the edifying of the church ... but the other is not edified ... Let all

things be done unto edifying'.

By comparing Ephesians 4 with Ephesians 2 we may learn something of the

sacred fellowship such ministry has with the Spirit of God:

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple

in the Lord: In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God

through the (in) Spirit' (2:21,22).

In the doctrinal section the Temple `grows', and the sphere of that growth

is `in Him' and `in Spirit'.  In the practical section the Body is `built up' by

the human instrument given and equipped by the ascended Lord.  All ministry is

therefore but fellowship in the great work of God Himself.  It is His pleasure

that, upon the defection of His earthly people Israel, an elect company should

be called and gathered together as a holy Temple, a habitation of God in the

heavenlies.  That indicates and limits the sphere and activity of the ministry

appointed under those terms.  We do not write these words in criticism of the

ministry of others, called under other economies, but we do recognize in them

our own all sufficient authority for the work we seek to do and the ministry we

seek to fulfil.

To any reader who may be conscious of any indirectness of aim, or who is

easily turned aside by the criticism of others, or who is easily plunged into

despair because of opposition or non-success, we would suggest a quiet prayerful

weighing over of the dispensational grounds of his ministry and stewardship,

feeling sure that conviction as to that, will carry strength for all that

follows.  Paul knew Whom he had believed, he was certain of the nature of his

call, and the fact that all forsook him, and many misjudged him, then became a

light matter.  Let us give a r,sum, of these important features:

Perfecting.  The first thing to decide as before the Lord is the

dispensation in which one is called to serve.

Ministry.  Then, and only then, can ministry be worthy of the name;

all other labour is in vain.

Edifying.  Never lose sight of this great feature.  While others may

feel called upon to pull down, and to expose error, let us see to it

that we steadily and surely, as in the troublous times of Nehemiah,

`build up the Body of Christ', thereby having blessed fellowship

with the great Worker Who is silently building up a habitation of

God in Spirit.

The first great unity in this chapter is that of the Spirit: the second is

that of the Faith.  The first measure is that of the gift of Christ; the second

is the stature of the fulness of Christ.  We found that upon mentioning the

unity of the Spirit, the apostle immediately proceeded to detail its sevenfold

structure (Eph. 4:3-6).  May we expect to find the same help in connection with

the unity of faith?  We believe we may:

`Until we all should arrive unto the unity of the faith, and the knowledge

of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of

the fulness of Christ' (Eph. 4:13 author's translation).