Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 4 · Verse and explication 1
Vers. 1. I Therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.
THe Apostle doth here inforce one generall duty, which is a comprehensive sum of all such other duties as he is to presse afterwards, and whereof that unity, unto which he exhorteth in the first part of the Chapter, is a special evidence. Which general exhortation, is, that (supposing that they were effectually called, at least they took themselves for such, and the better part were really such) they would walk worthy of their vocation, not, as if they had been to purchase and merit by their walking, that God should call them: for, the text holdeth out, that they behoved to be called, before they could walk after the manner which the Apostle here presseth, and therefore were not to merit vocation by their walking: See 2 Tim. 1. 9. but that they ought to walk suitably, and as it becometh those who are dignified with such a calling, as the word is rendred, Rom. 16. 2. Which exhortation is propounded by way of intreaty, and backed with two arguments. The first whereof, is hinted at in the illative particle, therefore, and it is taken from that excellent state, in which free grace had placed them, spoken of in the three preceeding Chapters. The second, is taken from the suffering condition of Paul himself who did exhort, whose sad sufferings might justly challenge from them obedience unto those truths for which he suffered, as that which would comfort him much under his sufferings; and their denial whereof could not but adde affliction to his bonds. Hence Learn, 1. The Doctrine of salvation through free grace in Jesus Christ, is so far from ministring an occasion of security, ungodlinesse or profanity, that there is no stronger argument to induce men to the conscientious practice of holines in all the duties thereof, than sanctified knowledge, saving faith, and the solid consideration of that Doctrine, especially seing the principles thereof do many wayes engage the Believer to lead an holy life, Rom. 6. 2, &c. and the freegifted salvation offered by it cannot be imbraced, except covenanted strength for through-bearing in the way of holinesse be imbraced also, Rom. 8. 1. for, he inferreth the study of holinesse from the Doctrine of salvation through free grace; the former being, as it were, the native result, and inseparable companion of the latter; I therefore beseech you, that ye walk worthy. 2. Though there be a necessary connexion betwixt our imbracing the doctrine of salvation through free grace, and the study of an holy life, as said is; yet such is our natural aversnesse from holinesse, Rom. 8. 7. so many are the tentations and difficulties which ly in our way to it, 2 Tim. 3. 12. that even, the best of men do need the spur of earnest and vehement exhortation to excite unto it: for, notwithstanding that Paul holdeth forth upright practice, as the result of imbracing the former doctrine; Yet he seeth it needfull to exhort and beseech them, that they walk worthy of their vocation. 3. A suffering lot for Christ, is such, as those who rightly improve it, will highly esteem of it, not onelyonly in their first thoughts, and at their first engaging in it, but also, and chiefly in their cold bloud, after a times experience, and in their second thoughts: for, Paul having boasted (chap. 3. ver. 1.) of his being a prisoner for Christ, he doth here repeat the same, to shew he had not reason to eat-in any thing of what he formerly had said; I therefore the prisoner of the Lord. 4. It sweetneth much the sufferings of the Saints, that he for whom they suffer is Christ, the Lord, as being worthy to be suffered for, Act. 5. 41. and mighty in power to support them under suffering, (Matth. 10. 19, 20.) to deliver from it, (2 Corinth. 1. 10.) to better them by it, (Rom. 5. 3, 4.) and to reward them freely for it, 2 Thess. 1. 7. for, Paul comforteth himself in this, that he was the prisoner of the Lord, whom (chap. 3. 1.) he called Christ. 5. The suffering lot of Christs Ministers obligeth people to yeeld themselves so much the more obedient in the Lord unto their Ministery, by walking like the Gospel, there being nothing more comfortable to His suffering Servants, than when their sufferings are usefull for that end, Phil. 1. 14. and nothing more weighty than when it is otherwise, 2 Tim. 4. 10, 16. for, Paul designeth himself from his sufferings, hereby to adde weight to his exhortation; I therefore the prisoner of the Lord. See more from this stile taken by Paul, chap. 3. ver. 1. doct. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Doct. 6. So ticklish are people to be dealt with in the point of pressing duty, and so ready to cast at duty, when it is not pressed in a way suitable to their own mind, 2 Tim. 4. 3. that though Ministers are not to be directed by people, as to the matter which they preach, 2 Chron. 18. 12. 13. yet as to the manner of bearing-in what is pressed, they are much to condescend to that way, which will be most taking with, and gaining upon, their humor: and particularly, they are to presse the duties of holinesse, with as much of servent, earnest, and insinuative entreaty, as if it were a matter of their own concernment only, or as if people by their obedience were to hurt themselves for doing a favour unto their Ministers; for, Paul doth presse his exhortation by an insinuative entreaty, rather than by commanding; I beseech you, the word signifieth, vehemently to entreat. 7. It is no small honour, which God doth put upon His people, when He effectually calleth them, and by His omnipotent and irresistible power (Joh. 12. 32.) doth draw these, who were before dead in sins and trespasses (Eph. 2. 1.) from under the power of darknesse, and translateth them unto the Kingdom of His dear Son, Col. 1. 13. giving them actuall possession of the state of grace, with all the priviledges accompanying that state here, 1 Joh. 3. 2-. and a right unto, (Luk. 12. 32.) with the well grounded hope of, glory, to be enjoyed hereafter, Eph. 1. 18. for he speaketh of their vocation, as a state of much dignity and honour, requiring a singular sort of walking answerable to it; That ye walk worthy of the vocation, wherewith ye are called. 8. So far are we from meriting by our holy and tender walking, that God shall call us out of nature unto the state of grace, and consequently bestow a right to heaven and glory upon us, that our effectuall calling doth go before our holy walking, as that, without which we cannot walk one step acceptably in the wayes of God: for, Paul supponeth them to be already called, and from that exhorteth them to walk answerably; That ye walk worthy of the vocation, wherewith ye are called. 9. It is the duty of called Christians, and will also be their care and study, to have a constant eye upon that dignity, unto which they are called; that so they may walk worthy of it, and answerably unto it: which then is in some measure performed, when we have respect unto all the commandments, Psal. 119. 6. and do in a speciall manner make conscience of all those particular duties, aftermentioned in this Epistle: for, he exhorteth them to walk worthy of their vocation, as their duty following upon, and flowing from, that dignity put upon them in effectall calling; Walk worthy of the vocation, wherewith ye are called. 10. But more particularly, Our carriage and practice cannot be answerable to this excellent state, to which we are called, except, first, we shake off slouth and lazinesse, bestirring our selves in the way of duty. Secondly, as we begin well, so we hold on without down-sitting and turning aside. And, thirdly, we be daily advancing, and making progresse in our Christian course; for, he designeth a carriage answerable to this excellent state by walking, which implieth all those three, motion or exercise, constancie in it, and progresse in the way; That ye walk worthy of the vocation.