Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 5 · Verse and explication 15
Vers. 15. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
HEre is a new precept, the third in order of those which are contained in this Chapter, and it is deduced also as a conclusion from what goeth before, to this purpose, That seing they were now light in the Lord, ver. 8. and obliged not to have fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darknesse, but to reprove them, ver. 10. therefore they would see to their walk, or take accurate inspection of their life and conversation, whether in word or deed; and to see to their walk, as to be circumspect or precise in it, even willing to go to the outmost (as the word in the original doth signifie) of what every command requireth, both for matter and manner, especially labouring as to approve themselves unto God; so to give no just cause of exception or offence at what we do unto others, no, not to those that are without, who are expresly mentioned, Col. 4. 5. where the same precept is in substance proponed: Which precept so proponed, he doth, first, inforce by a reason; for, the particle as, doth not alwayes make comparison, but sometimes rendereth a reason: and the reason is, that true wisdom doth consist in walking thus, and to walk otherwayes is extream folly. Doct. 1. The more of light and knowledge a man hath received from God, he ought to take the more diligent heed, that in all things he practise according to his light; seing not only the way of such is most eyed by wicked men, who watch for his halting, Jer. 20. 10. but also, if he doth not walk the more circumspectly, he deserveth double stripes, Luke 12. 47. for, this exhortation may be looked on as an inference from what he saith, ver. 8. ye are now light in the Lord—See then that ye walk circumspectly, saith he. 2. So many are the wayes, by which we may become accessory to other folks sins, (See ver. 7. doct. 3.) and so many are the snares, which Satan and his instruments do lay in our way to intrap us, Eph. 6. 11. that, if we walk not all the more circumspectly, we cannot eschew but we must partake one way or other with wicked men in their sins: for, this exhortation may be looked upon also, as an inference from what he said, ver. 11-Have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darknesse—See then that ye walk circumspectly, saith he. 3. Those only are most fit to reprove sin in others to some good purpose, who walk most circumspectly, and live so, as they cannot be justly blamed themselves: Even the very righteous walking of such, is a forcible reproof of sin in others, though they speak nothing, Heb. 11. 5. and otherwise their speaking will have no force, Matth. 7. 3, 4. besides that God doth usually blesse the pains of such, Prov. 10. 21. for, this exhortation may be also looked upon, as an inference from what he said, ver. -11. but rather reprove them—See then that ye walk circumspectly. 4. That a man may walk accurately and circumspectly, coming up (so far as through grace he is able) to the outmost of what every command requireth, both for matter and manner, it is necessary that he walk, not rashly and indeliberately, but, that he see and diligently consider antecedently to his acting, to wit, not only what he is to do, that it be neither evil nor appearance of evil, 1 Thess. 5. 22. nor an occasion leading to evil, Rom. 13. 14. but also from what principle and fountain, (Matth. 7. 17, 18.) for what end, (Matth. 6. 2, 5.) and by what means, (Job 13. 7, 8.) he intendeth to act in every thing which he is about to do: for, in order to their circumspect walking, he requireth of them that they should see, the word signifieth to take heed, to see with attention, and diligently to consider, Matth. 7. 3. See then that ye walk circumspectly. 5. As those are only truly wise in Gods account, whatever the world think of them, who labour to walk most exactly by the rule of Gods Word all alongs their christian course; So where this true and sanctified wisdom (which cometh from above) is, it will render it self evident, by making the person endued with it, walk circumspectly, so that he will foresee the evil of a course, and eschew it, Prov. 22. 3. search out the mind of God in every thing, understand it (Hos. 14. 9.) and observe it, Psal. 107. 43. keep silence when he should not speak, Prov. 10. 19. speak advisedly, and the truth only, when he speaketh, Prov. 16. 23. hear the voice of the rod, and take with reproof and correction, Prov. 17. 10. be loath to stumble any with whom he converseth, Col. 4. 5. yea, and will labour to gain them to God, Prov. 11. -30. for, he maketh true wisdom to consist in, and to evidence it self by, walking circumspectly; Not as fools, but as wise. 6. The lesse circumspect and exact men be in walking by the rule of Gods Word, the greater fools they are in Gods esteem (whatever the world do think of them) as being not only destitute of all the fore-mentioned evidences of true wisdom, but having also the contrary evidences of extream folly; See ye walk circumspectly, not as fools.