Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 3 · Verse and explication 18
Vers. 20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
THe Apostle, lastly, concludeth his prayers with an heavenly strain of thanksgiving to God, whereby he laboureth, indirectly at least, to perswade them that he would be answered in those great and large petitions, which he had put up to God for them, seing he himself was so much perswaded of it, that he breaketh forth in thanksgiving to God for it, even as if all he sought had been already granted. And therefore he doth labour to perswade them further by that apposit description, which he giveth of God in the first part of this thanksgiving, taken from God's infinit power, whereby He is able, not only to bestow moe things and greater than we can either expresse, by seeking them in prayer, or comprehend in our thoughts, which are oftentimes larger than can be vented by expressions; but also to bestow those greater things in a large and abundant measure. And because this of God's power, absolutely considered, had been a weak ground for faith to lean upon, seing He is able to do many things which He doth not, Matth. 26. 53. therefore he giveth an instance, or proof, of this infinit power in what He had wrought in Believers already, by converting, quickening and carrying on the work of grace to some good length in them, leaving unto them to gather hence, that the same power would be forth-coming, and applied unto work for them in time coming, as the exigence of their case and state should require. Doct. 1. As the duties of prayer and thanksgiving, do mutually contribute for the help one of another, (See chap. 1. ver. 16. doct. 1.) So we cannot ordinarily be fervent in prayer, but of necessity our heart will sometimes break forth in thanksgiving to God among hands, occasioned partly, by those hopes of an answer, which sometimes are in the very time of prayer suggested by God, Psal. 6. 8. partly, from the remembrance of mercies formerly bestowed, which are called to mind in prayer, as arguments to plead for our present suit, Psal. 56. 12, 13. and partly, from that felt accesse to God enjoyed in prayer, Psal. 57. 1, &c. with His gracious presence and assistance communicated to the heart, chiefly when we are discharging that duty, Psal. 138. 3. for, Paul, having prayed fervently, doth find his heart constrained to break forth in a song of praise; Now unto him that is able—be glory. 2. As we ought not only to pray, but also study what grounds of hope we may attain, for coming speed in prayer; So we should have such conceptions of God, and expresse them to Himself by way of thanksgiving in prayer, as may furnish our hearts with grounds of confidence, that we shall be heard in what we seek: for, Paul, in giving thanks to God, describeth Him from this, that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, hereby giving them ground to believe, that the former great things sought by him should be granted. 3. We ought especially to establish our hearts in the faith of Gods omnipotency and power to bestow that which we seek, as a main prop for confidence in prayer, seing it is above all doubt, that God will do whatever He is able for granting our petitions, if we seek those things which He hath promised, 1 Joh. 5. 14. and therefore usually the doubts of Believers concerning God's good-will to grant, are but pretences to cover their shamefull and atheisticall doubting about His power: for, Paul, to ground their confidence in expectation of an answer, describeth God from His power, whereby He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. 4. As our prayers would be well digested, and diligent consideration had of those things we are to seek, else our prayers are but lip labour of the grossest sort; So our conceptions concerning things lawfull and necessary to be sought in prayer, go oftentimes beyond our expressions: Eeither we dare not expresse them, they are so great, Luk. 15. 18, 19. or we cannot expresse them, they are so many, that expression is too narrow a vent or passage for them, Rom. 8. -26. for, he joyneth thinking, or conceiving, with asking, and speaketh of it as being more capacious and comprehensive than our asking doth reach unto, while he saith, above all that we ask or think. 5. So large is God in His bounty, and so mercifull in His way of dealing with His people, that He doth far outstripe not only their prayers, but also their very conceptions and hopes, in so far as when they obtain not all they ask, even then they get above what they ask, delay or disappointment being in that case much better for severall reasons than a present grant: for, saith Paul, He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. Now he speaketh not of His absolute power, but as it is operative, and working in, and for Believers, as appeareth from the instance given; according to the power that worketh in us, saith he. 6. This superabundant work of Gods mighty power, transcending the hopes and apprehensions of the most inlarged hearts, is not reserved wholly to be manifested in the glorification of the Elect; but is manifested already to every Believer in part; in so far as the work of their conversion at the first, of carrying on the work of grace in them afterwards, of their through-bearing under, and delivery from crosses and trials, the timous and unexpected trysting of severall comfortable providences with their necessities, are so many proofs and instances of Gods working above what they do ask, or think; for He is able to work so, saith he, according to the power that worketh in us. 7. We ought to look upon the by past instances of Gods gracious and powerfull working in us, as so many confirmations of our faith, that He will work powerfully in us for the time to come, yea, and above what He hath already wrought, according as our present state shall call for it: for, he maketh God's working powerfully in them at their conversion, an argument to confirm them, that God would work exceeding abundantly even to the fulfilling of all his petitions for them, the accomplishment of some whereof, to wit, their being filled with the fulnesse of God, was more than any thing already wrought in them; according to the working of His mighty power, saith he.