September 7

See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil.—Ephesians 5:15, 16.

THE apostle is still cleansing away the root of bitterness, still cutting off the groundwork of anger. For what is he saying? Look circumspectly how ye walk. He knew that his Master, when he sent his disciples as sheep in the midst of wolves, further charged them to be as doves. For ye shall be harmless, saith he, as doves. Forasmuch then as they were both amongst wolves, and were besides commanded not to defend themselves, but to suffer evil, they needed this admonition. Not indeed but that the former was sufficient to render them well secured; but now that there is besides the double addition, reflect how it is exceedingly heightened. Observe then here also, how carefully he secures them, by saying, Look how ye walk. Whole cities were at war with them; yea, this war made its way also into houses. They were divided, father against son, and son against father, mother against daughter, and daughter against mother. What then? Whence these divisions? They heard Christ say, He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me. Lest therefore they should think that he was introducing nothing but wars and fightings, (since there was likely to be considerable anger produced, if they on their part were to retaliate,) to prevent this, he says, See that ye walk circumspectly. That is to say, "Except the gospel message, give no other handle on any score whatever, for the hatred which you will incur." Let this be the only ground of hatred. Let no one have any other charge to make against you; but show all deference and obedience, whenever it does no harm to the message, whenever it does not stand in the way of godliness. For it is said, Render to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute, custom to whom custom. For when amongst the rest of the world they shall see us forbearing, they will be put to shame.

Not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time. It is not from any wish that you should be artful, and versatile, that he gives this advice. But what he means is this. The time is yours. At present ye are strangers, and sojourners, and foreigners, and aliens; seek not honors, seek not glory, seek not authority, and revenge; bear all things, and in this way, redeem the time; give up many things, any thing they may require. The expression is obscure. Come, then, I will throw light upon it by an example. Imagine now, I say, a man had a magnificent house, and persons were to make their way in, on purpose to murder him, and he were to give a large sum, and thus to rescue himself. Then we should say, he has redeemed himself. So also hast thou a large house, and a true faith in thy keeping. They will come to take all away. Give whatever they demand, only preserve the principal, the faith, I mean.

Because the days, he saith, are evil. What is the evil of the day? The evil of the day ought to belong to the day. If thou understandest what evil is incident to each of the several things among us, thou wilt also know what is the evil of a day. What is the evil of a body? Disease. And what again the evil of the soul? Wickedness. What is the evil of water? Bitterness. And the evil of each particular thing, is its badness with reference to that peculiar quality of which it is the evil. If then there is an evil in the day, it ought to belong to the day, to the hours, to the daylight. So also Christ saith, Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. And from this expression we shall understand the other. In what sense then does he call the days evil? In what sense the time evil? It is not the essence of the thing, not the things as so created, but it is because of the things transacted in them. In the same way are we in the habit of saying, "I have passed a disagreeable and wretched day." And yet how could it be disagreeable, except from the circumstances which took place in it? Now the events which take place in it are, good things from God; but evil things from bad men. So then of the evils which happen in the times, men are the creators, and hence it is, that the times are said to be evil. And thus we also call the times evil.