touched with meekness and humility, 3. Tl1e measure., of this hnowled,7e. "That ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will." 'l'here is no limit assigner! to it. (1) We cannot rest with mere rudiments; we must be "filled with all knowledge" (Rom. xv. 14). (2) Thero will alwnys be something wanting in this life. "We know in part" (l Cor. xiii. 11). (3) Nothing but the knowledge of the will of God will ever satisfy the deep hunger of man's heart. 4. Motives to this fuller knowledge. (1) It is the glory of the saints to have it (Jer. ix. 24). (2) It is their special privilege to have iC (Mark iv. 11.) (3) To want it is a sin and a sorrow (Hosea. iv. 6). (4) It is the roost excellent of all knowledge; for it is eternal life itself (John xvii. 3). 5. Design of this lcnowledge. "'l'o walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing by the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to the power of his glory, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyful- ness." 'l'he design is twofold as it bears respectively upon action and upon sufferjng. (1) The knowledge of God's will is to influence conduct. Its true end is practical obedience. We are "to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing." (a) Walking worthy of the Lord. This is not (a) with a worthiness of merit, for we are all of us unprofitable servants (Luke xvii. 10); (fJ) but with a worthiness of meekness such as is becoming when we consider the dignity of our calling, the glory of the kingilom of God, the supplies of grace which the gospel affords, and the blessed hopes laid up for us in heaven. ("Y) It is a worthiness "unto all pleasing." We must "so serve God that we may please him" (Heb. xii. 28; 1 Cor. vii. 31). (i.) He that seeks not to please him in all things seeks not to please him in anything. (ii.) If we please him he will make our very" enemies at peace with us" (Prov. xvi. 7). (iii.) "Men-pleasing" is inconsistent with God-pleasing (eh. iii. 22). (iv.) It would be sinful and ungrateful to displease him. (v.) Pleasing God is the work of heaven (Ps. ciii. 20, 21). (b) A twofold aspect of worthy walking. (a) Christian fruitfulness. "Bearing fruit in every good work.'' (i.) The necessity of it. (a) It is for God's glory (John xv. 18). (b) As a proof of our faith (Jas. ii. 18, 26). (c) The edification of others (Matt. v. 16; 'l'itus iii. 8). (d) The increase.ofour final reward (2 John 8). (ii.) The means of it. (a) We must abide in the true Vine, Jesus Christ (John xv. 4; Phil. i.). (b) We must dwell beside the rivers of water (Ps. i. 3). (iii.) The extent of it-"in every good work." We must be harmoniously developed in our obedience as in our inward experience (Phil. iv. 8). (fJ) Increase in moral stature-" increasing by the knowledge of God.'' We grow in grace just as we grow in knowledge (2 Pet. iii. 18). There is a mutual interaction between knowledge and grace. We are to add to our faith virtue, and to our virtue knowledge (2 Pet. i. 5), just as we are to grow in all spiritual graces 'by knowledge. Knowledge promotes the sanctification of our callings and our food (1 'l'im. iv. 3), enables us to discern things that differ (Phil. i. 10), and keeps down corrupt affections (Isa. xi. 7, 9). (2) The knowledge of God's will tends to strengthen patience in suffering. (a) The need of abounding strength-" strengthened with all might." (a) 'l'he afflictions of life tend to weaken us. (fJ) Our adversaries are many. ("Y) Our faith is fitful. (6) We are often unsettled and tossed about by the wind of contrary doctrine (Eph. iv. 14). ( e) We are, perhaps," babes in Christ," and unskilful in the word of righteousness (Heb. v. 12, 13). (b) The source of our strength-" accord- ing to the power of his glory ; " his glory being the manifestation of his love to man (Eph. iii. 16). We "can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us" (Phil. iv. 13). He "giveth strength to his people" and "strength is of the Lord" (Ps. lxii. 11). "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength" (Isa. xl. 31). "Glorious power will be victorious power." It is God's revelation of himself to us that gives us our greatest strength. It is his glory that sets his power to work, as it is by promise ,pledged to his people. Therefore: (a) Let us pray for knowledge and faith to discern God's promise and power (Eph. i. 8). (fJ) Let us hold fast the truth of the gospel, eschewing "winds of doctrine." Let us "follow the truth in love." ( c) The fruit of our strength-" unto • patience and long-suffering with joyfulness." (a) Patience or endurance. (i.) It is the grace which does not easily succumb under suffering, and is one of the most blessed fruits of the tree of life. It is the result of the bracing effect of affliction (Jas. v. 11), and is opposed to despondency or cowardice. (ii.) Our patience will grow (a) through the word of patience, for the comforts of tho Scriptures beget both patience and hopo (Rom. x.v. 4). (b) Wo must cultivate ;1 l:12 THE EPISTLE TO '.l'HE COLOSSIANS. [err. 1. 1-20,
humble and constant trust in the Lord (Ps. xxxvii. 3). (c) ,vo must continue insta~t. in prayer (Rom. xii. 12). (/J) _Long-su~ering is a temper of gentleness and self- restramt, closely connected with patience. (1.) It is the Lord's command that wo 6houhl suffer long (Matt. v. 21, 22). (ii.) There are injuries that befall us in Divine rrovidcnce (2 Sam. xvi. 10). (iii.) A revengeful spirit is a hindrance to prayer (1 Tim. i ,. S) and t.cdhe due power of the Word (Jas. i. 21), and it lets the devil into the heart (Eph. iv. 21). Therefore, let us practise this grace of long-sufferino-, (-,,) Joyfulness, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." It is possible to be II s~rrowful yet al way rejoicing" (2 Cor. vi. 10). (i.) Our patience and long-suffering must be bal~nced with joy so as to sustain their true temper. (ii.) It is possible to be joyful in tribulations (Jas. i. 2). (iii.) It is commanded by Christ (Matt. v. 12) and enforced by his own example on the cross (Heb. xii. 2). (iv.) Its ground is our fello,vship with Christ in i,is sufferings (1 Pet. iv. 13), and the expectation of a heavenly inheritance (Heb, x:. H). (v.) It is one of the fruits of God's Spirit (Gal. v. 22).-T, C.