Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 4 · Verse and explication 15
Vers. 15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
HE doth illustrate the fore-mentioned end of the Ministery, thirdly, from another fruit of that spirituall edification, unto which the work of the Ministery is also subservient, even to growth in grace, or, that real Believers by speaking the truth (or rather, as the word signifieth, by cleaving to the truth of heavenly doctrine) and by making conscience of the duties of love and good works, as the fruit of their sincerity in adhering to truth, may grow up, and make progresse in all christian vertues, untill they attain to their full stature and height of growth, even such a measure of conformity with Christ, as they be in a manner transformed in Him, and become most perfectly one with Him, whom he calleth here, as often elsewhere, (See upon chap. 1. 22.) the head, to show a reason, why Believers should grow up in Him, and to through conformity with Him; even, that so the Members of this mystical body, may be in some measure proportionable to their head. Doct. 1. The ordinance of the Ministery, is appointed of God, not only to awake those who are yet in nature, and drive them to Christ, Eph. 5. 14. but also for the good of those who are already converted, even to make them grow up in grace untill they come to perfection; and therefore none, who live on earth, can justly account themselves to be above this Ordinance: for, the Apostle sheweth that also is one end of the work of the Ministery, that those who are already quickened by it, may grow up into him. 2. The work of edification intended to be brought about by the ordinance of the Ministery, is not attained upon souls, though they be preserved free from Error, except they also know the Truth, adhere to it, and be growing up in grace, and in making conscience of all the duties of an holy life: for, Paul, having mentioned one fruit of that spirituall edification, mentioned ver. 12. to be freedom from error and infection from false teachers, ver. 14. he here addeth another, that speaking, or cleaving to truth in love, we may grow up into him in all things. 3. Our making conscience to grow in grace, is a soveraign remedy against the hazard of being surprized with error, and tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, in so far, as then we are so much busied about our heart, that we have not leisure to be taken up with vain and giddy notions of an unsetled head: for, Paul, having dehorted them from being as children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, subjoyneth, as a preservative from that unsetled temper, but speaking the truth in love, we may grow up. 4. It is not sufficient for these who live under the drop of Ordinances, to attain to the being of grace, so as they can prove by evident marks that they have grace; but they must also labour to grow in grace: for, hereby we glorifie God, and speak to the commendation of our Lords table, whereat we feed, Joh. 15. 8. hereby we attain to the enjoyment of many rich priviledges, which otherwise we are deprived of, 1 Joh. 4. 18. and hereby also we are more enabled to ride out against a storm in trying times, as appeareth from the conhexion of these two verses, teaching, that babes in Christ and children are tossed to and fro with every wind, when grown and growing Christians will ride it out: for, Paul, teaching that the end of the Ministery is to make Believers grow, doth show they ought to grow, while he saith, But speaking the truth in love, we may grow. 5. As we do then sincerely adhere to the truth of heavenly Doctrine, when we make evident our so doing by walking in all the duties of love, both to God and our neighbour; (for faith worketh by love, Gal. 5. 6.) So our love is then truely Christian, and not a fleshly lust, or morall vertue only, when it is grounded upon truth, and the result of our adhering to it by faith: for, therefore Paul conjoyneth these two, making the latter, as it were, the result of the former, while he saith, but speaking, or cleaving to the truth in love. 6. That Christians may grow in grace, it is most necessary they labour to have both their understanding enlightened with truth, and their heart and affections inflamed with love, without either of which, our growth is not Christian and spirituall, but either superstitious and blind, even a growth in error, if the understanding be not enlightened; or, growth in pride, conceit, self-love and arrogance, if, the head only being filled with light, our affections be not inflamed with love to God and our neighbour: for, therefore he prescribeth, that by speaking the truth in love, we should grow up. 7. This Christian growth must not only be in one thing, but in all things; in so far, as grace must be growing, not only in all the parts of the soul, understanding, will and affections; but the whole man also, and all the parts thereof must grow according to all the ordinary dimensions, or in all Christian vertues and duties, both of our generall and particular calling, 2 Pet. 1. 5. even as it is in living bodies, who grow equally and proportionally in all their parts of length, breadth, height and depth; That we may grow up in all things, saith he. 8. Then do Christians grow as they ought, when they are in a perpetuall motion towards Christ, so as to be daily more and more like Him, incorporate in Him and one with Him; that full conformity with Christ, and that most perfect union and communion with Him, which shall be attained in glory, being the mark and scope toward which they tend, and without attaining whereof they do not sit down satisfied, as if they had enough: for, saith he, we may grow up into Him. 9. Though there ought to be a spiritual emulation among Christians, so as to strive who may grow most and outstripe others, 1 Cor. 14. 12. Yet there should be no division, envious strife, or carnal emulation among them upon this account, so as to envie the progresse of others, or cast stumbling-blocks in their way to retard them, but an harmonious on-going and rejoycing in the progresse one of another; seing they are to grow, as the parts of one body under one head, Christ: for, so much doth Paul here teach, We may grow up into Him, which is the head, even Christ.