Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 6 · Verse and explication 20
Verse 20. For which I am an ambassadour in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
HE doth, first, give two reasons, exciting them to pray for him; First, from his office, he was intrusted by God, as an ambassadour in Christs stead, to publish the glad tydings of Reconciliation with God, contained in the Gospel, 2 Cor. 5. 20. Secondly, from his bonds, which did not hinder him to preach, seing as the original word, signifying in a chain, doth imply that at this time he was not bound with fetters, but in the custody of a Souldier with whom he might go abroad, having (as the custom of some prisoners was) a chain on his right arm, which was tied to the Souldier's left arm. Next, he repeateth the gift which he would have them to seek from God on his behalf, even to deliver his message with courage and boldnesse: and he extendeth it further to all those other things which a Minister ought to advert unto in preaching. See upon Col. 4. ver. 4. doct. 11. Hence Learn, 1. As Christs Ministers do in a singular manner represent His Person, and being cloathed with authority from Him, are sent to treat and transact about the greatest matters on earth in His Name, even the making up of peace and friendship betwixt God and sinners, 2 Cor. 5. 20. So, their deportment, for gravity, prudence and holinesse, ought to be such, as may conciliate authority to their message, and bring no disgrace or rub upon Him whose Person they do sustain. It is their duty also to mannage their trust with faithfulnesse, speaking nothing but what they have a Commission for from Christ their Master, concealing nothing of what is intrusted to them to speak, but delivering all of it with that authority and gravity, boldnesse and majesty which becometh the ambassadours of Him who is Prince of the Kings of the earth, Revel. 1. -5- for, such is the honour and duty of ambassadours among earthly princes; and though this title of ambassadour for Christ, did belong to the Apostles in all respects chiefly, and in some respects to them only, as that they were confined to no certain charge, or country, Matth. 28. 19. and absolutely to be trusted as men who could not erre, at least in what they wrote, 2 Tim. 3. 16-. yet as to many other respects, and chiefly those which are mentioned in the Doctrine, i… doth belong to all sent Ministers; and therefore they are called the Angels of the Churches, Revel. 2. 1, &c. For which I am an ambassadour, saith he. 2. The matter and purpose contained in the Gospel, even the way of making peace between God and sinners, is a businesse of great importance in Gods account, and such as he would have bear weight with us: for, an ambassadour is not sent among Princes and States for triffles, but for things of highest concernment. Now, God sendeth ambassadours to carry the message of the Gospel: For which Gospel I am an ambassadour, saith he. 3. So great desire hath God, that lost sinners embrace the Gospel with His peace and friendship offered in it, that He dealeth with them not as with traitours and rebels; but as persons of dignity and respect, that thereby they may be the more induced to accept His offers: for, Kings and States send not ambassadours to private obscure men, but to persons of respect and worth. Now, God sendeth ambassadours with the Gospel to sinners: For which I am an ambassadour. 4. That God doth graciously condescend to send an honourable embassage for peace and friendship to worthlesse traitours and rebels, it should make the Lords people mind and respect those who are intrusted with it, and particularly to hold up their case unto God by prayer for strength, wisdom, and every other thing which becometh those who are imployed in such an honourable errand from the great God: for, he …iddeth them pray for him, because he was an ambassadour sent from God with the Gospel; For which I am an ambassadour. 5. Though our provoked Lord doth send a message of peace and friendship unto a rebellious world, and putteth respect upon them by sending ambassadours to them in His stead; yet, such is their ingratitude, and such enemies are they to their own mercies, that in place of giving a thankfull meeting to such kind usage, they do what they can to affront the Lord, not only by sleighting His message. Psal. 81. 11. but by the disgracefull usage of His ambassadours, contrary to the law and practice of all Nations: for, Paul, though Christs ambassadour, was neverthelesse put in bonds for the Gospel. 6. As it concerneth the Lords people to pray to God for their Ministers at all times; So chiefly when they are in a suffering case, lest through their fainting in the day of adversity, they give the truth of God a dash, Philip. 1. 19, 20. and that they may be enabled by God to bear persecution with such undaunted courage as persecuters may see their labour to be but in vain, Acts 5. 34, &c. and the truth of God, for which they suffer, may receive no hurt but advantage by their sufferings. Philip. 1. 12. for, he urgeth them to pray for him, from this, that for the Gospel he was an ambassadour in bonds. 7. So mercifull and long-suffering is God, that when His offer of friendship is rejected by rebels and His ambassadours, contrary to the law of Nations imprisoned and wronged; yet, he doth not presently give up with them, and denounce an irreconciliable war against them, but pursueth them with kindnesse, and in a manner beggeth their peace, and will not take a refusall: for, His will was, that Paul, being put in bonds by them, should yet discharge the office of an ambassadour towards them, and deliver the message of peace, even to those who put him and keeped him in bonds, if they would have come to hear him; For which I am an ambassadour in bonds. 8. So zealous should Ministers be of Christs honour and the good of souls, that no sufferings for the Gospel should make them quit the preaching of it; but even when through persecution they are restrained of that liberty which they sometimes had, they ought to be alwayes doing and making use of what liberty they have: for, Paul, though in bonds, is yet doing the office of an ambassadour, and thirsting after a spirit of courage from God, for discharging of it, faithfully and boldly; I am an ambassadour in bonds, that therein, or thereof, meaning the Gospel, I may speak boldly. 9. The Lord setteth bounds to the wrath of men, in so far as he doth easily abate the extremity of their rage towards His Servants, and doth not permit it to come to its full height, so long as He hath any use to make of them: for, though their rage carried them to put Paul in a chain, yet he restrained them, from making him a close prisoner, he had liberty to preach notwithstanding; That therein I may speak boldly, saith he. 10. The Lords Servants are to deliver the truths of God with much holy freedom and boldnesse, not only when they are far from apparent danger, but even when they are in the mouth of hazard, and ready to be swallowed up by it: If they speak at all, as speak they must, when God doth call them to it, it must be done without all base fear of flesh, with such confidence and boldness as may evidence they are not ashamed of their Master or message: for, Paul, even in bonds, resolveth to speak the Gospel boldly, and craveth the help of their prayers for that end. 11. However an unhumbled heart, puft up with pride and confidence in his own strength, may judge it a task of no great difficulty to carry a suffering lot with undaunted courage before he be put to it, Matth. 26. 33. and will readily condemn all as faint-hearted cowards and base backsliders who ride not out the storm with as much chearfulnesse, courage and resolution, as they conceive themselves would do, Job 4. 5, 6. yet, an humbled heart, acquainted with sufferings, will not judge so, but so conscious is he of his own weaknesse, and knoweth so well how hard it is for flesh and bloud to deny it self, to postpone its own safety to the keeping of a good conscience, how ready it is to faint under a continued crosse, and find out subterfuges of subtile distinctions, thereby to plead for ease and sparing of it self, that he dare not trust his own strength, nor neglect, far lesse contemn, the use of any mean appointed by God for his encouragement and strengthening: for, Paul seeth it was no easie thing to speak boldly when in bonds, and that only God could make him so to do; and therefore beggeth the help of their prayers, as a mean appointed for obtaining courage from the Lord; I am an ambassadour in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly. 12. It is not every sort of boldnesse in speach, which a Minister ought to aim at, but such as is beseeming the excellency of his message, the gravity of his office, and may conduce most to the end of his Ministery, the glory of God and good of the hearers; It is not fleshly boldnesse, or rather brazen-faced impudence, to vent every thing may tend to commend a man to his hearers, or to please their fleshly humours; not is it foolish temerity, or presumptuous rashnesse, to speak and utter the holy Oracles of God, without premeditation or serious consideration of what is most fitting to be uttered, and likely to have successe, at such a time, on such persons, and in such a place; But it is a spirituall holy boldnesse, conjoyned with modesty, gravity and prudence, and such as carrieth alongst with it in the person where it is, the sense and feeling of his own infirmities, 1 Corinth. 2. 3. for, the beseemingnesse and decency, here spoken of, as it may be extended to all those necessary qualifications required in a Minister; So it doth chiefly qualifie that boldnesse presently spoken of; That I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.