Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
IN the first part of this Chapter, the Apostle insisteth further upon those duties, which are incumbent to Christians as they are members of families. And, first, he presseth upon children obedience to their parents, 1. from the equity of it, ver. 1. which he cleareth from the fifth command, ver. 2. Secondly, from the advantage which should redound to them by it, ver. 3. Next, he presseth upon parents, to hold off the two extremities of rigidity and indulgence towards their children, ver. 4. Thirdly, he presseth upon servants obedience to their masters, which is set forth by severall of its necessary qualifications and properties, ver. 5, 6, 7. and inforced from the great advantage, which they should reap by it, ver. 8. Fourthly, he presseth upon masters their duty, which is to be accompanied with the like qualifications, fear and trembling only being excepted, ver. 9.
In the second part, he presseth one duty which belongeth unto all Christians in generall, even to prepare for a Christian warfare. And, 1. more generally, that they would take unto them spirits, by making use of the strength which they had without themselves in the Lord Christ, ver. 10. and of the saving graces of Gods Spirit inherent in themselves, ver. 11. which he enforceth from the nature of the warfare and terror of the adversary, ver. 12, 13. Next, he exhorteth them more particularly, to put on, and make use of six several pieces of the Christian armour, 1. The grace of sincerity. 2. The inherent righteousnesse of an holy conversation, ver. 14. 3. A resolute frame of heart to charge through all difficulties, ver. 15. 4. The grace of faith, commended from its excellency and usefulnesse, ver. 16. 5. The well-grounded hope of salvation. 6. Acquaintance with the Lords written Word, ver. 17. Thirdly, he presseth the exercise of prayer, as necessary for the obtaining and right use-making of all those, ver. 18. exhorting them to pray for utterance and boldnesse to himself in particular, ver. 19. because of his office and bonds, ver. 20.
In the third part of the Chapter, he concludeth the Epistle, 1. by shewing he had sent Tychicus, (whom he highly commendeth) to inform them of his own particular affairs, ver. 21. and to comfort them, ver. 22. Next, by his usuall fare-well-wish for them in particular, ver. 23. and for all the lovers of Christ in generall, ver. 24.