The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 186

that women did not get justice under the ancient regime, and yet the npost.lo exhorts the wi~cs to be in subjection to their husbands, as is fittin.,. in the Lord (Revised Version). Christianity has emphasized the pa.~sive vil'tues; it .,.lorifies woman there- fore, by showing to the world how glorious a. thing it is to be subject and even ~ suffer for love. _Apparently thi~ is to n~glect "wo!11en's rights," but really it bas secured them. It 1s m woma°: lovingly filling her s~t1on that she secures, not only her rights, but absolutely her reign, Husbands, agam, aro exhorted to give up all bitterness against their wives and to love them. Elsewhere he shows that the measure of thG husband's love is to be the love of Christ for his Church; that is, a love which cnn be self-sacrificing if need lie, and which will be considerate at all times (Eph. v. 22--33). In such a case, bow harmonious family life proves! The stroncrer and the weaker natures are blended by love into one. Each has its sphere, and th~re need be no collision amid the responsibilities of love. II. THE RELATIONS OF PARENTS TO CHILDREN. Here, again, the apostle appeals first to the weaker side. He wishes children to think bow pleasing to the Father in heaven obedience is, and, as he has put their parents over them to be obeyed, the children should obey them in all things. There is to be strict obedience in all thin"s to the natural authority. On the other hand, the fathers are exhorted not to pro~oke the children by their tyranny, lest the little ones be discouraged. Paul saw no such danger from the mother's rule. A mother comes with o. tenderness and sympathy snch a.s the harder nature of the father cannot always command. 'l'his exhortation to fathers is surely a great triumph for the mother. III. Till!: RELATIONS OF lUSTERS TO BLA VES. And here, again, Paul appeals first to the slaves. He does not encourage revolt, but the conquest which comes through loving obedience. Let the slave simply obey in the fear and love of God; let him do his work, not in a. spirit of eye-service as a pleaser of men, but in a spirit of conscientious- ness a.s a slave of Christ, and he may rest assured of compensation from his Master in due season. This is liberty-the liberty of love, even though be is still nominally a lave. It is this Christian spirit which has made its mark and won the sympathy of -be world, and issued in the emancipation of the slaves. Although Christianity ,pparently neglected the slaves, it has really been their deliverer. For what has it msisted on among the masters? On justice. Above them it has pointed out a heavenly Master, with whom there is no respect of persons, and who will do right by slave as well as by freeman, and give all their due. Tbc gospel has contended for justice as between man and man, and the world is gradually coming to it. This freedom from respect of persons which characterizes God is a terror at once to the evil-doing slave and to the evil-doing master. If we could bring the world to this, men's wrongs would soon be righted. We are coming to it, blessed be God, steadily. The Christianized household is thus seen to be a unity. Husbands and wives are united in love's best bonds. Pa.rents and children a.re united in beautiful authorities and subordinations. .And masters and servants are united as subjects and servants of the one Master in heaven. It is the one God of love, who, as he overshadows all, unifies them in a lifo of love, which is the greatest witness he can have on earth. Let us sec to it that the Christian spirit in all its beautiful and unifying power reigns in our households antl fulfils within them the work of God.-R. M. E. Vers. 1-4.-0ur risen life. "If then ye were raised together with Christ.'' At this point the apostle leaves the polemical and begins foe practical. Doctrine again forms the foundation for exhortation. As in combating asceticism he proceeded upon the fact that we were sharers with Christ in bis death, so in presenting o. substitute for asceticism, he proceeds upon the fact that we were sharers with him in bis resurrection. Our being baptized with him extended, not only to our dying with him, but also to our rising with him. I. lTs HEAVENWARD DIRECTION. 1. In its connection with Christ. "Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God." It was when we were raised with Christ that we were introduced to the things that o.re above. There, henceforth, we found our proper sphere. Our being must now ever, o.nd increasingly, tend tbitherward. '!'ho things that are above we are to seelc supremely. 'l'hey am the only things which are worthy of being Bonght in the fullest sense. Of on. m. 1-25.J THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 181