Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 5 · Verse and explication 3
Vers. 3. But fornication, and all uncleannesse, or covetousness, let it not be once named amongst you, as becometh Saints.
THe Apostle cometh now to give some new precepts. And, first, in this and the following verse, he forbiddeth six vices, all of them, for the most part, contrary to chastity prescribed in the seventh command. Three of which vices are in the outward actions, and forbidden in this verse. 1. Fornication, or the sin of filthinesse, between parties, both free from the yoke of marriage, 1 Cor. 7. 2. a sin looked upon as a thing indifferent, and no sin among the Gentiles, 1 Cor. 6. 12. 2. Uncleannesse, under which are usually comprehended all other sorts of filthie lusts between any parties whatsomever. 3. Covetousnesse, that is, an immoderate desire (Heb. 13. 5.) to acquire (Micab 2. 2.) or to preserve worldly goods, Prov. 11. 24, 26. All which he doth so discharge, as that they should not name them, to wit, with delight, and without detestation; otherwise it is lawfull to name them while we reprove them, as the Apostle here doth: and he urgeth this prohibition from the state wherein they were, as being Saints, separated from the world, and dedicated to God; and therefore it were most unseemly for them to defile themselves with such filthy lusts. Doct. 1. True Christian-love unto our neighbour, whereby we endeavour his preservation and good in his honour, person, chastity, outward estate and good name, (Rom. 13. 9.) doth hugely differ from fleshly love flowing from lust, and from the love of the world, whereby we seek to satisfie our own sinfull lusts, with our neighbours hurt: for, the former was enjoyned, ver. 2. but the latter is here forbidden; But fornication, and all uncleannesse, or covetousnesse, &c. 2. The generall prevalency of any sin, ought neither to make people give more way to it, nor Ministers speak lesse against it; but rather, because, the more common any sin is, God getteth the more dishonour by it; therefore the zeal of publick Ministers and private Christians ought to be so much the more intended against it: for, because fornication was so common among the Gentiles, that it was hereby looked upon as no sin, therefore doth Paul, almost in all his Epistles to the Churches of the Gentiles, fall upon it, as he doth also here; But fornication, and all uncleannesse, &c. 3. So violent is the lust of filthinesse, that, if it be not all the more carefully guarded against, there is no state of life, wherein it will not break forth, even although the ordinary mean of marriage appointed by God to prevent it (1 Cor. 7. 2.) be used: for, he will have them to guard not only against fornication, which is the sin of filthinesse between parties unmarried, but also against all uncleannesse, that is, all other sorts of filthy lusts, whereof filthinesse between married parties is one. 4. There is a great affinity and sibnesse between the lusts of filthinesse and covetousnesse; in so far, as the former, given way to, doth necessitate the lascivious wretch to thirst after, and by indirect means to purchase worldly goods, that so he may have wherewith to uphold, (as his other lusts, Iam. 4. 3. so) in a speciall manner this lust of uncleannesse: for, therefore doth he forbid those two lusts joyntly; But fornication, and all uncleannesse, or covetousnesse. 5. It is not sufficient for Saints to abstain from the outward practice of grosse evils, except their outward abstinence do flow from inward detestation of them; otherwise, outward abstinence may well make a good Civilian, but not a sincere Christian: for, Paul will have them abstaining from the formentioned evils, so as not to name them with delight, and without detestation; Let it not be once named among you. 6. Not only the outward act of filthinesse, but also lascivious filthy discourse, is to be refrained from, as that, which is an evidence of inward love to that sin, Matth. 12. 34. and maketh way for the outward committing of it, not only by our selves, while the inward flame of lust is blown up by the bellows of filthy speeches, Iam. 3. 6. but also by others, who are easily infected by the pestilentious breath of evil communications, 1 Cor. 15. 33. for, he will not have those evils so much as spoken of among them with delight and without detestation; Let it not be once named among you. 7. The only life beseeming Saints, is to keep themselves pure in heart, in tongue, in hand, from the pollutions of fleshly lusts, and the immoderate love of worldly goods: and in so far, as those are given way to by professed Saints, they walk unworthy of their high and heavenly calling; do stain their profession; and declare themselves unworthy of the name of Saints: for, he sheweth that not practising those evils, and inward detestation of them, made evident by their not speaking of them, was such a carriage as becometh Saints.