XVIII. SERMON gained, with increasing readiness and frequency. The one particular sinful tendency mentioned by the Apostle in this place is only one example, though doubtless a most terrible example, of many sinful tendencies. He might have addrest to us words of similar exhortation, enjoining us to abound more and more in the restraint of every evil inclination. Whoever is not warring against his besetting sin, despises not man but God. If any one is tempted to vanity and self-satisfaction, and to think of himself above that which he ought to think, because, in the course of God's Providence, he has received advantages of wealth or position or intellectual ability, St Paul would say to him, This is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from pride. To another he would say, This is the will of God, that you should abstain from indolence, from self-indulgence, from luxurious living: to another, that you should abstain from frivolity, and the sinful waste of time and opportunities: to another, that you should cease to lay up treasures for yourself, but strive rather to be rich towards God: to another, that you should check your fear of man's opinion, and your desire of the world's applause. He would ask one whether he was conquering selfishness, learning to care for others rather than for himself, to meet their distresses with an open heart and a ready hand, with self-denial and gentle sympathy. He would urge another to be more punctual and conscientious in the discharge of his earthly duties, another XVIII. to abstain from flattering and deceitful words, an- SERMON other to realize more truly by his own experience the power of prayer, and of a living communion with God. In all such holy habits and practices he would tell us to abound more and more, to believe more and more practically that our life should be a constant struggle against evil, that we were sent into this world to do our Father's will, and redeemed from the power 37. of sin in order that we may be more than con- Rom. viii. querors through Him who loved us. And he would tell us all that if we are not doing this, not abounding more and more, if we are contented to remain the slaves of impurity, or selfishness, or indolence, or passion, we are despising not man only, but the Holy Spirit of God Himself. Doubtless we are also despising man, we are setting at nought those whom we wrong by positive deeds of evil, and those whom we neglect by never troubling ourselves to work deeds of good. So far we incur the guilt of injuring our brethren, and forgetting the Christian commandment to love one another, not in word only, but by active exertion, not according to our selfish estimate of our debt to others, but according to the pattern of Christ, who laid down His life for His friends. But Joh.xv.13. this we are assured is not the whole of our sin: we also wrong God, who has promised to give His Holy Luke xi. Spirit to them that ask Him, in order that they may have strength to live as Christians, to conquer themselves, and to serve their brethren. We are told elsewhere that by neglecting our Christian duty we 13. SERMON grieve God's Spirit: that we do despite to the Spirit XVIII. 30. I Thess. v. 19. of grace, if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth; that we quench Him altogether if we stifle the suggestions by which He enlightens the conscience and quickens the will. Therefore, brethren, although the power of evil may be strong within us, though unholy thoughts may arise unbidden to defile our hearts, though we may find it a hard task to escape the temptations which surround us, the pollutions of the world, the lusts of the flesh, the suggestions of our soul's enemy, the love of ease, the love of self, the fear of man, yet reRom. viii. membering that we have received the Spirit of adoption, let us come to God boldly, according to His will, and ask Him so to strengthen us, that our union with Christ may be a living reality, and the gift of the Spirit a constant source of spiritual strength, by which we may abound more and more in holiness, Col. i. 10. and walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being 15. fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, and in the practice of all those Christian graces which that knowledge reveals. BISHOP'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, 1861. XIX. FOOLISH TALKING. THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. EPHESIANS V. 4. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks. 32. XIX. THE passage selected as to-day's epistle opens with SERMON the exhortation, Be ye therefore followers of God. Context of In order to understand this connecting word there- the epistle. fore, we must look back to the end of the chapter which immediately precedes that from which our text is taken. Be ye kind one to another, tender- Eph. iv. hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. And the apostle continues in the present chapter, Be ye therefore, as as thus forgiven, followers or imitators of God, and forgive others by walking in love. Such is the context, and as the passage before us is a long one and full of instruction, I will, without further preface, proceed to paraphrase and explain it. V. I. 2. Therefore, as being yourselves forgiven by ParaGod for Christ's sake, do ye become imitators of phrase. God, as children whom He loves; and that you may prove yourselves imitators of Him, walk in love, as 2. Christ also loved us, and gave Himself for us, an XIX. SERMON offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweetsmelling savour. But remember what manner of life is utterly inconsistent with the desire to be children 3. and imitators of God. As to fornication, and uncleanness of every kind, or covetousness, let not such sins be even named among you, as becomes the holy 4. people of God, and let there be no obscenity, and buffoonery, and godless witticisms, things which are unseemly, but rather thanksgiving, for Christian cheerfulness should find vent, not in fool's talk, but in the joy of a heart overflowing with gratitude to God. 5. For this ye are aware of, seeing ye know that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of 6. Christ and God. Let no man deceive you with vain sophistries, for in spite of all the excuses made for these common sins, it is nevertheless true, that on account of these very offences, which we are apt to judge so lightly, comes the wrath of God upon the 7. children of disobedience. Do not ye then become par8. takers with them. For ye were once darkness, but that time is past, so do not return to it: now are ye light in virtue of your union with the Lord Jesus: 9. walk then as children of light; (for the fruit of light* is all that is good and righteous and true); examining well and choosing what is acceptable to 11. the Lord. And have no fellowship with the un 10. Fruit of light instead of fruit of the spirit is recommended both by the context and the best MSS. Perhaps the received reading was introduced from Gal. v. 22. |