Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 5 · Verse and explication 1
Vers. 1. BE ye therefore followers of God as dear children,
THe Apostle (being to insist further in exhorting to such particular vertues as do belong to all Christians in general of whatsoever rank or station) doth, first, illustrate the sixth and last precept, given, chap. 4. whereby he enjoyned the exercise of mutual kindnesse and mercy in forgiving one another, because of Gods example in forgiving them for Christs sake. Which precept he doth illustrate, first, by reinforcing the duty, together with the motive to it, from Gods example, while, 1. he commandeth them to be followers of God, to wit, in the exercise of kindnesse, mercy and forgivenesse: for, according to the present scope, the imitation of God here enjoyned, seemeth to be astricted unto those particulars, as Matth. 5. 44, 45. and Luk. 6. 35, &c. though otherwise it may be extended, and elsewhere is extended, unto all those divine vertues, whereof some representation and shadow, at least, ought to be in us, 1 Pet. 1. 16. And, secondly, he giveth a reason why they should imitate God thus, even because they were His children by Adoption, and not only children, but dear children, and dearly beloved by God their Father. All of them did, at least, professe themselves to be such, Mal. 1. 6- and the better part of them really were such, Joh. 1. 12. and therefore they were to imitate Him in the exercise of those vertues, as they would evidence themselves to be of His children. Doct. 1. One and the self same action of God, and chiefly His works of mercy towards Believers, are more than one way advantagious unto them, in so far, as thereby not only they are freed from sin and misery, but also have an argument and motive, furnished both unto them on whom He sheweth mercy, whereby they may be incited to their duty of shewing mercy unto others, and to others also to shew mercy unto them: for, he sheweth, that God in forgiving them, had cast a copy to be followed by them in their forgiving one another, while he saith, Be ye therefore followers of God. 2. Though we neither ought, nor can imitate God in His works of creation and providence, Isa. 14. 13. 14. neither may we presume to imitate Him in any thing further than His revealed will prescribeth as our duty, Isa. 8. 20. yet, what ever attributes or actions of His have in them any proportion, or resemblance with any vertue or duty prescribed unto us, we ought to look upon such, as our copy and pattern to be followed by us: for, he saith, Be ye followers of God, with relation to His forgiving them for Christs sake. 3. It is not sufficient to do the same things to others, which God hath done to us, except we endeavour to imitate and follow Him in the way and manner wherein He doth them; So as that we do them not from any base or inferiour motive, or for any wrong end; but from a desire to be conform unto Him, and unto what is required of us in the Word by Him: for, this following, and imitating of God here enjoyned, implyeth a purpose and endeavour to conform our selves to Him; Be ye therefore followers of God. 4. Gods example in such things as are imitable by us, is the only un-erring pattern, to be absolutely followed, and without any reserve or limitation: and the practice of any other, is to be followed but so far as their example is conincident with Gods Word and practice. See 1 Cor. 11. 1. where Paul commandeth them to follow him with an expresse limitation, to wit, as he was a follower of Christ, but here his command is absolute and unlimitted; Be ye followers of God. 5. The Lord doth enter into most intimate friendship with, and taketh on most neer relations unto those, whose sins He pardoneth, So that He doth not only free them from deserved wrath, but placeth them among the children, and maketh them adopted sons and daughters unto Himself: for, here he calleth them God's dear children, of whom He said, chap. 4. 32. that God had forgiven them for Christs sake. 6. All those who are dear children to God by adoption, should look upon their highest priviledges, as strongest engagements to duty, and particularly set themselves to imitate Him in the exercise of mercy, kindnesse, forgivenesse, and of such other duties as He hath made lovely and amiable by His own example: for, Paul maketh their priviledges an engagement to duty, and to imitate God in particular; Be ye followers of God as dear children. 7. It is not sufficient that we set our selves to imitate God, except we do it as dear children, that is, first, humbly, Matth. 18. 2. 3. and next, with a kind of naturall affection and propension (for, so do children affect to imitate, and by imitation to please their parents) and not as servants and slaves by compulsion: Hence he saith, as dear children, pointing not only at the reason why, but the manner how, they should follow Him.