The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 221

where make to us, especially the ministers of Christ "set for the defence of the gospel" (Phil. I. 17); and yet more especially our fathers and teachers in Christ, throucrh whom we have received the word of our salvation, and on whose fidelity and efficiency our spiritual life so largely depends. The interests of our own Church in its special circum- stances as known to us; the larger necessities of associated Churches, of the Church in our own land, in its colonies and dependencies abroad, in other Christian nations; the necessities of missionary Churches amongst the heathen, and of the sheep of Christ that are "scattered abroad" unshepherded; the great cause of the kingdom of Christ in the earth, connected as it is with everything that concerns the progress and welfare of mankind; the claims of "kings, and all that are in authority;" of those in "sorrow, trouble, need, sickness, or any other adversity;" the wants of "all sorts and conditions of men," and especially of our kinsfolk, friends, and neighbours ;-all these demand our intercession and seem to say unitedly, "Withal praying for us also!" In particular, and on behalf of the gospel, the apostle desires the Colossians to pray (1) that he may have "an open door to speak the mystery of Christ" (ver. 3). The world will not willingly open its door to Christ. It will leave him to "stand at the door and knock" (Rev. iii. 20). It has "no room for him" (Luke ii. 7) when he comes to be its guest.. Much bas yet to be done to "prepare the way of the Lord." But "the prayer of fai tb" can" remove mountains," and open doors that a.re fast shut. Obstructions and prejudices a.re to be broken down; hindrances political and material, intellectual and sentimental, to the progress of Christian truth, are to be overcome. "Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and bill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall becomn straight, and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God" (Luke iii. 4-6). And this is to be effected, in great measure, by the prayers of" God's elect" (Luke xviii. 7), even as the walls of Jericho fell at the shout of Israel (Josh. vi. 1-20). (2) But the open door is of little use unless the Ohurch is prepared to enter it. Never, perhaps, were there in the world so many "open doors set before" the Church as there are now, with so few comparatively who are able and willing to enter them. Favouring circumstances-liberty to preach and teach, a waiting people, a willing audience,-all is vain without some one to "speak the word," and to speak it fitly. "How shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. x. 14). And bow shall they hear unto salvation if the preacher speaks feebly, or coldly, or confusedly, without" the demonstra- tion of the Spirit and of power"? (3) The apostle had laboured long e.nd with extra- ordinary success," more abundantly than they all" (1 Cor. xv. 10); and yet felt his need of the constant renewal of the Divine anointing. Again and again be acknowledges his dependence on the prayers of the Church (Rom. xv. 30-32; 2 '1.'hess. iii. 1, 2, etc.). Nay, even Christ himself sustained his human :strength of soul by the constant refreshment of prayer, and sought, in the crisis of his e.n?,"Uish, the watchful sympathy of his disciples (Luke v. 16; John xi. 41; Matt. xxvi. 38). How much more is this needful for us! That m_inistry alone can be spiritually pure and strong which is drawn from secret fountains of prayer, and which commands the sympathetic intercession of all prayerful hearers. II. THE CHRISTIAN'S BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS MEN OF THE WORLD, (Vers. 5, 6.) 1. "Walk in wisdom," says the apostle," towards those without" (ver. 5). Nowhere is Christian wisdom more needed, and nowhere is it seen to greater advantage, thau in dee.ling with worldly men. "Be ye therefore wise as serpents," says the Saviour, in sending bis dis- ciples on their mission to the world (Matt. x. 16). It is not necessary that "the sons of this world should be wiser for their own generation than the sous of light" (Luke xvi. 8). 'l'his wisdom, while resting on a knowledge of God and of Christian truth (eh. i. !! ; ii. 2, 3), and furnished out of his Word (eh. iii. 16; Matt. xiii 52), requires a practical knowledge of men and things. It" cometh down from above," being "asked of God" (Jas. i. 5, 17; iii. 13-18), and is "pure, peaceable, and gentle;" but it has to be practised in a human world and in the service of men as they are; and therefore it must be discerning, well-informed, and practical. The Christian should not be inferior to any man in his own walk of life in the knowledge of his business and of the duties of his secular position, Indeed, his earnestness e.ud diligence, his calmness of temper, and fairness of judgment, and soundness of conscience, and finer sympathies, will usually give him an advantage amongst his fellows: "Godliness is profitable unto all things" (l Tim. iv. 8), How often earnest attempts to do good miscarry for want of juclgmeut,  218 THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. (en. rv. 1-18.