Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 3 · Verse and explication 9
Vers. 10. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God.
THe Apostle doth magnifie his office, sixtly, from the advantage and benefit, which did thereby redound unto the glorified Angels, called here, principalities and powers, chiefly, because God maketh use of their Ministerie in governing the kingdomes and principalities of this world, Dan. 4. 13, 14. and, 10. 12, 13. and because of the force and power they have in executing the will of God, Psal. 103. 20. and are said to be in heavenly places, not as if they were never upon earth, Gen. 32. 1. but the place of their ordinary residence is in heaven, Matth. 18. 10. Now, the Apostle sheweth, that this was one end intended by God to be brought about by his preaching the Gospel unto the Gentiles, even, that the Church, being hereby gathered of Jew and Gentile, might be as a glasse, wherein these glorious creatures should behold the manifold wisdom of God, that is, the many and signall evidences of Gods infinit wisdom manifested in the way of salvation held forth by the Gospel, 1 Corinth. 1. 24. and in His diverse wayes of dispensing grace and salvation in several ages, Heb. 1. 1. (the Doctrine of salvation remaining alwayes the same for substance, Heb. 13. 8.) and more especially, as to the present purpose, in His receiving the formerly profane and idolatrous Gentiles unto fellowship and society with His Church, having abolished Circumcision and the rest of those leviticall Ordinances: which is the main subject of all that preceedeth this Verse in this Chapter. Doct. 1. The glory of free grace, mercy, wisdom and of other divine attributes, which God intendeth in the salvation of sinners, is such a rent, as He will have payed, not only by men, but also by the glorified Angels: for, Paul maketh this one end, why God gave him the Gospel to preach, even that Angels might therein see Gods glory made manifest, and might acknowledge it accordingly; To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers. 2. It is the dutie of Christs Ministers to commend and magnifie their Office, not for gaining praise and esteem to themselves, 2 Cor. 3. 1. but that the malice of Satan and his instruments may be hereby frustrated, 2 Cor. 11. 12. who labour to bring that sacred Calling unto contempt; that so it may have the lesse of successe upon peoples hearts, 2 Tim. 3. 8. for therefore is it that Paul doth so much magnifie his Office in this and the preceeding Verses; To the intent, that now unto the principalities and powers, &c. 3. This may commend the Ministers of the Gospel not a little unto men, and beget reverence in them towards the same, that even the blessed Angels are in some sort bettered by it, and that it is therefore respected by them: for, Paul commendeth his Office from this, that by occasion thereof unto the principalities and powers, was made known the manifold wisdom of God. 4. Though Angels be most knowing creatures, as enjoying the immediate sight and presence of God, Matth. 18. 10. yet they are ignorant of some things, which, by Gods way of dispensing the Gospel to His Church, they come to a more full knowledge of: and therefore, though their present state of happinesse doth give them full satisfaction for the time; yet it is capable of some addition, and to be perfected fully at the last day, even as the torments of the fallen Angels shall then, and not while then be compleat, 2 Pet. 2. 4. for, Paul sheweth that by the Church was made known the manifold wisdom of God. 5. Neither the souls of just men made perfect, nor glorified Angels, though they enjoy the blessed sight of God, do yet by vertue thereof come to the knowledge of every thing, which God Himself doth know; and therefore it is without ground affirmed by Papists, that by this mean they know the prayers, which are uttered here on earth: for, the Apostle, sheweth that even the blessed Angels are ignorant of some things, untill by the Church was made known unto them the manifold wisdom of God. 6. Though the wise and eternall counsell of God for bringing lost sinners to glory, be one and the same, and wholly unchangeable, Psal. 33. 11. and though the way condescended upon in that His eternall counsell, by which sinners shall be saved, hath been in all ages one and the same for substance, to wit, Jesus Christ, Heb. 13. 8. and faith in Him; Heb. 11. 2. Yet, so many and diverse are those wayes, wherein He doth execute that counsell in the severall ages of His Church, Heb. 1. 1. and all of them fitted for the age of the Church, which then was, Gal. 4. 3. So unworthy (2 Cor. 4. 7.) and contrary (Philip. 1. 19) are those means for the most part, whereby He worketh the end intended; So sweet an harmony and concord betwixt infinit mercy and infinit justice, doth appear in this way, each of those rejoycing over the other, and yet ceding one to another, to the full satisfaction of both, Rom. 3. 24. 26. So variously and wonderfully doth he confound the wisdom of men and devils, who would mar the salvation of the Elect by making them (nill they will they) to advance it, Philip. 1. 12. And generally all His way is such, that (as it evidenceth infinit wisdom in God, who hath contrived, and doth manage it; So) it containeth many evidences of that kind: for, therefore is that, which the Angels do learn from the way of salvation revealed to the Church, and God's way of carrying on His people's salvation, called the manifold wisdom of God. 7. Then do we learn the knowledge of Scripture, and observe Gods way of dealing in carrying on our own salvation and the salvation of others aright, when we observe in Gods Word, or works, His manifold wisdom, or some evident proof of His other attributes: for, this was it which the Angels did learn from Gods mind revealed in Scripture, and His way of dealing with the Church, even the manifold wisdom of God.