The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 291

invasion; it ie to conquer all other 60uls to Christ, and the weapon is the "Word of God." '!'hie ie the sword by which the Christian soldier has to cut his way from soul to soul through the wholo world: "For the Word of Goo, is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword," etc. (Heb. iv. 12). God's Word is the truth that slays error, the love that slays- selfishness, the right that slays the wrong, the happiness that slays the misery of the world. IV. 'l'HE som.'s RELIGIOUSNESS. Religiousness, viz. a conscious dependence on God, lies at the foundation of all true soul-milit.'\ncy, A man can do nothino- ril7htly or successfully in spiritual soldiership who is not religious in the very spirit if his being. Ticligiousness is the only soil in which man's spiritual faculties can grow into heroic vigour. In materialism they wither; in mere intellectualism they are only skeletonic at best; in religiousness they are like the tree planted by the rivers of water,-their roots are in the Everlasting, they drink into them the very life of God. Religiousness, in one word, is the source that supplies the muscle and the instinct that giveM the skill in true moral warfare. It teaches our "hands to war and our fingers to fight." This religious- ness is here <lescribed by the apostle in these words," Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints," etc. These words are so true to the original and so obvious in their significance that they call for no minute examination. 'l'bcy show us how this religiousness in the soul of the true spiritual soldier is to express itself; and it is to do so: 1. In prayer. "Praying always with all prayer," or, as Ellicott bas rendered it, "with all prayer and supplication praying always in the Spirit." The words tea.eh us: (1) That the prayer is to be comprehensive. "With all prayer and supplication.n All kinds of prayer, expressed and ejaculatory, private and social. Prayer is not so much a service as a spirit, not so much an a.et as a sentiment. Hence we are com- manded to "pray without ceasing." Consciousness of dependence on God, which is tho very essence of prayer, shonld run as a living current through the whole of our life. Our whole life should be an unbroken litany, (2) 'l'hat the prayer is to be Divine. "fo tho Spirit." That is, under the influence of the Divine Spirit, who is to make inter- cessions for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. 'l'here is no true prayer that is not dictated by this Spirit. Man's great care should be to lay bis sonl open to tbo Divine. If a man would have his body crave healthily for food, be must drink in as much as possible the fresh air of God; and if he wonld have his soul cravo for spiritual food, he must breathe into bis spiritual nature the breath of the Divino. (3) '!'hat tho prayer is to be watchful. " And watching thereunto." '!'be soul bas its moral moods. It bas seasons fovourable for culture, weathers for launching out on the deop. Its duty is to watch for these moods-watch the motions of the Divine Spirit upon tho heart. Watch, as Elijah did on Carmel, for promising signs in the heavens, (4) '!'bat tho pmyer should be persevering. "With all perseverance." ,ve aro to bo instant in J)myer. Our Saviour taught tho duty of importunnto prayer in tho parable of tho "unjust judge." Importunity is needed, not to influence the Eternal to mercy, but to proparo our hearts rightly to receive his gifts. 2. In prayer for the good in general. "For all saints." 'l'ho npostlo would not have them merely to pray for thcmselve8. He who prays exclusively for himself never prays nt nil. His prayers nro but the breath of selfishness. Paul required them to pray for "all saints "-saints of every intellectual grade, of every social position, of every ecclesiastical sect, of every theo- logical school, of every kingdom and every tribe. Why for all saints? Bccauso all saints are members of the grand army battling against tho common foo-against tho "principalities of evil," etc. The more force, courage, skill, each member of an army possesses, the better for the cause, the more likely the victory in whoso ndvantagcs all participate. 'l'he battle of Christianity is a common battle-a battlo against error, wrong, and depravity everywhere. All snints are engaged in it, and they should be pro.yed for. 3. In prayer for gospel ministers in particular. "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me." Why does Paul wish them to pray for him? Is it that be might be liberated from prison? No. Ho was now, ho tolls us, an" ambassador in bonds." '!'he clanking chains of the prison hung heavily on him, and one would not have wondered ir bis first request had been to tho Ephesians to pray for his bodily deliverance. But this ho dues not. Ho is too absorbed in tho causo of Christ and universal happincs8 for thi~. What he prayed for was that ho might be cnal,Ierl  292 THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. [OH, TI, 1-24,