The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary of the Books of the Bible: Volume 29 (of 32): The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary of the Epistles of St. Paul the Apostle: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and I-II ThessaloniansBarlow, George
Religion
The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary of the Books of the Bible: Volume 29 (of 32): The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary of the Epistles of St. Paul the Apostle: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and I-II Thessalonians
Barlow, George
Bible -- Commentaries; Bible. Epistles of Paul -- Commentaries
It carries on the victory already gained
over all your turbulent passions, notwithstanding all the powers of
darkness, all the assaults of evil men or evil spirits. It is
patiently triumphant over all opposition, and unmoved though all the
waves and storms thereof go over you. 7. The "forbearing one another
in love" seems to mean, not only the not resenting anything, and the
not avenging yourselves; not only the not injuring, hurting, or
grieving each other, either by word or deed, but also the bearing one
another's burdens, yea, and lessening them by every means in our
power. It implies the sympathising with them in their sorrows,
afflictions, and infirmities; the bearing them up when, without our
help, they would be liable to sink under their burdens. 8. Lastly,
the true members of the Church of Christ "endeavour," with all
possible diligence, with all care and pains, with unwearied patience,
to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," to preserve
inviolate the same spirit of lowliness and meekness, of
longsuffering, mutual forbearance, and love; and all these cemented
and knit together by that sacred tie--the peace of God filling the
heart. Thus only can we be and continue living members of that Church
which is the body of Christ. 9. Does it not clearly appear from this
whole account why, in the ancient creed commonly called the
Apostles', we term it the universal or catholic Church, "the holy
catholic Church"? The Church is called holy, because it is holy,
because every member thereof is holy, though in different degrees, as
He that called them is holy. How clear this is! If the Church, as to
the very essence of it, is a body of believers, no man that is not a
Christian believer can be a member of it. If this whole body be
animated by one Spirit, and endued with one faith, and one hope of
their calling, then he who has not that Spirit and faith and hope is
no member of this body. It follows, that not only no common swearer,
no Sabbath-breaker, no drunkard, no whoremonger, no thief, no liar,
none that lives in any outward sin, but none that is under the power
of anger or pride, no lover of the world--in a word, none that is
dead to God--can be a member of His Church.--_Wesley._
_Brotherly Love in Action._
+I. Walk in lowliness.+--Humble thoughts of ourselves, of our own
knowledge, goodness, and importance are necessary to Christian peace
and union. We shall not despise our brethren for their want of the
internal gifts or external advantages we enjoy. We shall not lean to
our own understanding; but, conscious of our liability to err, we
shall be attentive to instruction and reproof, open to conviction,
ready to retrace our errors and confess our faults.
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