Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 5 · Verse and explication 13
Vers. 13. But all things that are reproved, are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest, is light.
HE doth, next, enforce the exhortation to reprove those works of darknesse, first, by an argument taken from one excellent use of admonition and reproof, while he sheweth that those secret sins of wicked most being reproved, are by the light, whether of Gods Word in the mouth of the reprover or of his holy life, made manifest in their black and ugly colours, to wit, not so much unto others, as unto the actors and authors of them. See 1 Cor. 14. 24. Next, by proving that the light of reproof attaineth this end from the nature of light, which is to make all things that are within its reach, manifest and conspicuous; for, the words in the Originall do read better thus, for light is that which manifesteth all things. Doct. 1. The discovery and conviction of sin in its vilenesse, is of necessary and profitable use unto the sinner; as being the first step towards contrition, Act. 2. 36. with 37. and consequently to faith in Jesus Christ and repentance unto life, Act. 2. 37. with 38. for, he maketh this an excellent use of reproof, and that which should be aimed at by the reprover, even that sin be made manifest in its vilenesse to the sinner; for all things that are reproved, are made manifest. 2. It is not a naked sight and knowledge that sin is sin, and in some measure shamefull, which is of any great use to the sinner, but a sight of it in its vilest colours, as it is a breach of Gods most holy Law, enmity against the great God, and a bringer down of Gods eternall wrath: for, those heathens had some knowledge of sin, and of the shame was in it, and therefore they did run to secret with it: and yet he speaketh here of a further discovery, and manifestation of it by the light of reproof, which was usefull and necessary; All things that are reproved, are made manifest. 3. The Lord doth sometimes blesse not only publick preaching, but also the word of reproof in the mouth of private Christians, and the example of their holy life, for making godlesse sinners take occasion thence to reflect upon themselves, and therein, as in a glasse, to see the filthy vilenesse of their beloved sins, and to judge themselves for them; for, he saith, All things that are reproved, are made manifest by the light, to wit, the light of verball, or reall reproof, held forth, even by private Christians: for, he doth not speak here to Ministers only. 4. The probable good, which God may bring about to the party reproved by the means of our reproof, should have more of weight to incite us towards the making conscience of this duty, than the feared inconvenience to our selves, arising from the parties displeasure, should have to scare us from it: for, Paul will have us to set upon this dutie, because of our neighbour's good, which probably will be brought about by it: reprove them, saith he; For all things that are reproved, are made manifest by the light. 5. As there is no duty, of the successe whereof we use to be more diffident than that of reproving the sins of others; So there is not any duty, the successe whereof we have better ground to be perswaded of, even than of this, that discovery of sin to the sinners conscience, either to his conversion or further obduration, shall follow upon a timeous and wellguided reproof: for, he proveth that this effect shall follow upon reproof as natively as the discovery of things dark and hid doth follow upon light; for that is light, saith he, which discovereth all things.