Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
THe Apostle, having in the three preceeding Chapters given a short sum of saving doctrine, doth now, to ver. 21. chap. 6. exhort them to suitable practice. And, first, being to presse upon them the practice of such duties as are more general and common to all, as they are Christians, to chap. 5. ver. 22. He doth, in the first part of this Chapter, exhort them to unity: and, to make way for his so doing, he first premitteth a general exhortation to walk worthy of their vocation, ver. 1. And next, subjoyneth a more particular exhortation unto such graces, as have a more special influence upon unity, as humility, &c. ver. 2. and so doth fall upon his intended scope, which is to presse upon them the study of unity, ver. 3. Which he inforceth, 1. by an argument taken from seven things, which are one and the same in the Church and all the true members thereof, ver. 4, 5, 6. Secondly, by an other argument, taken from these things which are not one, but diverse, almost in every member, to wit, diversity of gifts and graces, and their different measures; which diversity he showeth doth also tend to union, first, because all those gifts and different measures do come from one author, Christ, ver. 7. which he confirmeth from Psal. 78. 18. cited, ver. 8. commented upon and applied, ver. 9, 10. And further confirmeth it, by giving an instance of those severall gifts, in the severall offices appointed by Christ in the Church, ver. 11. Secondly, because they are all given for promoting the same end, the edifying of the Church, first, propounded, ver. 12. secondly, illustrated from the term of its continuance by those means, ver. 13. and from two of its fruits, to wit, preservation from error, ver. 14. and growth in grace, ver. 15. by vertue of influence conveyed from Christ, ver. 16.
In the second part, he dehorteth them from all impiety and profanity in the general; first, because unconverted Gentiles did live in those, ver. 17. whose godlesse conversation is set forth distinctly in its several branches and degrees, ver. 18, 19. Secondly, because the knowledge which they had of Christ, was inconsistent with such a licentious life, ver. 20. which he proveth from three things, which that knowledge did oblige, and strongly incline them to, first, to mortifie the old man, ver. 22. secondly, to have the mind or understanding renewed, ver. 23. thirdly, to put on the new man in righteousnesse and holinesse, ver. 24.
In the third part of the Chapter, are six particular precepts, belonging to the second Table: The first is to abstain from lying, and to speak truth, ver. 25. The second, to moderate and suppresse anger, ver. 26. else they did cast open doors for Satan to tempt them unto some mischief, ver. 27. The third, to abstain from stealing, and to labour diligently in some lawfull calling, ver. 28. The fourth, to abstain from all corrupt communication, and to utter edifying purpose in their ordinary discourse, ver. 29. because they would otherwise grieve the spirit, ver. 30. The fifth, is, to abstain from all the branches, degrees, and effects of sinfull anger, ver. 31. The sixth is, to exercise kindnesse and tender-heartednesse in mutual forgivenesse, ver. 32.