תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

ness.

[ocr errors]

dying and rising again, “die unto sin, and live unto righteousNot lying, but truth-not malice, but love-not wrath, but self-government-not a hand that takes, but a hand that gives-not a mouth that corrupts, but a mouth that edifies-not a tongue that repeats, but a tongue that suppresses a slandernot a heart that grieves the Holy Spirit, but a heart that receives him-these are the practical proofs, the visible signs, that a Christian has "put on Christ;" and without these he cannot be a new creature.

How do we appear, tried by this severe, this plain test? The solution of the question cannot be difficult. The truth must be clear-the evidence palpable-the fact obvious. It is a point upon which we cannot be mistaken, a matter in which we ought not to be misinformed. We must know what our life is. We can easily ascertain, by self-examination, whether we are living unto God, or living in a state of sin. And let us never forget, as a most urgent reason for making the inquiry, that unless we thus learn, thus seek, thus practise Christ, we cannot be saved.

THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

THE EPISTLE. Ephes. v., 15 to 21.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

The Apostle here shows, that it is wisdom to seek the Lord, and to work out, in all the ways appointed, the principles of the Gospel. He advises his brethren to "redeem the time,"-to indulge not in "excess" of wine, but to desire a full measure of the Spirit, to "sing and make melody in their hearts to the Lord," to "give thanks always for all things to God and the Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ," and to “submit themselves one to another in the fear of God." And this, he assures them, will be wisdom, no less than duty and happiness.

It will be a sign, that they "walk circumspectly, not as fools but is wise," a sign that they "are not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

We will notice each of the Apostle's exhortations in order,and in showing how much it must be for the interest of believers to obey them, show that there can be no greater wisdom than the wisdom of living as a Christian. First, then, we are warned to "redeem the time." And what does this imply? Does it not imply that we make so very holy and spiritual a use of the time remaining to us, as thereby almost to bring back and recover the time past to replace the time wasted, and to revive the time departed? And why should this increased diligence and watchfulness in the management of so precious a talent, be not only wise, but necessary? Because "the days are evil;" time is short; life is uncertain; sickness may be near; death may come; and then the opportunity of living unto God will be gone for ever. "Whoso is wise will observe these things'," and "redeem the time." At the judgment-seat of Christ we must give an account of the use we have made of our time; and woe be unto us, if the only account we can give is an account that condemns us, and deprives us of all plea for mercy. We shall be sure to find, if we look back, that our time has been greatly wasted. It will be wisdom, then, while there is time, to retrace our steps, retrieve our characters, and recover our lost ground. Not to do so will be, on the other hand, the greatest folly, for it will assure to us all the misery that has ever been reserved for sin. And can we ever put our time to a better use than the use of our souls? Exercising them unto godliness-obtaining for them help from above-furnishing them with the riches of Christian knowledgeuniting them to Christ their Redeemer by faith-constraining them to perform holy duties by the persuasion of holy motiveswe shall double the value of the talent committed to us, heap up treasures of happiness for the last days, and make a wise provision for the hour of death.

It will be a further proof of true Christian wisdom to "be filled with the Spirit," and so to "be filled with the Spirit," that not one work of the flesh shall find entrance into the heart or into the life. And this course will be true Christian wisdom, because a harvest of corruption will be the result in the one case, and a harvest of life everlasting the result in the other. "He that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; and

1 Ps. cvii., 43.

[ocr errors]

he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting'." He, then, who would escape a death infinitely worse than mere temporal death, and find, in the infinite love and mercy of a Redeemer, hope of life everlasting, must shun "excess of wine," and every other carnal excess that hurts the soul, and ministers to sin. He must in future take this method of effectually redeeming his hitherto lost time,-and become so "filled with the Spirit," that he shall not be able to find place of entrance, much less liberty of action in his soul, for any sensual appetite. So completely will he be occupied with heavenly things, so wholly engrossed with the care of his soul, that he will not find room or space for even a thought of evil. He who once suffered many evil affections to have dominion over him, will now be so strong in faith, that not even one shall prevail. May our recollections be of carnal excess done away, of all fleshly enemies vanquished! May our experiences be of plenteous overflowings of love, of abundant joys in the Lord! And then, our anticipations will be, and we shall never be deceived, of mercy inexhaustible, of glory everlasting, of most unsearchable, most plenteous redemption!

We shall also do wisely to employ some of our time in "singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord." This was ever an occupation of holy men, and is an occupation, in a spiritual point of view, not less prudent than pleasant, not less calculated to chase away evil than afford full enjoyment of good. The theme of the Christian's melody will of course be Jesus. And what theme can be so elevating, or so full of glory? While other songs are on carnal subjects and of frivolous tendency, the Christian "sings the songs of Zion," and sweetly do they beguile the time, while he dwells "in a strange land:" for they pertain to things imperishable and eternal. While the drunkard roars in the disquietude of his heart, the believer, in the timely exercise of psalmody, chases all disquietude away. While the worldly man knows not how to occupy an hour placed, accidentally, at his disposal, the believer finds time all too short for a contemplation, of which he never wearies. And does he not, when thus employed, make that a pleasure which many deem a labour? And does he not, perchance, when thus employed, take momentary part in a song which never ceases above?

1 Gal. vi., 8.

2 See the effect of David's melody upon Saul, 1 Sam. xvi., 23.

Another proof of wisdom on the part of the believer, and one most closely connected with that of which we have been speaking, is a habit of thankfulness. And ought not habitual thankfulness to be a result of habitual obligation? Ought not, in fact, the whole life to be a perpetual living thanksgiving? And what so meet, right, and completely a bounden duty, as to live to the glory of God, and to do so in a manner which shall be acceptable, through the grace of Jesus Christ? And how humbling is it to think, that even our praises and tokens of thankfulness require a Mediator to make them acceptable? And yet, if it be necessary, will it not be wise thus to offer them? For, surely, upon the manner of performing even a holy duty, must in a great measure depend its use, value, and profitableness, in the sight of God. And surely, if blessings are to be continued, they deserve to be acknowledged. Let "God in all things be glorified through Jesus Christ'." "By him let us offer the sacrifice of praise continually."

But it will be truly wise on the part of every faithful Christian, not to neglect the duties of social life: for God, to be served acceptably, must be served fully. He permits us not to be so wholly absorbed with acts of devotion, as to forget what we owe to one another. Yea, rather, he deems it an act of duty to himself to fulfil every obligation of social life, and to fulfil it in his fear and unto his glory. And we shall to a certain extent fulfil it, if we are respectful to our worldly superiors, notwithstanding any greater growth in grace on our part, and kind to our worldly inferiors, notwithstanding any worldly or spiritual superiority. And if any lack the wisdom that should guide the soul amid these difficulties, "let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith nothing wavering3." 3 James i., 5, 6.

1 ] Pet. iv., 11.

2 Heb. xiii., 15.

HE ONE AND TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

THE EPISTLE. 10 My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of right

eousness;

15 And your feet shod with the

Eph. vi., 10 to 20.

preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

[ocr errors]

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel. 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The sum and substance of this portion of Scripture is its opening statement, which is, that the Christian, if he would be defended from the formidable enemies opposed to him, must take unto him that strength of the Lord which is omnipotent. The Apostle then proceeds to point out who those enemies are, and in what consists their formidable character, and devotes the remaining portion of his observations to a description, in figurative language, of the spiritual aids and succours with which the Lord supplies his people. His main aim, however, is to show, both in figurative and plain language, that the Christian, in his encounter with his soul's enemies, must rely on the Lord, and on the Lord alone, for defence and protection.

First, then, who are the Christian's enemies? The Apostle says, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." It is not, then, with man only that we wrestle, with one who is like ourselves, whose voice we hear, whose shape we see, whose strength we understand, whose character we know, whose device we penetrate. It is not with one only that we wrestle, whose manner of life is manifest, and in whose nature we all parti

« הקודםהמשך »