II. In breathing out the mind towards God.
III. Materials for ejaculatory prayer.—1. Found in daily portions of Scripture. 2. Stated prayer cannot be dispensed with even where ejaculatory prayer is practised. 3. Ejaculatory prayer helpful in striving after a life of sanctity.—E. M. Goulburn.
Ver. 18. The Perpetual Thanksgiving of a Christian Life.
I. Its difficulty.—1. From our fancied knowledge of life. 2. From our unbelieving distrust of God.
II. Its motive.—God’s will is so revealed in Christ, that, believing in it, we can give thanks in all things. 1. Life the perpetual providences of a Father. 2. That perpetual providence is a discipline of human character. 3. The discipline of life is explained by eternity alone.
III. Its attainment.—It is the gradual result of a life of earnest fellowship with God.—E. L. Hull.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Verses 19–22.
Varied Aspects of Spiritual Influence.
In the natural world the greater law of distribution is manifested in the infinite variety that appears in the midst of an unchanging and inflexible uniformity. And in the Church of God what varied gifts, graces, and attainments are found in its members. No two are precisely alike. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; and the multiplicity and variety of endowments are intended to be exercised for one grand and definite purpose (Eph. iv. 12, 13). By grouping together the precepts contained in these verses, we have suggested to us the varied aspects of spiritual influence. Observe:—
I. The fervency of spiritual influence.—1. The influence of the Spirit is represented under the emblem of fire. “Quench not the Spirit” (ver. 19). Fire purifies the gold of its dross, enlightens by its splendour the eyes of the beholder, and raises the temperature of the Christian life. The person inspired is borne along, as it were, with spiritual ardour (Acts xviii. 25; Rom. xii. 11). Timothy is directed to rekindle or keep up the fire (2 Tim. i. 6). Christian baptism is baptism “with the Holy Ghost and with fire” (Matt. iv. 11). The descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost was in tongues of fire (Acts ii. 3). The Spirit, as fire, bestows both the light of knowledge and the fervour of love.