but in all ,'ts richness. We are to receive it in all wisdom, that is, in all wise appre- hension of its meaning, and not in the way of false interpretation. 2. Christian song. In Ephesians this is introduced as a counteractive of false excitement as one of the manifestations of a true excitement of the Spirit. Here it is introduced 'as the result of the indwellin2; of the Word of Christ. It was out of no cold heart, but out of a heart of summer gladness, that the \Vord of Christ came, and, received into us it wells up in all joyful feelings which find expression in song. (1) Re11ponsive song. ' "Teachino- and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual son"s." 'l'h~ historic psalms and other compositions used in the service of praise which"are called hymns, fall under the head of" spiritual songs." In Ephesians the idea of responsivenesH was brought out in the words" speaking one to another." Here it is said more definitely "teaching and admonishing one another." The principal purpose of song is to enliven. Ilnt the apostle here teaches, that it is not aside from its principal purpose to teach and admonish. And this subsidi~ry didactic, monitory purpose it is fitted to serve from its being the outcome of the Word of Christ. (2) Silent song. "Sin.,ino- with grace in your hearts unto God." This singing is only in the ear of God. Our ~tLer exercises arc heard by God too. For it is said, "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it." But this is for self-edification, with God as the only listener. It is singing with grace, not with gracefulness, but with the grace that preserves from vanity, from extravagance, and enriches with all Christian elements. IV. THE CnRrsTIAN FORM OF SPEAKING AND ACTING. "And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus." '!'his, like the others, is associated with Christ. His being called "Jesus" points to his having been a sp<iaker and doer in human nature himself. The meaning is, not that we are formally to invoke the Name of Christ in connection with our speaking and doing. But they are to be according to the rules laid down by Christ and as unto Christ. They will thus be redeemed from all mere naturalness and all sinful elements that mix with them, and will have a richness as from the Word of Christ. "Giving thanks to God the Father through him." 'l'his is again the refrain of the Epistle, with a certain prominence. Our thanksgivings are ·to be unto the Father. We are to give thanks through Christ as Mediator. It is only through him that we have leave to thank God. It is only through him that we have anything to thank God for. It is through him that all the blessings of salvation come to us; and so it is through him that we are to thank God for them.-R. F.
Ver. 18--ch. iv. !.-Relative duties. The two considerations on which the apostle's treatment of the relative duties here seems to be based are these: 1. The position of authority is also rel,a,tively, by Divine constitution, the stronger position. 2. Christ is to be regarded as represented in the position of authority. 'l'hroughout the paragrnph he is designated in respect of his authority. That there may be no doubt about the reference, it is expressly stated, in the twenty-fourth verse, that Christ is Lord. I. WIVES A?rn nusBANDS. 1. Wives. "Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord." The wife has the weaker position. "The weaker vessel" is the language used by Peter. She is more delicately constituted, and is not so fitted t-0 fi"lit her way in the world. She is made to lean upon her husband, and therefore it is fittin"' that in her duty she should fall into a certain subordination to him. This is not o~ly fitting in itself, but it is fitting in the Lord. That is to say, it is Christ who is over her in her husband. If, then, she is a Christian wife, she has more than her husband to regard in the relation. She will be willing to be directed by Christ in her ]rnsband. 2. Husbands. "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." The husband (" band of the house") has the stronger position. He is more robustly c0netituted. He has a bolder judgment. And so the controlling power has been placed in him. Dut that does not point to his using it for selfish ends. Christ, as the Head of the Clrnrch, as is brought out in Ephesians, used his position only to love the Church :,nd to give himself up for it.a deliverance. So it !B t~e duty of the husband, as the represeutative of Christ in the relation, to love his wife and to protect her weakness with his strength. lie is not to be a despot, putting bitterness into his strength against his wife ;-that would be utterly inconsistent with acting in the Name of CbrM. orr. m. 1-25.J THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 189