Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 2 · Verse and explication 17
Vers. 19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and forreigners, but fellow-citizens with the Saints, and of the houshold of God.
HEre beginneth the fourth branch of the second part of this Chapter, where, by way of a conclusion drawn from what is said in the six former Verses, the Apostle setteth forth that excellent and blessed state, wherein the Ephesians now were: which, though in some respects, and in some things at least, by proportion it may be applied to the state of the visible Church, to wit, in so far as the members thereof had all those priviledges here spoken of in their offer, upon the terms held forth in the Gospel, and were under the drop of those means which the Lord doth ordinarily blesse, and make effectuall for working a saving interest in, and right unto all those: yea, and had a present actuall right to the external part of those priviledges; even the visible Church being in some respects Gods City, Houshold and Temple, at least, the suburbs, utter-court, and porch thereof, and having her own answerable priviledges, which are in some measure proportionall to those of the invisible Church; yet, seing (as was shewed formerly upon the exposition of ver 13.) those excellent things, here spoken of, are not fully, and to their outmost perfection verified in any, but in the invisible Church and the truly regenerate, the members thereof; Therefore I shal open up the mind of the Spirit of God, as aiming mainly at those, and give the meaning of those excellent things here mentioned, as they appertain chiefly to such, in the mean time, leaving it unto the judicious Reader to gather from what is said, how, and in what respects they are applicable unto the visible Church. And so that we may enter the exposition of the words, The Apostle setteth forth their present happy condition, first, negatively, by shewing what they were not, neither strangers nor forreigners, whereby with allusion to those, who are not free-men of an Incorporation or City, but either strangers (that is, such who have neither the freedom of the City, nor a place of habitation in it, but have their residence far from it,) or forreigners, (that is, such, who though they have their residence in the City, yet are not free-men, but sojourners for a season,) he sheweth that the second branch of their former misery, spoken of, ver. 12. which includeth all the rest (even their being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, deprived of all union and communion, either with the invisible or visible Church) was now removed. Secondly, he setteth forth their present blessed condition positively, under three similitudes, whereof two are in this verse. In the first, he compareth the whole Church, and especially the invisible Church of true Believers unto a City, and sheweth that those believing Ephesians had a right unto all the priviledges, and immunities of that city, the chief whereof are freedom from Gods curse, Rev. 22. 3. and a right unto eternal life, Rev. 22. -5. And this they had equally with all the other citizens and free members of that City; for, the chiefest Saints were but their fellow-citizens. In the second similitude, he compareth the same Church unto an houshold, or family, and calleth it Gods houshold, affirming, that all of those believing Ephesians did belong to this houshold. So that he doth hereby expresse a greater degree of nearnesse to, and communion with, God and His Church, which they had attained unto, than was set forth by the former similitude; there being a straiter ty of familiarity and friendship between the members of one family among themselves, and with the master of the house, than is between the members of one city, whether among themselves, and with their Magistrates and Rulers. Doct. 1. So apt are even good men to be exalted above measure with the excellent things of God bestowed upon them, 2 Corinth. 12. 7. that it is not safe at any time to think upon those things, except our former misery and vilenesse be joyntly thought upon also, that so we may be keeped humble: for, the Apostle, while he is of purpose to set forth their excellent priviledges, doth not obscurely present their former misery unto their view also, by saying, ye are no more strangers and forreigners, which implieth they were once so. 2. As it is not an easie matter to convince sinners of their lost and miserable estate by nature; So it is no lesse difficulty, when they are once made truely sensible of sin and misery, to convince them throughly of these riches which are in Gods mercy, and of that blessed estate which they are brought unto by Gods free grace in Christ: for therefore the Apostle findeth it necessary, not only to assert there was a gracious change wrought in them, ver. 13. but also in the following verses to shew forth all the causes of this most blessed change, from which he doth here by an undeniable consequence lay down this conclusion: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and forreigners. 3. That we may highly prize, and think aright of Gods mercy in Christ manifested to Believers, we would look upon it, both in the privative and positive effects thereof, both in those evils of sin and misery, which He delivereth from, and those saving blessings, whether relating to grace here, or glory hereafter, which He doth confer and bestow: for, so doth the Apostle here set forth the rich effects of Gods grace towards those Ephesians, both negatively and positively; ye are no more strangers, but fellow-citizens. 4. Though Believers be strangers in the world, as to their outward condition; some having no certain place of abode, but driven from their own habitations, 1 Pet. 1. 1. and all of them being disposed to look upon earth as a strange countrie, and the contentments thereof as uncertain, perishing, and therefore not their own, Heb. 13. 14. Yet they are not strangers unto, but citizens of that city, not made with hands, even the blessed society of the Saints, in which they live, Philip. 3. 20. unto whose priviledges they have a right, and shall at last be brought to the full possession of all its outmost blessings and immunities in heaven, Joh. 14. 2. 3. for, it is in this respect he faith, ye are no more strangers, and forreigners. 5. The state and priviledges of Gods Church consisting of all true Believers, are such, as fitly may be represented by some great Incorporation or City, which is a society of people joyned together under one Magistracy, ruled by the same Laws, enjoying the same common priviledges and immunities, and strongly defended by walls and bulwarks: In like manner all Believers are united under Christ their supream Magistrate and Head, Eph. 1. -21. living under one common Law, the will of God revealed in Scripture, which is also written in their hearts by that one Law-giver, Jer. 31. 33. enjoying one and the same common priviledges, (not only accesse to divine Ordinances, but) of Justification, (Rom. 8. 30.) Adoption, (Eph. 1. 5.) Sanctification, (Eph. 5. 26.) peace of conscience, (Rom. 5. 1.) and a right to heaven, the inheritance of the Saints, Joh. 3. 16. and all of them having Gods special protection, Psal. 91. 1. yea, and salvation for walls and bulwarks, Isa. 26. 1. for, this similitude, whereby the Church is compared to a city, is implyed, while it is said, Ye are fellow-citizens with the Saints. 6. Though those, who are federally holy, and externally Saints, (See upon Philip. 1. ver. 1. doct. 5.) are members of this City, as it speaketh a society of visible professors, Psal. 48. 8. yet only those, who are inherently holy, their natures being renewed, the seeds of saving grace implanted and growing up unto good works, only such, I say, are free members of this City, as it speaketh the society of the Church invisible, who enjoy immunity from Gods wrath and curse, with an actual right unto eternal life: for, that the Saints only are free members of this City, is implyed, while he saith, Fellow-citizens with the Saints. 7. Whatever differences are among Believers, as to their worldly condition, Eph. 6. 5, 9. their severall functions in the Church visible, 1 Cor. 12. 28. and their different degrees of gifts and graces, Rom. 12. 6. Yet, all of them do enjoy an equall right to all those saving blessings of the Covenant of Grace, the Charter of this Incorporation, (Isa. 56. 4.) which are of absolute necessity to the life of grace here, or of glory hereafter, Psal. 84. 11. and without which none can be a free Burgesse of this City: for, he maketh the believing Ephesians fellow-citizens with the Saints, even the chiefest of them, as having the same right with them unto all such immunities and priviledges. 8. As the whole society of the invisible Church chiefly is Gods own great houshold and family in a peculiar manner, and is therefore admitted to a most near and intimate communion with Him, such as a man hath with his own domesticks, Rev. 3. 20. yea, and is in a speciall way provided and cared for by Him, 1 Tim. 5. 8. So, whenever a man is reconciled to God by the bloud of Jesus Christ, he becometh a member of this holy and blessed family, and enjoyeth all the priviledges thereof, whereof this is one, in which it differeth from other families, that in this houshold there are no mercenary servants, but all the domesticks are sons and heirs, Joh. 1. 12. Col. 3. 24. for, by the houshold of God he meaneth the catholick Church, affirming that those Ephesians upon their reconciliation with God became members of it; And of the houshold of God, saith he.