A Golden Chain, Selection 1 – Selection 6
Ephes. 3.
14. FOr this cause I bowe my knees vntounto the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ.
15. Of whome is named the whole familie in heauen and earth.
16. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glorie, that ye… may be strengthened by his spirit in the inner man.
17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith:
18. That ye being rooted and grounded in louelove, may be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the breadth and length, and depth and height:
19. And know the louelove of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all fulnesse of God.
20. VntoUnto him therefore that is able to do… exceeding abundantly, aboue all that we aske or thinke, according to the power that worketh in vsus,
21. Be praise in the Church by Christ Iesus, throughout all generations for euer, Amen.
The Exposition.
THese wordes containe two parts, a prayer, and a thankesgiuing. In the prayer these points are to be marked. First, the gesture: I bow my knees, wherby Paul signifies his humble submission to God in prayer. Secondly, to whome he praies. To the Father, who is described by two titles: the first, the father of our Lord Iesus Christ, and that by nature as he is God, and as he is man by personall vnion. The other title. Of whome the whole familie, which is in heauen and earth, is named: In which words is set downe a description of the Church: first it is a Familie, because it is the companie of Gods elect children vnderunder the gouernment of one father. 1. Tim. 3.15. It is called the house of God, Eph. 2.19. They that beleeue are saide to be of the houshold of God: secondly, the parts of the Catholike Church are noted, namely, the Saints in heauen departed, and Saints liuing on earth: thirdly, it is said to be named of the father of Christ, because as the father of Christ is the father of this familie, so also this familie is called by him. Gen. 6.2. Dan. 9.80. Thirdly, the matter of the prayer stands of foure most worthie points.
The first is strength to beare the crosse and to resist spirituall temptations, v. 16. where the strength is set out by diuers arguments: First, that it is the meere gift of God, that he would graunt you: Secondly, the cause of strength, by his Spirit: Thirdly, the subiect or place where this strength must be, in the inner man, that is, in the whole man, so farre forth as he is renued by grace, Eph. 6.14. The second is, the dwelling of Christ in their hearts by faith: Faith is when a man beeing seriously humbled for his sinnes, is further in conscience perswaded, and resolued of the pardon of them, and of reconciliation to God. Now where this perswasion is in deed, there followes necessarily Christs dwelling in the heart, which stands in two things: the first is, the ruling and ordering of the thoughts, affections, and desires of the heart, according to his will; as a master rules in his house: the second is the continuance of his rule. For he cannot be said to dwell in a place, who rules in it but for a day.
The third, is the knowledge and the acknowledgement of the infinit greatnes of Gods louelove in Christ, an effect of the former. v. 18, 19. the words are thus explaned: Rooted and grounded. Here the louelove of God wherewith he loues the elect, is as a roote and foundation of all Gods benefits, election, vocation, iustification, and glorification. Men are rooted and grounded in louelove, when Gods spirit assures their hearts of Gods louelove, and doth giuegive them some inward sense and feeling of it. For then they are as it were sensibly put into the roote, and laid on the foundation. With all Saints: Paul desires this benefit, not onelyonly to the Ephesians, but also to all the faithfull with them. What is the length, the bredth. Here is a speech borrowed from the Geometricians, and it signifies the absolute greatnes or infinitnes of Gods louelove, and that it is like a world, which for length, breadth, height, and depth, is endlesse. Here note the order or receiuing grace. First, Christ dwells in the heart by faith. Secondly, then comes a sense and feeling of Gods louelove, as it were by certaine drops thereof. Thirdly, after this ariseth a plentifull knowledge, and apprehension of Gods louelove, and as it were the powring out of a sea into a mans heart, that for greatnes hath neither bottome nor banke. And know the louelove of Christ: these words (as I take it) are an exposition of the former: for to comprehend the louelove of God, is nothing els but to know the louelove of Christ: considering that all whome the father loueth, he loueth them in Christ: which passeth knowledge, that is, which for the greatnes of it no man can fully know.
The fourth thing is the fulnesse of Gods graces, v. 19. Here the fulnesse of God, doth not signifie fulnesse of the God…ead or diuine nature, but the perfection of the inner man which shall not be till after this life.
Now followes the thankesgiuing, or the praise of God, v. 20, 21. containing these points. The matter of praise, his power and bountifulnes, wherby he can worke exceeding aboundantly aboue all we aske or thinke: and both these are not onelyonly to be conceiued in minde, but also may be felt in the heart, according to the power that worketh in vsus. 2. The forme of praise, glorie vntounto God by Christ, as all benefits are receiued from the father by Christ. 3. The proper place of true praise of God, the Church. 4. The continuance of his praise, thorow all generations for euer.
Philip. 1.
9. ANd this I pray, that your louelove may abound yet more and more, in knowledge and all sense.
10. That ye may discerne things that differ: to the ende, ye may be pure and without offence, to the day of Christ.
11. Filled with fruits of righteousnesse, which are by Iesus Christ, vntounto the praise and glorie of God.
The Exposition.
THis praier containes three parts. In the first, Paul praieth for increase of louelove in the Philippians, whether it be to God or men, v. 9. and he shewes the meanes of increase, which are two: knowledge and sense, or feeling. For (to goe backeward) the more a godly man feels Gods louelove, and hath experience of Gods word in himselfe; the more he knowes of Gods word, and perceiues his louelove vntounto him: the more he loues God againe, and his neighbour for his sake.
The second thing praied for, is the gift of discerning, whereby men know, what is true, what false: what is to be done, what to be left vndone: the endes of this gift are two. The first, that by meanes of it, they may be pure and sincere: that is, keepe a good conscience before God and men in their liues and calings. The second is, to be without offence: that is, innocent, giuing no occasion of euill to any, and not taking them offered by others: and the continuance of those is noted to the day of Christ; which is the time in which he commeth to vsus, either by our death, or by the last iudgement.
Thirdly, he praieth that they might abound in good workes, which are described by a similitude, fruits of righteousnes: Christians beeing fruitfull trees. Ezech. 47. 12. Esay 61.3. 2. By the cause efficient, which are by Christ. 3. By the end, vntounto the glorie and praise of God.
Coloss. 1.
9. I Cease not to pray for you, & to desire that ye might be filled with knowledge of his will, in all wisdome and spirituall vnderstanding.
10. That ye might walke worthie of the Lord, and please him in all things, fructifying in all good works, and increasing in the acknowledgement of God.
11. Strengthened with all might through his glorious power, vntounto all patience and long suffering with ioyfulnesse.
12. Giuing thanks to the father which hath made vsus …it to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light.
13. Who hath deliuered vsus from the power of darknes, and hath translated vsus into the kingdome of his owne sonne.
The Exposition.
THese words containe a prayer, and a thankesgiuing. In the prayer, three things are asked. The …irst is the increase of the knowledge of Gods reuealed will in his word, and he deuides it into two parts: wisdome, which is not onelyonly to know Gods word, but also to applie it to eueryevery action for the right and holy performing thereof… and spirituall vnderstanding, which is, when men by the assistance of Gods spirit, doe conceiue the will of God in generall without applying.
Secondly, Paul praies for the fruits of this knowledge, which are foure. 1. To wal… worthie of God, as good seruants doe, who in their apparell, gesture, and all their doings, so behaue themselues that they may credit their masters. 2. To please God in all things, by approouing their hearts vntounto him. 3. To be plentifull in all good workes. 4. To increase in the acknowledgement of God. For the more any increase in knowledge and experience in Gods word, the more shall they acknowledge God the father to be their father, Christ to be their redeemer, and the holy Ghost their sanctifier.
Thirdly, he praies that the Colossians may be strengthened, v. 11. where he notes the cause, Gods glorious power; and the effects, which are three. 1. Patience, because it is necessarie that the godly suffer many afflictions. 2. Long suffering, because oftentimes the same afflictions continue long. 3. Ioyfulnesse, because the crosse is bitter.
The thankesgiuing is for a benefit, that God had made the Colossians fitte for the kingdome of glorie: and the reason is, because he had made them members of the kingdome of grace.
1. Thess. 3.
12. THe Lord increase you, and make you abound in louelove one towards an other, and towards all men: euen as we doe towards you.
13. To make your hearts stable and vnblameable in holinesse before God, euen our father at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ with all his Saints.
2. Thess. 2.
16. IEsus Christ our Lord, and our God, euen the father which hath loued vsus, and hath giuen vsus euerlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in eueryevery word and good worke.
1. Thess. 5.
23. NOw the very God of peace, sanctifie you throughout: and I pray God that you aThe minde or vnderstanding.whole spirit and bThe will and affection.soule and body may be kept blamelesse vntounto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ.