The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 276

age, children can render to their parents. 'l'hey should be pleased even to leavo their play to run an errand for them, They should not grudgo doing things about the house to relieve an overworked mother. Sometimes sick parents have been thrown on their children, and then it ~as been seen ~hat little hands can do. Some parents have a very hard struggle, and children may relieve them of much co.re and save them not a little expense by taking ea.re of what takes money to replace. There are some children who only think how much they can get out of their parents (do not think whether their parents can afford it, or have to want to give them). Children who wish to honour their parents will be unwilling that they should want for them, and will think how n:i,nch they can save to their parents of labour e.nd expense. (5) <Jhild.ren are to honour tr,e.ir- parents by placing oor.fideru:e i,i them. Parents and children are friends and ~ here is nothing en which friendship more hinges than confidence. Parents are i.nt:nded t~ know all that their children do, and it is wrong for children to conceal anything from rt1e::n. If they wish to undertake anything, let them ask their parents' consent. Let not"iog be done on which they would not wish their parents' eyes to rest. If they have doue m-ong, let them frankly come forward and confess their faults, and ask forgive- ness. But let there be no concealment, no artifice, no untruthfulness. Children who practise deceit on their parents are likely to form character according to one of the most detestable types. All will come to regard them with distrust. (6) Ohild1·en are to honour their par~ts by attending to their instructions. Children are to take full advantage of the provision me.de by their parents for their education; but their duty does not end there. They are to lend a ready ear to their parents when they talk to them, especially about serious subjects. They should love to hear the story of Christ and his love. They should not turn away their ear when their parents tell them what dis- positions they are to cultivate, what temptations they are to shun, what company they are to keep, what books they are to read; when they tell them to be respectful, truth- ful, honest, kind, and above all dutiful to their Father in heaven. "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy bead, e.nd chains about thy neck." Promise annexed to the fifth wm1rr.a.ndment. "Which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with thee, e.nd thou mayest live long on the earth." It is no longer the land of Canaan that is mentioned., as it was when the promise was :first given. The whole earch (not merely the heavenly Canaan) is to be regarded as the land of promise now for God's people. The promise is not to be understood as absolutely guaranteeing long life to dutiful children. For there are some who die in childhood and who have not been less exemplary than those who get. the blessing of a longer life. " The good die first," it is said, and there is truth in the saying. Some who have been early taken away have exhibited a singular sweetness and a ripeness beyond their years. Still, it is true (apart from other considerations that may come in) that long life is promised to children who honour their father and mother. And we can see how God (in his ordinary providence) works towards this end. Those who are dutiful to their parents are likely to grow up good members of society. They are not likely to b1ing their life to an untimely end in disgraceful quarrels or by crime. '!'hey are not likely to shorten their days by intemperance or by idleness. They are likely, too, to grow up good members of the Church, and may have their lives prolonged to them because of their usefulness. When Petei's life was in danger, prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him. .And his life was spared because of its felt valuableness. ~o if we interest people in us, by services rendered to them, their good wishes anJ prayers may go to our days being lengthened out for us. II. DUTY OF PABD'TS. Fatbm; are addressed; mothers might have been addressed a.s well. But one claas only being mentioned it is those who represent the others. L Seg,:itivdy. "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath." Parenti! have not a right to ~ as they please toward their children. They are responsible to him who has placed them over their children, and ~e bound to act in hie spirit. P,-,,rents provoke their children to wrath when they give them a semie of wrong. (1) By ov-;r-«,mmandment. Parents have a right to exact of their children; but there are limits to what is to be exacted of them. To heap command upon command, prohibition upon prohibition, is not to accomplish the end aimed at. When the requirement is more than can reasonably be reudered, it becomes vexatiolJl!. Tile children losu thu  CH. VI. 1-24.] TI:I.E EPISTLE TO THE EPHES[ANS. 27i