Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 3 · Verse and explication 4
Vers. 5. Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit.
THe Apostle giveth a reason, why he called the Gospel (the knowledge whereof was revealed unto him) a mysterie, and thereby doth also prove, that there was a necessity of extraordinary revelation for bringing him to the knowledge of it, to wit, because this Doctrine of salvation through free grace by Christ, and more especially the calling of the Gentiles to partake of this salvation in all respects equally with the Jews (which is chiefly intended by the mysterie here spoken of, as is clear from, ver. 6.) was not so fully, and clearly made known in the former ages of the world, unto any of the sons of men, whether without, or within the Church, as it was now under the Gospel revealed immediately by the Spirit of God unto the holy Apostles (who these were, see upon Col. 1. ver. 1. doct. 2.) and the Prophets of the New Testament, (spoken of, Act. 15. 32. 21. 8, 9, 10. Eph. 4. 11.) who being extraordinarily assisted by the Spirit of God, did not only open up the prophetical Scriptures of the Old Testament, confirming and proving the Doctrine of the Gospel from these; but also did foretell things to come. Doct. 1. The children of men are naturally ignorant of Gospel-truths, and know no further of them, than God is pleased to reveal and make known unto them: for, the Apostle sheweth, that the sons of men were passive, as to the measure of light which was attained unto of those truths; Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed. 2. The Lord in bestowing grace and the saving knowledge of Himself, doth act as a most free agent, not constrained by any necessity, so, that He dispenseth grace to whom He will, Rom. 9. 18. to some more sparingly, and to others more liberally, whether we compare times with times, or persons with persons in one and the same time, Rom. 12. -3. for, He hath revealed the saving knowledg of this mysterie now under the Gospel in a greater measure than he did formerly; Which in other ages was not made known, as is now revealed, saith he. 3. Neither the Doctrine of salvation through free grace by Christ, nor Gods purpose to call the Gentiles to partake of this salvation equally with the Jews, was altogether unknown to the ancient Church before Christ came; there being severall manifestations of the former in the Covenant of Grace, as it was first revealed unto Adam, Gen. 3. 15. and after renewed with Abraham, Gen. 17. 7. David, 2 Sam. 23. 5. and commented upon by the Prophets, Isa. 53. 3, &c. and many full prophesies also of the latter, which the Apostles themselves did make use of to confirm the calling of the Gentiles, as Act. 13. 47. cited from Isa. 49. 6. and Act. 15. 15. cited from Amos 9. 11: for, the Apostle doth not simply deny that the former ages had any knowledge of this mysterie at all, but comparatively; It was not in other ages made known, as it is now revealed. But, fourthly, neither the Doctrine of salvation, nor yet the calling of the Gentiles were so fully, or clearly revealed under the Old Testament, as they are now under the New; both of them being but sparingly spoken to then, Mat. 13. 17. and what was spoken, for the most part, wrapped up in a vail of types and shadowes, so that they could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished, 2 Cor. 3. 13. The latter, to wit, the calling of the Gentiles, being only then fore-told, and prophesied of; and therefore could not be so distinctly, solidly and satisfyingly known, as now when it is accomplished: Besides that the time when, and the manner how it was to be accomplished, and particularly, that the Gentiles should have accesse unto the Church without an entrance by the door of circumcision. Those (I say) were either not at all, or but very sparingly revealed, so that even the Apostles themselves, after Christs ascension, did doubt and hesitate much about the truth of this mysterie, untill it was more fully revealed, Act. 10. 10, &c. for, saith Paul, Which in other ages was not made known, as it is now revealed. 5. As Christs servants may be sometimes necessitated to speak unto the commendation of their own receipts from God; So Christian sobriety will teach them to be so far from disparaging, or undervaluing the receipts of others, to render themselves thereby the more esteemed of, That they will endeavour to have others, who are equally deserving, to partake with them in that deserved esteem, which they challenge unto themselves: for, Paul, having begun to speak (ver. 3.) of that knowledge of this mysterie, which was revealed unto himself, doth here affirm the same of all the Apostles and Prophets; As it is now revealed unto the Apostles and Prophets. 6. Though God might easily communicate the knowledge of Himself unto all, whom he intendeth to save in a way extraordinary, immediately and without the help of second means, Act. 2. ver. 3, 4. yet, He hath rather chosen to communicate His mind so, unto some few only, who have, some of them, at least, at His appointment (2 Pet. 1. -21.) set down in sacred Writ what they themselves did immediately receive from God, 1 Job. 1. 1. by which means the knowledge of God may, in an ordinary way, be conveyed unto others, Job. 20. 31. The Lord hereby preventing Satans designe, who would otherwise have obtruded upon people his own delusions, in place of immediate revelations from God, 2 Chron. 18. 21. and trying the obedience of His people, if they will subject themselves unto His will and word in the mouth of His Servants, Matth. 10. 40. as also gently sparing their infirmity and weaknesse, who could not, one among a thousand, carry aright those extraordinary manifestations of God unto their spirits, 2 Cor. 12. 7. for, saith Paul, this mysterie was revealed by the Spirit, to wit, immediately, not unto all, but to His holy Apostles and Prophets. 7. As all the Lords Ministers ought to be inherently holy, not only because of the precept enjoyning so much in a speciall manner unto Ministers, Tit. 1. 8. but also for the more successefull discharging of their office; seing the secret of the Lord is with them who fear Him, Psal. 25. 14. and the lips of the righteous feed many, Prov. 10. 21. and as all the extraordinary Office-bearers (for what is revealed, Judas alone excepted) and Pen-men of holy Scripture, were really sanctified and holy; So inherent holinesse, without a peculiar illumination of the Spirit of God, superadded for that end, is not sufficient for giving clear light and insight in Gospel-mysteries: for, He giveth the Apostles and Prophets the epithet of boly, to shew they themselves were so, and all Ministers ought to be so; and yet this mysterie behoved to be revealed unto them by the Spirit, even to the holy Apostles and Prophets.