Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 2 · Verse and explication 6
Vers. 7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindnesse towards us through Christ Jesus.
THe Apostle, thirdly, propoundeth the final cause, or the end intended by God to be brought about by His gracious working, formerly mentioned, towards those Ephesians and first Converts among the Jews, even that in all ages succeeding the present unto the end of the world, God might give an evident proof, and infallible demonstration (for, so much doth the word rendred shew signifie) of the exceeding riches of His grace, that is, how far the abundance of His mercy and favour toward sinners doth exceed all expression and created comprehension, the setting forth whereof to the following ages, was intended by God, not only for His own glory as chap. 1. 12. …14. but also for the encouragement of all vile sinners unto the worlds end, to draw nigh unto God for mercy in Christ, as being animated hereto by this example and infallible evidence of the exceeding riches of Gods grace; for so doth the Apostle more fully explain his own meaning, 1 Tim. 1. 16. And in the close of the verse, he sheweth wherein that convincing evidence doth lye, by giving a short comprehensive sum of all he hath spoken from the beginning of the Chapter, even in God's kindnesse, that is, all those effects formerly mentioned of His mercy, love and free grace, flowing from His good, gentle and bountifull disposition; and this, towards them, whose misery was formerly described; and through Christ, as the purchaser and applier of all those. Doct. 1. As there is grace, yea riches and abundance of grace in God, even such as exceed all expression, 2 Sam. 7. 20. all comprehension, Isa. 55. 9. yea, and all the sins of creatures, Rom. 5. 20. So, the more a man doth dwell upon this sweet subject, his thoughts and apprehensions of it will be the more enlarged, and his expressions also will in some measure go alongs with his thoughts: for, the Apostle, having before (ver. 4.) expressed it under the name of riches in mercy, and falling here upon the same subject again, his thoughts of it are more enlarged, and his expression doth rise accordingly; so that it is now, not only riches, but exceeding riches of his grace. 2. As it is a matter full of difficulty for those who are sensible of their own vileness, to believe the exceeding riches of Gods grace towards lost sinners, and to believe it especially with application unto themselves, Act. 2. 37. So, the particular instances and examples of Gods mercy and grace tow…ds others, have a peculiar fitnesse and efficacy in them to convince us, how exceedingly gracious God is, and so to convince us, as we may be encouraged to draw nigh to that same fountain of rich grace for pardon and life unto our selves, 1 Tim. 1. 16. a fitnesse beyond what is in the simple doctrinal declaration of those riches of grace; in so far as those instances and examples do speak, not only that mercy and grace may be had, but that it hath been attained unto, and by those, who in all respects did judge themselves, and were really as unworthy of it, as unable to lay hold upon it in the mean time, and to make good use of it afterwards, as we do judge our selves; so that the yce is broken, and the foord ridden before us: for, the Apostle sheweth, that God gave such instances of mercy and grace in those primitive Christians, that he might shew forth, as it were, by demonstration and evidence, the exceeding riches of His grace, and this in order to the encouragement of others to venture their salvation upon that same grace, as we shew in the Exposition. 3. The more sinfull, miserable and wretched they are, to whom the Lord is gracious, there is the more convincing proof given of the exceeding riches of His grace, and so a greater encouragement for those who are yet in their gracelesse state to roll themselves over upon this His rich grace, and to expect good from it: for, it was the quickening of such vile sinners, whose misery is described, ver. 1, 2. 3. which did tend to shew forth the exceeding riches of His grace, which the Apostle also hinteth at, while, shewing wherein that convincing evidence did lye, he saith his kindnesse towards us: the word, us, is emphatick as to the purpose in hand. 4. It was a thing resolved upon by God, revealed to His servants, and accordingly made known by them to the Church, that the glorious light of the Gospel, though opposed by the fury and industry of men and devils; yet should never be totally exstinct, but was to be preached, believed, and obeyed in some …es at least of the world throughout all ages to the worlds end: for, the Apostle sheweth it was Gods design to have the exceeding riches of His grace shown forth in all succeeding ages and generations; that in the ages to come he might shew. 5. Gods bypast dealing, whether in mercy, or judgement (1 Corinth. 10, 6.) are speaking lessons unto those who are in the ages following, as holding forth both matter of praise unto God manifested in those, Psal. 136. 10, &c. as also matter of instruction, in our duty, to us, 1 Cor. 10. 6. So that the after-ages, in this respect, are better ages than the former, in so far as the latter have the advantage of those examples in the former ages, which they themselves did want; for, the Apostle sheweth, the benefit of God's gr…ious dealing with Believers in the present age, should accresce unto the following ages; That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace. 6. As all those benefits which come to Believers, do flow from the kindnesse of God, or His native willingnesse to imploy what goodnesse is in Him for the good of His creatures; So, though the effects of His generall kindnesse and benevolence, which are common to all the creatures, Psal. 145. 9. do flow from God, as Creator, in the channel of common providence, Psal. 104. 28. yet, the effects of His speciall kindnesse, and such as relate to life and godlinesse, do all of them flow from God, as reconciled through Christ, and are convoyed through the conduit of Christs merit and intercession: for, the Apostle, summing up all these saving benefits, together with the way how they are convoyed, he saith, In his kindnesse towards us through Christ Jesus. 7. The lively and serious consideration of those excellent benefits flowing from Gods mercy, grace, goodwill and bounty, together with the consideration of the vileness and wretchednesse of those, upon whom those excellent benefits are bestowed, and of the way which infinit Wisdom, set on work by eternal love, hath found out for convoying those so excellent mercies to such base and unworthy objects, even the incarnation, obedience, sufferings and high exaltation of Jesus Christ; I say, it is the consideration of all those joyntly, which tendeth to set forth most convincingly how exceedingly gracious God is: for, the Apostle sheweth this convincing evidence doth lye in those three, first, in his kindnesse, secondly, towards us, thirdly, through Jesus Christ.