Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 5 · Verse and explication 20
Vers. 20. Giving thanks alwayes for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
HEre is the second thing, wherein our being filled with the Spirit, should, and will vent it self, even in giving of thanks, or in a sensible acknowledgement of favours received, and in expressing our sense of them, whether by word or work to the praise of the bestower. Which duty is amplified, 1. from the time, when it ought to be discharged, alwayes, and at all times: not as if we were to be alwayes, and without intermission in the actuall exercise of this duty of formall and direct thanksgiving; (seing there are other necessary duties which sometimes must divert us from it) but because our whole life ought to be according to the will of God, and consequently a reall expression of our thankfulnesse to Him; and because we are not to omit any occasion, when it offereth, of formal and direct thanksgiving to God expressed in words, flowing from the inward sense and feeling of our hearts, as they are said to do a thing alwayes, who do it upon all due occasions. See 2 Sam. 9. 13. Secondly, from the matter, for which we are to give thanks, for all things, whether spirituall or temporall, prosperous or adverse; for, God maketh all things, even those which are adverse, work together for the good of such as love Him, Rom. 8. 28. yea, He punisheth lesse than our iniquities deserve, Ezra 9. 13. and maketh saddest corrections to afford most necessary and profitable instructions, Psal. 94. 12. and 119. 71. so that there is ground of thanksgiving, even for those. Thirdly, from the party to whom this duty is to be discharged, unto God and the Father. See upon Col. 3. ver. 17. doct. 3. And, fourthly, from the party through whom, Jesus Christ, by the vertue of whose merit and satisfaction (which are His name whereby He is known) we are not only inabled to go about our duty, Philip. 4. 13. but also all our spiritual performances, whether of prayer or thanksgiving, are acceptable and well-pleasing unto God, Eph. 1. 6. Doct. 1. The more a man doth find his heart disposed to give thanks to God at all times, and for all things, even for those things wherein divine dispensation goeth crosse to his own affections, he may the more certainly conclude that he hath the saving work of Gods Spirit in him in a copious measure; and the more apt we are to mistake, repine and murmure at Gods dealing, and so to wast our spirits in heartlesse complaints, there is the lesse evidence of a gracious work of Gods Spirit in us, at least in any great measure: for, he maketh giving of thanks alwayes for all things, an effect of being filled with the Spirit. 2. So firm, so calm and composed is that man's state and inward frame of heart, who hath his soul replenished with a rich measure of the saving work of Gods Spirit, that nothing can fall out so crosse unto him, but, he may see the hand of God working for good to him in it, and consequently be kept in perfect peace, and a joyful frame of heart, expressing it self in giving of thanks to God, notwithstanding of it, yea and for it: for, he sheweth, the man filled with the Spirit, may attain to this fixed frame of heart, even to be giving thanks alwayes for all things unto God. 3. Spiritual exercises, especially that of giving thanks, are such, that, being rightly gone about, frequency in them doth not beget satiety and loathing, but rather a greater delight to continue in them; so that the more we are acquainted with them, the more we love them: for, otherwise this command of giving thanks alwayes, should never receive obedience. 4. So steadable and usefull is a cheery and thankful frame of heart unto a Christian, that it bringeth meat out of the eater, encouragement from matter of discouragement, and taketh occasion to lift it self up in the praises of God, even from these things which are matter of down-casting and heartlesse drouping unto others: for, a thankful heart will give thanks alwayes and for all things, even for adverse and crosse dispensations. 5. Though we are bound to give thanks unto men for favours received, as unto instruments of Gods good providence towards us, Col. 3. -15. yet, religious thanksgiving is only due unto God, as implying an eying of Him to whom we give thanks, as the supream fountain and author of the favour received, having sufficiency in Himself, and receiving nothing from any other, 1 Chron. 29. 14. and implying also a religious subjection of the whole man, both in soul and body, unto his benefactour, in evidence of a thankfull heart, 1 Cor. 6. 20. for, the Apostle, speaking of this religious thanksgiving, will have it ascribed to God only; Giving thanks unto God and the Father. 6. That we may imploy Jesus Christ aright, whether for furniture and through-bearing in duty, or for acceptation of our performances by God, it is most conducing and necessary that we so take Him up, as He is made known by the Word in His Person, Nature and Offices, and accordingly close with Him by faith, as ours, whereby, our faith being acted in Him with relation to our state and persons, upon undoubted grounds, we may find more easie work to act faith in Him for furniture to such a particular duty, or for acceptation to it when it is performed: for, Paul seemeth to imply so much, while, teaching them to act faith in Christ for through-bearing and acceptation in this duty of thanksgiving, he doth hold Him forth not only under His titles of Lord and Jesus and Christ, which do imply His distinct Natures, with the unity of His Person, and His threefold Office, to which He was anoynted, (See upon chap. 1. ver. 17. doct. 6.) but also maketh mention of His Name, which expresseth whatever other thing is revealed of Him, and whereby especially He is made known; and withall appropriateth Christ unto himself, teaching them to do the like upon grounds of knowledge of what He is, while he saith, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.