Commentary Upon Ephesians 1, Commentary · Verse 12
Thus hauehave I endeauoured to vnloſe this Gordian knot, which hath exerciſed the wits of the learnedſt Diuines that euer were. In a point of ſo great difficulty, I preſume not peremptorily to define, but ſubmit all that I hauehave conceiued for the opening of it, to the iudgement of the Church of God.
verse 12 Now followeth the end why we are ſaid to hauehave obtained an inheritance in Chriſt: In which wee are to conſider; Firſt, of the perſons. Secondly, the end it ſelfe. The perſons are deſcribed from the effect, their hope; which is amplified from the circumſtance of time, and the obiect about which it was occupied, Who hoped in Chriſt firſt of all; that is, then when as yet the Gentiles were not called to belieue and hope on him; which here is mentioned to their honour: The end is, that wee might be to the praiſe of his glory, that is, to the ſetting forth both by wordes and workes of his glorious mercy; ſo glory is taken, Rom. 9. as is aboue noted more at large.
Doct. 1 Obſerue then, that this is ſet down in commendation of the Iew, that they firſt hoped on Chriſt; whence we learne; That to be brought to faith before others, is a prerogatiue which perſons ſo called hauehave aboue others: The Iewes had a promiſe that Chriſt ſhould be giuen them, & ſeek them firſt; It is Iſraell in whom I will be glorious through thee; accordingly Chriſt did walke with them, as the Miniſter of them who were circumciſed, and did charge his Diſciples to keepe them within the ſame bounds, to ſeeke the loſt ſheepe of Iſraell; Accordingly, a Church was gathered amongſt them, though for their number they were but few in Chriſts time, in compariſon of the multitude which would not receiue him, yet the kingdome did ſuffer violence, the poore did receiue the Goſpell: yea after his Aſcention, the Church in Ieruſalem did grow numberſome before the Goſpell was carried to the Gentiles: Now this is heere ſet downe as an honourable circumſtance that they did belieue, when yet the Gentiles were ſtrangers from the Couenant. When Subiects hauehave made a reuolt from their lawfull Prince, thoſe who ſhall firſt returne and receiue againe their lawfull King, it is vntounto their commendations: Thus 2 Sam. 19.15. it was Iudah his praiſe, to be firſt in fetching home Dauid their King; ſo for vsus who hauehave made defection from God and Chriſt, it is our glory to be with the firſt in receiuing him our true Dauid and King: Againe, the firſt borne hath a priuiledge, and ſo here it was a priuiledge of the Iew, that he was the firſt begotten to the faith.
Vſe 1 Let vsus then acknowledge with honour, this circumſtance in others: HaueHave they beene long in the faith before vsus, we muſt honour this antiquity: The young riſe vp before the auncient in nature, ſo ſhould it be with vsus who are babes, when we meet with them who are olde men in Chriſt: See Rom. 16.6. Paul mentioning Andronicus and Iunius, doth not omit this circumſtance of honour, that they were before him in Chriſt; and ſo hee doth repute it the honor of another, that he was the firſt fruits of Achaia, 1 Cor. 16.
Vſe 2 This muſt moue thoſe who are before others, to walke worthy this dignity, by adorning this their age in Chriſt, with graces correſpondent, viz. experience, wiſedome, weanedneſſe, all kinde of mortification: Should one of 50. hauehave no more wiſedome nor ſtayednes, then another at 15. yeare olde, it were able to make their age deſpiſed: Let vsus looke to this, many that were firſt prooue laſt, euen as it is with theſe Iewes, then before all, now behinde all.
Doct. 2 Obſerue ſecondly, what is the end of all our benefits we attaine in Chriſt, euen this, that wee may ſet out his glorious grace and mercy towards vsus: for this is not brought in as the end of Gods predeſtination, but of our obtaining an inheritance in Chriſt: Our faith, our redemption, our glorification, all is to the glory of Chriſt: Euen as it is the glory of Kings to hauehave their ſubiects yeeld them homage, and ſweare them allegiance; ſo this obedience of faith, is a ſpiritual homage which the ſubiects of Chriſts kingdome doe yeeld vntounto him. Our redemption, whether we looke at the thing it ſelfe wrought, or the intention of him working it, is to the prayſe of his glory. If Princes out of their clemency ſend and ranſome ſome ſubiects, the very deede is much to their glory; ſo it is in this redemption of Chriſt. Now the end why wee are bought with a price both ſoule and body, is, that in both we might glorifie him; the inheritance giuen vsus is, to the praiſe of his glory, yea, all the glory that ſhall be put vponupon vsus in heauen, ſhall be his glory. Looke as the inheritances, dignity, riches, glorious pompe of ſubiects, is to the praiſe of the glorious bounty and power of thoſe Kings to whom they liue ſubiect; So here, ſee 2 Theſ. 1. The end why wee receiue this inheritance of light is, That wee might ſet forth his vertues, who hath called vsus into admirable light, and that it might ſo ſhine forth before others, that they might glorifie God and Chriſt.
Vſe 1 Let vsus then endeau…ur our ſelues to ſet forth the praiſe of him who doth giuegive vsus all thoſe ſpirituall benefits, in which we partake. Let our words, let our workes, let our whole man be at his command, ſeruiceable to him. The Church in the Canticles ſhee doth ſo praiſe the beauty of her ſpouſe, that ſhe awaketh others: We ſhould ſo from our hearts ſet out the praiſe of our Chriſt, that others might by our means be brought to inquire after him, and aske, Who is thy beloued? Thoſe who finde bounteous Lords on earth, how will they tell of their affability, liberality, of eueryevery circumſtance wherein they doe them any grace and fauour? How will they proteſt themſelues deuoted to their ſeruice, drinking healths vponupon their knees to them? how impatient of any thing which doth ſo much as in ſhow tend to their diſparagement? What a ſhame is it that we ſhould walke, neither feeling our hearts affected, nor yet opening our mouthes to praiſe him who hath redeemed vsus, and brought vsus to the hope of an immortall, incorruptible inheritance?