Ver. 19.-The duties of husband,. "Husba.nds1 love your wives, and h.e no~ bitter against them." OH. IH. 1-25.] nm EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 177
I. THE DU'rY O\I' LOVE. ThiR love, which is con~istent with his he:vlship over her implies: 1. That he is to delight in her (Prov. v. 18, 19), and plcnse her (1 Cor. vii. 33)'. 2. That he is to cherish her a.~ Christ the Church (~~ph. v. 29), providinrr for her support and comfort (1 Tim. v. 3). 3. That he is to pmtect her as the weaker"'vessel. 4. 'l'h_at he js not to b~ bitter against her, using Litter words _or sour looks, ncting rigoro11sly or 1mpenously, as 1f she were a slave and not a eompamon. 5. That he is to seek l.~r spiritual good, for she is to be an heir with him of the grace of life. (1 Pet. iii. 7.) II. THE REASONS OF THIS DUTY. 1. The intimacy of the relationship between them. He leaves father and mother to cleave to his wife. She is bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh (Eph. v. 28, 29, 33). 2. She was originally provided as a help-meet for him. (Gen. ii. 18.) "Yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covcna11t" (Mai. ii. 14). 3. She is the glory of the man. (1 Cor. xi. 7.) 4. The strongest argument is the u.nalogous love of Christ to his Church. (l~ph. v. 25-28.)-T. C.
Ver. 20.-Tlie duties of children. "Children, obey your parents in all things: fur this is well-pleasing to the Lord." I. TIIE DUTY OF CHILDREN IS OBEDIENCE. This includes: 1. Reverence. (Lev. xix. 3; Eph. vi. 1, 2.) 2. Readiness to receive instruction from parents. (Prov. i. 8.) 3. Sub- missfon to their rebulces. (Prov. xiii. 1.) 4. Gratitude. (1 Tiro. v. 4.) 5. Submission tu their J°ust commands. '!'hey are to obey "in all things," that is, in all lawful things, for it must be done "in the Lord " (Eph. vi. 1). II. Tm: GROUNDS OF THIS DUTY. "For this is well-pleasing to the Lord." This i~, in itself, a suflicicnt reason for filial obedience. But it is well-pleasing to the Lord for several reasons. It is not enough to serve God, but we must serve him so as to please him (Heb. xiL 28). 1. It is agreeable to his Law. (Exod. xx. 12.) 2. It is right in itself. (Eph. vi. 1.) 3. Christ was obedient to his parents. (Luke ii. 51.) 4. It is necessary to the good order of family life. 5. The welfare of the child depends upon its obedience, especially at a time when it cannot reason upon what is right.-T. C.
Ver. 21.-The duties of fathers. "Fathers, provukc not your chi!<lrca, lest tlwy be discouraged." I. 'l'HE DUTY OF PARENTS. It is l1ere exhibited on its negative shle. They are not to abuse their authority over their children by too great severity either in words or deed~. Some parents spoil their children by indulg,mce; others, by unwise severitie~. Bitter words are used, unreasonable commands are given, immoderate co1Tec1 ion is administere,1. Parents are to behave lovingly to their children, e\'en whilo maintaining their just authority over them. II. 'l'BE DANGER 0\1' NEEDLESS HARSH~"ESS. "Lest th~y be discour~getl." '!'hey m:iy lose heart; their spirit may be broken; they may become morose, sullen, nn·l reckless. Thus they may be turned aside from the service of Goel, lose the capacity to do great things, become pusillanimous, and eventually become a sa<l disappointment to their parcnts.-T. C.
Vere. 22-25.-The duties of servants. The arostle enters into fuller detail in his injunctions to servants, because his intercourse with Onesimns, a Colossi:m slave now returning to his master Philemon in a new clmractcr, had turned his tl1011ghts to tho condition and difficulties of the whole cla!'S of dependants. His injunctions to them imply that they had a right to bo instructed out of the Word, and that if men have less consideration for their interests, the Lord redoubles his concern for them. There wa:1 a danger that slaves in the Roman empire might rcpndiato their relation to their masters, and accordingly the apostle enjoins the duty of obedience to masters, while he annouuce:1 principles destined ultimately to destroy the unnatural relation. I. 'l'HE FAULTS OF SEUVANTS. He specifics five of them. 1. Eye-service. '!'here was l\ temptation to this fault where the master's authority was regarded M unjust an,l cruel. 2. Hypocritical service, arisin~ out or a divided interest an(l the abs,·nce of singleness of heart. 3. Half-service. Scrvnnts might not please their masters "in all things," but in such thiug:1 ns pleased themsclv .. s. 4. Godlessness. 'l'bcy chose to please mtr1 rather than the Divine Master. 5. .A base and discouraged .•pirit, wl.i0h wa.s to be banished by prospects of hol\vcnly reward. CDL0SSlA)':S, N li8 THE EPISTLE TO '1.'B.E COLOSSIANS. [011. m. 1-25.