(18) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. (19) Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. (20) Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (21) Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. (22) Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: (23) And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ. (25) But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done; and there is no respect of persons.
I do not think it necessary to swell our pages, with enlarging on what is so evidently plain in these verses. Paul having spoken to the Church in a general way; now addresseth himself personally to the individual members, in their relative situations. Wives, and Husbands, and Children, and Fathers, and Servants; are each called upon, to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior, in all things. And the elect of God, who are truly, and savingly called, are and must be, living instances of such things, wherever they are found. Look round every neighborhood, in every house, and family, and see if there be any, who are regenerated by the Holy Ghost; (and it is of such only Paul speaks, and to such as elect of God, he enjoins those things;) and sure I am, they are, and must be, eminent examples of believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity, 1 Timothy 4:12. And the Apostle in the close of this chapter, gives the reason, or foundation of it: because whatsoever is done, in word, or deed, is done heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men. It is done, not from labors without, but grace within. Not in man's strength, but the Lord's. Oh! the blessedness of that sure, unerring principle, when God worketh in his elect, to whom he enjoins bowels of mercies, and in whom he new creates them; both to will, and to do, of his good pleasure. Then the child of God can say, and none but the child of God can ever say, I can do nothing by myself, but I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me, Philippians 4:13.