward of good service. Whatsoever good you do, yon shall receive of the Lord,; he will repay you. We are apt to be jealous of this doctrine. It seems to undermine free grace. But no; sal,ation is wholly of grace; but one feature of grace is that, when you receive it a~d act on it, it begets, as it were, another !Aft of grace. If by grace the servant obey rn the Lorrl, a further act of grace will follow• the obedience rendered will be rewarded ' a!Jd blessed. Better this surely than any amount of earthly re'?fdi "God.1s not llilr.;rhceoUB ro fornd" the faithful work of those who remember him above all other. IL DtrrY O F ~ (1) Do the same things to them, observe their rights and do as you would be done by; (2) forbear t.hreatening. Reasons fo~ this. (a) You have a Master al.so, One in heaven., who oversees all you do; (b) there is no respect of persons with him. One or the great problems of the day is how to impregnate the relations of master and servant with the Christian spirit, and carry into effect the aim of such passages as this. "\Ve do not refer particularly to domestic service, for a servant, by entering a house, becomes in a sense a member of the family, and is thereby bound to fall in with the family order. The difficulty lies mainly with the case of large bodies of men working under a single employer. The problem is too intricate to be discussed here. But both masters and men need to beware of offending Christ by a bitter and unreasonable spirit. Occasions for glorifying God by the manifestation of a noble Christian spiri~ may become occasions for letting out the selfishness of the car1;1al heart. Yet, comphcate,\ t~o1;1gh the que~tion is, it is probable that the tru~ solut10n_ would be reached by all Christian men 1f the spirit of this text were earned out, 1f both masters o.ncl men tric<l to du all as to the Lord and not to men, and to esteem his approval the very bigh~st reward to which they could look. OH, VI. 1-2-1.] '.l'Il.E EP1STLE 'l'O 'l'llE J<;l'IIESIANS. 26.::