Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 1 · Verse and explication 14
Vers. 18.—That ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the Saints.
HEre is one of those ends, for attaining whereof, the Apostle would have this wisdom bestowed upon them, even that they might know those good things, which they were to partake of in Heaven: which are, first, summarly propounded under the name of hope, taken here for the object of hope, or things hoped-for, as Rom. 8. -24-. Col. 1. 5. and the hope of their calling, because at their conversion they were called to the participation of those things; next, more fully explained, while they are called an inheritance, which is most excellent, as being both rich and glorious, and appertaineth only to the Saints and those who are renewed by the Spirit of God; for, the particle rendered in the Saints, doth signifie, in, or, amongst, and is so read, Act. 26. 18. Doct. 1. As effectuall inward calling, whereby we are made a willing people in the day of God's power (Psal. 110. 3.) is only Christ's work by His Spirit upon the hearts of the Elect, making them to give hearty obedience to the outward call by the mouth of His Ministers; So by this work he openeth unto them a large door of hope, and calleth them, who were before without hope, to partake of an excellent and glorious inheritance, which is here called hope, or the thing hoped-for, and the hope of calling, they being called to the enjoyment of it, which calling is also called His, to wit, God's, or Christ's, because it is His work; What is the hope of His calling. 2. Though those who are effectually called, do receive some part of that happinesse, unto which they are called, presently, and in hand, to wit, those excellent benefits of justification, adoption and sanctification, and such others as do either accompany, or flow from those in this life, 1 Cor. 6. 11. yet, the great and chief part of it is not given then in present possession, but reserved in the heavens for them, 1 Pet. 1. 4. so that they have it only in hope: for, therefore is it called the hope of their calling, a thing only hoped-for. 3. Though those excellent things, which are not yet possessed, but only hoped-for by Believers, are known in part and in general, 1 Joh. 3. -2. even so far, as the knowledge which we have of them is sufficient to terminate our hope; (otherwise if they were wholly unknown they could not be hoped-for) yet so excellent are those things in themselves, and therefore remote from our knowledge, and so much are we taken up with trifles and childish toyes, that even true Believers, and they who know most, and have their thoughts most exercised about them, are in a great part ignorant of them: they neither know them fully, nor particularly, Isa. 64. 4. So that heaven and glory will be found another kind of thing, than ever entred in the heart of man to think upon or look after, 1 Cor. 2. 9. for, he prayeth, that even the called Ephesians might know what is the hope of His calling, implying that they were yet in a great part ignorant of it. 4. That measure of knowledge which may be attained here of those excellent things hoped-for, should be carefully endeavoured and diligently sought after by Believers, as being of great concernment to make them seek after these things being so known, Philip. 3. 14. to sweeten the bitternesse of their crosse, Rom. 8. 18. furnish them with matter for sweet meditation upon heaven and things heavenly, Philip. 3. 20. and to make them more vehemently long and desire after the actual possession of those things, Philip. 1. 23. for, Paul's praying for wisdom, that they may know the hope of His calling, implyeth, that much more themselves ought to seek after the knowledge of it. 5. As those excellent things which are now hoped-for, and really to be enjoyed in the other life, are of the nature of an inheritance, which is not purchased by us, but freely bestowed upon us; so they are properly Christ's inheritance, who hath proper right to it, as being the natural Son of God, and by vertue of His own purchase; but the right which we have is communicated to us through Him, In whom we have received the adoption of children, and so are made heirs and co-heirs with Christ, Rom. 8. 17. for, the Apostle, explaining what those things hoped-for are, calleth them an inhe…ritance, and His inheritance; And what the riches of the glory of His inheritance. 6. This heavenly inheritance is a rich inheritance, as wanting nothing to make the state of those who enjoy it compleatly happy, and giving full satisfaction and contentment, Psal. 17. 15. and therefore it is called the riches of his inheritance, that is, after the manner of speech much used among the Hebrew…, A rich inheritance. 7. It is also a glorious inheritance, there being nothing there but what is glorious: The sight shall be glorious; for, we shall see God, as we are seen, 1 Cor. 13. 12. the place shall be glorious, 2 Cor. 12. 4. the company glorious, all the glorified Saints and Angels, Heb. 12. 22, 23. our souls and bodies shall be glorious, Philip. 3. 21. and our daily exercise shall be glorious, even to give glory unto God for ever and ever, Rev. 7. 9, 10. for, therefore it is called the glory of his inheritance, or, his glorious inheritance. 8. Though sanctification and holinesse do not merit this heavenly inheritance, seing it cometh to us freely, and as it were by lot; (as the word signifieth) yet none have present right to it, nor yet shall have possession of it afterwards, but only the Saints, even they who are renewed and inherently holy: Without holinesse none shall see God, Heb. 12. -14. for, he saith, it is an inheritance in the Saints, that is, whereof only Saints are possessors. 9. That we know and acknowledge Christ aright, it is necessary to perpend much, and thereby endeavour to know how useful a person he hath been and is unto us; what great rich and glorious things He hath purchased for us, and doth preserve in heaven for our behoof: for, he mentioneth their knowing the hope of His calling, as one end or part of that wisdom which consisteth in the knowing or acknowledgement of Him, spoken of, ver. 17. That ye may know the hope of his calling, &c.