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58   THE CONVENTION TEACHER

partakers with the disobedient, nor have fellowship with their works, which are unfruitful works of darkness. But rather to reprove them. To have no fellowship is not enough. Reprove by oral rebuke, such shows the immorality of such works, quickens the conscience of the person doing them with a view of his improvement. We are to have no religious connections what ever with heathens or their worship. Unfruitful work of darkness. Probably referring to the mystery among the heathen and the different illustrations and rites through which the initiated treat in the cause and dark recesses where these mysteries were celebrated all of which he styles works of darkness, because they were destitute of true wisdom; and unfruitful work, because they were of no use to mankind; the initiated being obliged, on pain of death, to keep secret what they had seen, heard, and done: Hence they were called unspeakable mysteries---things that were not to be divulged. Perhaps the Apostle refers to magic and incantations to which the Ephesians were greatly addicted.

(12) For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. This may refer to such mysteries which were performed in the night and darkness and were known to be so impure and abominable that the Roman Senate banished them from Rome and Italy. How the depths of Satanic vices are discerned and made and the whole procedure of that case is seen why the Apostle speaks thus: It is a shame even to speak of these things, which are doing them in secret: the abominations being of the most stupendous kind, and of the deepest dyed sins which cannot be named.

(13) But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light; for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Now all those actions which are practiced in celebrating these mysteries are made manifest as sinful by the Gospel, and, seeing everything which discover the true nature of actions is light. The Gospel must discover the evil nature of the actions performed in these mysteries in light. The Apostle speaks against these mysteries as he speaks against fornications, uncleanness, and covetousness, but by no means borrows expressions or similitude from them to illustrate Divine truths; for as it would be a shame even to speak of these things, surely it would be abomination to allude to them in the illustrations of the doctrines of the Gospel. But he says all things that are Reprove are made manifest by the light--The light however of Divine truth held forth in an open profession, and a suitable walk and conversation could not fail to detract and expose the detestableness of such shameful nature. For whatever thus tended to make things manifest, according to their real nature, was "Light", and equivalent in the Spiritual world, to the light of the sun in the natural world.

III. CHRISTIANS LEARNING THE WILL OF GOD (VV. 14-21.) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. This is a strong commanding voice of the Gospel in every part which saith: Receive instructions, leave thy sins, which are leading thee to perdition: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and He will enlighten and save thee. As a man asleep neither knows nor does anythign that can be called good or useful, so the Gentiles and all others, while without the knowledge of Christianity had not only no proper knowledge of vice and virtue, but they had no correct notion of the true God. As the dead can perform no functions of life, so the Gentiles and the unconverted were incapable of performing any thing worthy either of life or being. But though they were asleep in a state of complete spiritual torpor, yet they might be awakened by the voice of the Gospel; and the dead to all goodness, and to every function of Spiritual life, yet, and their animal life was whole in them, and perspection and reason were still left, they were capable of hearing the Gospel and under that influence which always accompanies it when faithfully preached, they could discern its excellency, and find it to be the power of God, to their salvation.

(15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. With these helpful advantages the Ephesian Christians ought to walk accurately, well considering what conduct became them, or with exactness; according to the command and example of Christ; keeping the direct way abstaining from all appearance of evil and aiming at more complete obedience in every particular and cautions looking at the past, to shun the snares laid in them, not acting as heedless, ignorant, or foolish person, who rush into dangers, temptations, and 

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59   THE CONVENTION TEACHER

mischief, but as wise men who are among them and escape them. Not as fools. The heathens affected the call to wise men. Pythagoras was perhaps the first to correct this vanity, by assuming the title, a lover of wisdom, hence our word philosopher is used now in a much prouder sense that that in which the great Pythagoras wished it to be applied. Paul takes the term and applies it to the Christians and instead of it, gives the empty philosopher the title, one without wisdom, fool.

(16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. As a great part of their lives had been wasted and grievously misemployed in heathen darkness, they ought also to improve their time for the future diligently. Redeeming the time. Buying up these moments which others seem to throw away; steadily improving every present moment, buying it off from all avocations, at the expense of much self-denial and watchfulness, that they may spend it in religious exercise, or in doing good to others, according to the duties of their stations, and as opportunities were given to them, and that ye may, in some way, regain the time ye have lost. Let time be your chief commodity, deal in that alone, buy it all up and use every portion of it yourselves. Because the days are evil and the persecutions which await them would render the term of their usefulness more precarious than in peaceful seasons as they might be suddenly shut up in prison; or cut off by martyrdom; so that if they would secure their own salvation or do good to mankind no time would be lost. The present times are dangerous. They are full of trouble and temptations, and only the watchful and diligent have any reason to expect that they shall keep their garments unspotted.

(17) Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Do not become mad men. Without doubt this refers to the Orgies of Bacchus, in which his Votaries acted like mad men; running about, tossing their heads from shoulder to shoulder, appearing in every sense completely frantic. Let them not be as unwise servants, who are not prepared for the Lord's coming and are ignorant of their work; may, let them spare no pains to understand "His Will" concerning them, that zealously and without giving their enemies any advantage against them.

(18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Evils of their neighbors, on seeking exhilaration by intemperate drinking which induced a temporary insanity and various disorders of the body and mind, and lead to the most ruinous and mischievous conduct; let them wait on God in every appointed means for larger communication of the Holy Spirit whos sacred influence would fill their sounds with satisfying consolation in every circumstance and tend to the happiest consequences in the future and in which there was no danger of excess. It is the will of God that ye should be sober, chaste, holy and pure.

(19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord: He urges that the Christian should substitute in the place of the loose odes and psalms of the Gentiles, or other frivolous conversations, the psalms and hymns of the sacred scriptures and such spiritual songs as were composed on the peculiar subjects of the Gospel, and according to the doctrine of truth. In these they should speak to thousands; or teach others attending especially to their hearts that the inward melody of holy love and gratitude unto the Lord might unite with the outward melody of poetry and singing when they used them in the manners either alone or in social worship. It is a shocking piece of profanity in Divine worship of draw nigh to God with the lips while the heart is far from Him.

(20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; It was incumbent upon them to give thanks unto God even in the midst of persecution and affliction and all things. God is continually leading you with His benefits. You deserve nothing of His kindness; therefor give Him thanks for His unmerited virtues. God who is your Father, and the Father of mercy. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only Mediator and through Him alone can you approach to God, and it is for His Sake only that God will hear your prayer or receive your praises.

(21) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Giving your-selves entirely to the welfare of all the followers.