Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 4 · Verse and explication 22 – Verse and explication 23
Vers. 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts:
HE doth, next, shew, what it is to be taught by Christ, as the truth is in him; and thereby confirmeth what he said, ver. 20. that the saving knowledge of Christ is inconsistent with a licentious life, in so far as this effectuall learning of Christ, and knowledge of Him, requireth from, and effectually worketh in, the person so instructed, three things. The first whereof, is in this verse, to wit, a daily study to put off and mortifie the old man, whereby is not meaned the substance of a mans soul and body, nor yet the naturall and essentiall faculties of the soul; (for, those of necessity do alwayes remain, untill the man cease to be) but that naturall and inbred corruption, which hath infected and polluted all those: which inbred corruption he sheweth had manifested it self in their former godlesse conversation, and doth grow daily worse, and more corrupt, yea, and by little and little bringeth corruption and destruction upon the whole man, both in soul and body, where it is given way to in its deceitfull lusts: for, so much doth he intend, while he saith, it is corrupt according, or, by deceitfull lusts. Now, this inbred corruption, is here called the old man, and the mortifying of it, is called a putting of it off, by a metaphor taken from the laying aside and casting off of old garments. See the reasons for both, upon Col. 3. -9. doct. 1. Hence, Learn, 1. So much may we reckon our selves to know of Christ, and to be taught by Christ, as we do practise according to what we know. Those only are best scholers in Christs school, who are most tender walkers: for, Paul sheweth, that to learn Christ, and to be taught by Him, is, in a word, to practise all the duties of an holy life, even that ye put off the old man, &c. saith he. 2. Then do we set about the duties of sanctification in the right order, when we begin at the work of mortification in the first place, and thence proceed to the positive duties of a new life: the plants of righteousnesse will not thrive in an unhumbled, proud, impenitent heart, Joh. 5. 44. for, Paul sheweth the first part of this lesson, is, to put off concerning the former conversation, the old man. 3. Then do we carry on the work of mortification right and to good purpose, when we single not out some one sin passing by others, but do strike at all sin, and do not content our selves to lop the branches, but strike at the very root of sin: for, Paul describeth this work to be a putting off the old man, that is, the bitter root of inbred corruption, in its full latitude and extent; That ye put off concerning the former conversation, the old man. 4. Though we must begin to strike at the root of sin within; yet we are not to rest there, but must set against sin in all its branches; and whoever setteth upon sin at the root and in the heart, he cannot choose but set against the breaking forth of sin in his hand and outward conversation also: yea, the reality of his fighting against his inward corruptions, will make it self manifest in an outward change in his conversation from what it formerly was: for, so much is imported, while he sheweth they were to put off the old man, as to the former conversation, not as if sins of the outward man and conversation only, were to be put off; but because those are also to be mortified, and the inward work of mortification doth kyth by our putting off of those. 5. The work of putting off and mortifying this old man of inbred corruption, is to be entered timously, in so far, as the longer that corruption is spared, it groweth worse, and posteth the person, in whom it is, more swiftly to ruine and destruction: for, Paul doth, indirectly at least, presse this duty of putting off the old man, from this that it is corrupt, or groweth worse and worse by its deceitfull lusts. 6. This inbred root of naturall coruption, doth vent it self in multitudes and swarmes of inordinate lusts and sinfull desires, by venting whereof, it doth alwayes acquire the more strength, and secureth its interest more firmly, both in soul and body: for, he sheweth, that this old man hath lusts, and is corrupted, or made worse, and more deeply rooted by those lusts; which is corrupted by deceitfull lusts. 7. Sinfull lusts are entising and deceitfull lusts, in so far as they promise what they never perform, 2 Pet. 2. 19. and do often cover themselves under the mask of some laudable vertue, Col. 2. 18. and thus do by subtilty carry the sinner captive to their slavery, Prov. 7. 21, 22. for, he calleth them deceitfull lusts, or, as it is in the Originall, lusts of deceit.
Vers. 23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
HEre is the second thing which the effectual learning of Christ doth require from, and work in, the person so taught, even a serious endeavour to have his mind and understanding more and more renewed, or made new, by getting a new quality of divine and supernatural light implanted in it; and he calleth the understanding, or rational part of the soul, the spirit of their mind, that is, the most spiritual part of the soul; or, by an Hebraism, their spiritual mind, so called, because the mind, or understanding, is lesse subject to be wrought upon by the temper and disposition of the body, than the will and affections. Doct. 1. The principal part of the soul, the very seat of reason, the mind and understanding in all men, is by nature infected and polluted by this old man of inbred corruption: for, otherwise there were no need that we should be renewed in the spirit of our mind. 2. It is not sufficient in order to our effectual learning of Christ, and being taught by Him, that we cease to do evill, and labour to mortifie our inbred corruption, with the several branches thereof; but we must also learn to do well, and endeavour to have the whole man adorned with the several graces of Gods Spirit, making conscience of all the positive duties of an holy life: for, the Apostle sheweth their being taught of Christ, consisted, not only in the putting off the old man, but in being renewed in the spirit of their mind, and ver. 24. in putting on that new man. 3. See three doctrines implyed in the notation of the word renewed, which signifieth to restore a thing deformed and antiquated, to its ancient form and beauty, upon Col. 3. vet. 10. doct. 4, 5, 6. Doct. 4. Right information of the mind and judgement, and the knowledge of truth and duty flowing therefrom, are most necessary to be sought after by Christians, if so they would lead an holy life: An erring mind will of necessity, at least in so far, make a crooked heart and an irregular hand: for, Paul sheweth that in particular it is necessary to be renewed in the spirit of the mind.