The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 273

account of personal distinctions so as to draw any line between bond and free, if the distinctions dwelt on by men were of no account with him the truth tended to annihilate the distinctions. Here was a great Leveller before whom high and low, rich and poor, bond and free, were absolutely undistinguishable. It is this primary truth of all men having equa.l rights before the Supreme which has led in time to all men having equal rights before enlightened law, as for example in Britain, and which has secured the emancipation of men from meaningless distinctions. The method taken by Christianity has thus been to bring unmeaning distinctions into the light of God's countenance, and when men realize that he disregards them, they are sure to see eye to eye with him in the end. It is by reason, not by force, that the emancipation is accomplished. Ill. 'l'HEY WERE ASKED TO SERVE EA0H OTHER FOB THE IIIGHER MASTER'S SAKE. Mutual service for God's sake was the ideal set before masters and slaves by the gospel. For God himself became incarnate," not to be ministered unto, but to minister." He came to show that "it is better to give than to receive." He came to consecrate service, to glorify devotion to another's welfare. When masters and slaves learn this, their relations will contract a cordiality, and be mutually helpful in a degree impossible otherwise. The gospel has thus quenched tyrannies by the dazzling light of God's unsuspected juijtice. There was wisdom in the arrangement. Another policy would have disorganized society and brought evils greater than existed. Onesimus goes back io Philemon to be a son in his house rather than a slave, and to help his master in his progress home to the common Master in heaven. Patiently waiting in his spiritual freedom and doing his part, he can assure himself that the political emancipation will be realized in due season.-R. M. E. Vers. 10-24.-The Christian panopl,y. After having treated Christian morals so carefully and shown how Christianity elevates the individual, the family, and the slave, Paul proceeds, in the close of this remarkable Epistle, to speak of the enemies and the arms of a Christian. Life is seen to be a battle. 'l'he enemies are manifold. It is not flesh and blood against which we fight. We leave the carnal warfare to the world. We contend against" the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places " (Revised Version). These foes are of a spiritual character-false principles and their advocates, whether men in flesh and blood or demons in their invisible might. So that the Christian .finds himself confronted by a most serious host, perhaps not in very strict order of battle, yet mobbed together into perplexing power. How is one to withstand the assault of so many? There is but one way, by becoming "strong in the Lord, a.nd in the strength of his might" (Revised Version). And, blessed be his Name, he has furnished us with a complete panoply. We must put on the whole armour, that wo may withstand all the devil's wiles. Let us translate the figures into their simplicities. I. THE CHRISTIAN IS TO BE COMPACTED BY TRUTH. (Ver. 14.) In Oriental as well as Occidental warfare, the girdle or belt is all-important. It binds the soldier into a unity and makes him feel compact and firm. Now, truth, by which is meant God's truth in the man, not the man's veracity, is what gives compactness to our whole being. When Jesus is realized as the embodied "truth" (&.71.719<111, the same word as here, John xiv. 6), when he is felt to be dwelling within us, then we become a unity and strength which we could not otherwise be. Our straggled powers are united in the fear of God (Ps. lxxxvi. 11). II. THE CHRISTIAN 18 PBOTEOTED BY ENTERTAINING A SPIRIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Ver. 14.) Here again it ie the Divine" justice" coming into us and permeating our being. Now, there is no such protection for us in our contact with others as this spirit of fairness, the desire to do what is right as between man and man. If wo are able to let righteousness reign in all our relations, the hostility of men and devils will but little avail. It is to be "God-like" in a.11 our attitudes, and nothing then can harm us. Ill. THE CHRISTIAN WILL MAKE PROGRESS ONLY THROUGH ENTERTAINING AN EVANGE- LISTIC SPIRIT. (Ver. 16.) Here we have the public spirit coming to secure progress. The Christian has ceased to be self-centrecl. He cannot live the selfish life. Ho must be a missionary. The gospel of peace is to be sent round the world. In doing so he niust have somo shn.re. He makes progress by giving the evangelistic centrifugal forco EPHF.SIANS. T  THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE EPHESIANS. [CH. VI. 1-24