Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 5

Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John · Commentary 5

p. 209A COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITION

VponUpon the Epiſtle of S. Paul to the EPHESIANS.

CHAP. I. Verſe 1. To the Saints—to the faithfull]

FItly: for it is by faith, that we become Saints, Act. 15.9.

Verſe 2. Grace be to you, and peace] Theſe go fitly together: becauſe we muſt ſeek our peace in the free-grace and favour of God. The Ark and Mercy-ſeat were never ſundred.

Verſe 3. Bleſſed be God] Grattae ceſſat decurſus, ubi gratiarum recurſus. A thankfull man ſhall abound with bleſſings.

With all ſpirituall bleſſings] Wiſdome, prudence, &c. ver. 8. a Benjamins portion, a goodly heritage.

Verſe 4. He hath choſen us in him] Chriſt was Mediatour therefore from eternity, viz. by vertue of that humane nature, which he ſhould aſſume.

p. 210That we ſhould be holy] God elected us as well to the means, as to the end. Note this againſt Libertines. For as they Act. 27.31. could not come ſafe to land that left the ſhip: ſo neither can men come to heaven but by holineſſe. Cyrus was moved to reſtore the captivity, by finding himſelf fore-appointed to this glorious ſervice 170. years before he was born, Iſa. 44.28. Should not we likewiſe be excited to good works by this that we were elected to them.

Without blame] Or blot, Epheſ. 5.27. Abſque querela, Luk. 1.6.

Before him] i. e. In purity of heart, 2 King. 20.3.

In love] In ſanctity of life.

Verſe 5. Having predeſtinated us] Interpreters have obſerved that this word that ſignifies to predeſtinate is but ſix times found in the new Teſtament (never in the old) being referred but twice to things, Act. 4.28. & 1. Cor. 2.7. four times to perſons. Rom. 8 29, 30. Epheſ. 1.5, 11. and never applied to reprobates, but to elect perſons only. Howbeit Divines under predeſtination do uſually conſider the decree both of election and reprobation. The doctrine hereof men ſhould not adventure to teach till they have well learned and digeſted it. In the year 1586. Iacobus Andreas the Lutheran, and Theodore Beza conferred and diſputed for eight daies ſpace at Mompelier: the iſſue of which conference was unhappy;Alſted. Chron p. 562. for form that time forward the Doctrine of Predeſtination was much miſuſed and exagitated.

Verſe 6. To the praiſe of the glory] This is the end whereunto it is deſtined: and hence it is called Predestination. Note here that all the cauſes of predeſtination are meerly without us. The efficient, God: the materiall, Chriſt: the formall, the good pleaſure of his will: the finall, the praiſe of Gods glorious grace.

Wherein he hath made us accepted] Gr.foreign. Gratificavit. Vulgata. He hath ingratiated us, he hath juſtified us, made us gracious in his beloved ſonne our Mediatour. And although there be an inequality of expreſſions in duty, Quoad nos, in us, yet there is a conſtancy of worth and interceſſion by Chriſt, propter nos, for us.

Verſe 7. In whom we have redemption] As captive ranſomed at a price. What this price was ſee 1 Pet. 1.19. Should not Chriſt therefore reap the travails of his ſoul, Iſa. 53?

p. 211The forgiveneſſe of our ſins] This David counted his crown, and prized it above his imperiall diadem, Pſal. 103.3, 4.

Verſe 8. In all wiſdome and prudence] That properly reſpecteth contemplation, this action. Socrates made no diſtinction betwixt them. For, ſaid he, who ſo knoweth good to practiſe it, and evil to avoid it, he is a man truly wiſe and prudent.Xenophon de dict is Socrat. l 3

Verſe 9. The mystery of his will] That is, the Goſpel, a myſtery both to men, 1 Cor. 2.8. and Angels, Epheſ. 3.10.

Verſe 10. That in the diſpenſation] God is the beſt oeconomick: his houſe is exactly ordered for matter of good huſbandry.foreign.

Gather together in one] Gr. Recapitulate, reduce all to a head, recollect.foreign.

Both which are in heaven] The crowned Saints, and perhaps the glorious Angels, who (according to ſome Divines) being in themſelves changeable creatures (and therefore called Shinan, that is, mutable, Pſal. 68.17.) receive confirmation by Chriſt, ſo that they cannot leave their firſt ſtation, as did the apoſtate Angels. Others think that the Angels ſtand not by means of Chriſts mediation, but of Gods eternall election, and are therefore called the elect Angels.

Verſe 11. We have obtained inheritance] Or we are taken into the Church, as Magiſtrates were by lot into their office.foreign. On we are made Gods inheritance, as Deut. 32.9. It imports our free and unexpected vocation.

After the counſell of his own will] God doth all by counſell, and ever hath a reaſon of his will: which though we ſee not for preſent, we ſhall at laſt day. Mean-while ſubmit.

Verſe 12. Who first truſted] It is a ſingular honour to be firſt in ſo good a matter. Hope is here put for faith, whereof it is both the daughter, and the nurſe.

Verſe 13. After that ye beleeved] They 1. Heard. 2. Beleeved. 3. Were ſealed, i. e. full aſſured. Aſſurance is Gods ſeal, faith is our ſeal. God honours our ſealing to his truth by his ſealing by his ſpirit. We yeeld firſt the conſent and aſſent of faith, and then God puts his ſeal to the contract. There muſt be the bargain before the earneſt.

Verſe 14. Which is the earnest] Not the pawn, but the earneſt, Quia pignus redditur, arrha retinetur, ſaith Hierome. A pawn is to be returned again, but an earneſt is part of the whole ſum, and aſſures it. We here have eternall life, 1. In praetio. 2. In promiſſo. 3. In primitijs.

p. 212Verſe 15. Your faith in the Lord Jeſus] Love is the fruit of faith: therefore the Apoſtles pray for increaſe of faith, that they might be able ſeven times a day to forgive an offending brother, Luk. 17.5. See the Note there.

Verſe 16. Making mention of you] Whether a Miniſter ſhall do more good to others by his praiers or preaching, I will not determine (ſaith a grave Divine) but he ſhall certainly by his praiers reap more comfort to himſelf.

Verſe 17.Saints progr. by D. Tailour. The Spirit of wiſdome and revelation] So called, becauſe he revealeth unto us Gods depths, and reads us his riddles, 1 Cor. 2. He illightens both the organ and object: he anoints the eyes with eye-ſalve, and gives both ſight and light.

Verſe 18. The glory of his inheritance] The glory of heaven is unconceivable, Revel. 21. ſearch is made thorow all the bowels of the earth for ſomething to ſhadow it by. No naturall knowledge can be had of the third heaven, nor any help by humane arts, as Aristotle acknowledgeth. The glory thereof is fitter to be believed, then poſſible to be diſcourſed.

Verſe 19.De …ulo text. 99 And what is the exceeding] Here is a moſt emphaticall heap of moſt divine and ſignificant words to expreſſe that which can never ſufficiently be conceived or uttered. A ſix fold gradation the Apoſtle uſeth to ſhew what a power God puts forth in working the grace of faith. Indeed this power is ſecret, and like that of the heavens upon our bodies, which (ſaith one) is as ſtrong as that of phyſick, &c. Yet ſo ſweet, and ſo ſecretly inſinuating it ſelf with the principles of nature, that as for the conveyance of it, it is inſenſible, and hardly differenced from that of the principles of nature in us. Therefore the Apoſtle praieth for theſe Epheſians here, that their eyes may be enlightned to ſee the power that wrought in them, &c.

Verſe 20. Which he wrought in Christ] God puts forth the ſame almighty power in quickning the heart by faith, that he did in raiſing up his Son Chriſt from the dead. It muſt needs then be more then a morall ſwaſion that he uſeth. Chriſt wrought the Centurions faith, as God: he wondered at it, as man. God wrought, and man marvelled: he did both, to teach us where to beſtow our wonder.

Verſe 21. Far above all principality] Quantum inter ſtellas luna minores. Oh doe but think with thy ſelf (ſaith one) though it far paſſe the reach of any mortall thought, what an infinite inexplicable p. 213happineſſe it will be to look for ever upon the glorious body of Jeſus Chriſt, ſhining with incomprehenſible beauty: and to conſider that even every vein of that bleſſed body bled to bring thee to heaven: and that it being with ſuch exceſſe of glory hypoſtatically united to the ſecond perſon in Trinity, hath honoured and advanced thy nature above the brighteſt Cherub.

Verſe 22. To be the head over all things] That is, All perſons, all the elect, as Gal. 3.22. Chriſt is head over Angels too, but in another ſenſe then over the Church, viz. 1. As God he giveth them whatſoever they are or have. 2. As Mediatour alſo, he maketh uſe of their ſervice for the ſafety and ſalvation of the Church. They holy Angels are great friends to the Church, but not members of it. For Chriſt took not on him the nature of Angels, but the ſeed of Abraham, Heb. 2.16. Beſides, he ſanctified his Church, and waſhed it with his bloud, Epheſ. 5.26. But this he did not for the Angels, &c. See the Note on verſ. 10.

Verſe 23. The fulneſſe of him] That is of Chriſt, who having voluntarily ſubjected himſelf to be our head, accounts not himſelf compleat without his members. In which reſpect we have the honour of making Chriſt perfect, as the members doe the body.

CHAP. II. Verſe 1. Who were dead]

NAturall men are living carcaſes, walking ſepulchres of themſelves. In moſt families it is, as once it was in Aegypt, Exod. 12.30. No houſe wherein there is not one, nay many dead corpſes.

Verſe 2. Wherein ye walked] Hence Act 14.16. Sinne is called a way, but it leads to the chambers of death.

According to the courſe of this world] The mundaneity or worldlineſſe of the world (as the Syriack rendreth it) which is wholly ſet upon wickedneſſe (as Aaron ſaith of his worldings, Exod. 32.22.) and takes no care for the world to come.

According to the Prince, &c.] The devil by whom wicked men are acted and agitated. Gratian was out in ſaying, That Satan is called Prince of the world, as a King of Oneſſe, or as the p. 214Cardinall of Ravenna, only by deriſion. Evil men ſet him up for their Soveraign, and are wholly at his beck and obedience.

The ſpirit that now worketh] As a Smith worketh in his forge, an Artificer in his ſhop.

Verſe 3. Among whom alſo we all, &c.] Let the beſt look back oft on what they were before calling, that they may thankfully cry out with Iphi…rates, foreign, from what miſery to what dignity are we advanced!

Fulfilling the deſires] Gr. The wiles of the fleſh. Now therefore we muſt as diligently fulfill not the will, but the wils of God, as David did, Act. 13.22.

The children of wrath] Deires. Gregory the great ſaid of the Engliſh boyes that were preſented to him, Angli quaſi Angeli. And demanding further what Province they were of in this Iſland, it was returned, that they were called Deires: which cauſed him again to repeat the word,Abbots Geog. pag. 119. and to ſay, that it were great pity but that by being taught the Goſpel, they ſhould be ſaved de ira Dei, from the wrath of God.

Verſe 4. But God who is rich in mercy] Such a mercy as rejoyceth againſt judgement, as a man againſt his adverſary which he hath ſubdued, Jam. 2.13.

Verſe 5. Hath quickned, &c.] The very firſt ſtirrings in the womb of grace are precious to God: he bleſſeth our very buds, Iſa. 44.3. according to the Geneva tranſlation.

Verſe 6. And made us ſit together] We have taken up our rooms afore-hand in heaven, whereunto we have juſt right upon earth by vertue of the union, the ground of communion, 1 Joh. 5.12. He that hath the ſon hath life: he hath poſſeſſion of it, as by turf and twig.

Verſe 7. In his kindeneſſe toward us] We come not to the knowledge of God, but by his works: And even his way of knowing him we naturally abuſe to idolatry.

Verſe 8. For by grace ye are ſaved] So ver. 5. and every where almoſt S. Paul is a moſt conſtant preacher of the grace of God, as Chryſoſtome ſtileth him. Sub laudibus naturae latent inimici gratiae, ſaith Auguſtine. The patrons of mans free-will are enemies to Gods free-grace.

Verſe 9. Leaſt any man ſhould boast] As that fool did, that ſaid,Vega. Coelum gratis non accipiam, I will not have heaven but at p. 215a rate. Non ſic Does coluimus, aut ſic vivimus, ut ille nos vinceret, ſaid the Emperour Antonius Philoſophus. Valcat. Gallic. in Avid Caſſio.We have not ſo lived and deſerved of God, that they enemy ſhould vanquiſh us.

Verſe 10. For we are his workmanſhip] His artificiall facture,foreign. or creature, that wherein he hath ſhewed ſingular skill, by erecting the glorious fabrike of the new man.

Created—to good works] In the year 1559. there was publiſhed a paradox, that good works are pernicious to ſalvation of mens ſouls. David George the broacher of this hereſie was digg'd up, and burnt at Baſile.

God hath before ordained] i. e. By his eternall decree. Oar Vivification then is not a work of yeſterday: but ſuch as God hath with ſingular complacency contemplated from all eternity, rejoycing in that habitable part of his earth, Prov. 8.31.

Verſe 11. Who are called uncircumciſion] In great ſcorn and reproach, as 1 Sam. 17.26. Howbeit unregenerate Iſrael was to God as Ethiopia, Amos 9.7. And Iether by nature an Iſmaelite, 1 Chron. 7.17. was for his faith and religion called an Iſraelite, 2 Sam. 17.25.

Verſe 12. Strangers from the Covenant] The Saints only are heirs to the promiſes: but the devil ſweeps all the wicked, as being out of the Covenant. They ſtuff themſelves with promiſes, till they have made them a pillow for ſin, Deut. 29.19. Sed praeſumendo ſperant, & ſperando pereunt.

Having no hope] But ſuch as will one day hop headleſſe: ſuch as will ſerve them as Abſoloms mule ſerved her Maſter, when ſhe left him hanging by the head betwixt heaven and earth, as rejected of both.

Without God in the world] Becauſe without a teaching Prieſt, and without law, 2 Chron. 15.3. As it is ſaid of the poor Braſileans at this day, that they are ſine fide, ſine rege, ſine lege. This was the caſe of our Pagan Predeceſſours.

Verſe 13. Are made nigh by the bloud] Chriſt hath paved us a new and living way to the throne of Gods grace by his own moſt precious bloud. O happy lapidi-pavium! Joh. 19.13-17John 19:13–17O - Golgotha become our Gabbatha!

Verſe 14. For he is our peace] That is,foreign. our peace-maker and peace-matter. When he was born, there was among all Nations, a generall, aut pax, aut pactio, as Florus obſerveth. When he took his name, he would not have it either entirely Hebrew, as Jeſus, p. 216or entirely Greek, as Chriſt, but both Jeſus and Chriſt, to ſhew (ſaith one) that he is our peace that hath reconciled two into one, &c.

Verſe 15. Having aboliſhed in his fleſh] That is, by his death in the fleſh, Coloſ. 1.22. At which time the veil rent, and the Ceremonies died: only they were to be honourably buried.

For to make in himſelf] Gr. To create; ſc. by regeneration, Gal. 6.15. So by conjoyning he new created them, and by new creating he conjoyned them.

Verſe 16. In one body] Ʋbi igitur ſeparatiſtae? ſaith one.

Having ſlain the enmity] Not the Ceremonies only, as ver. 15. but ſin that great make-bate, that ſets God at odds with his own creature.

Verſe 17. To them that were nigh] That is, The children of Iſrael, a people …ear unto him, Pſal. 148.14.

Verſe 18. We both have an acceſſe] With good aſſurance of ſucceſſe. The Perſian Kings held it a piece of their ſilly glory to hold off their beſt friends, who might not come near them, but upon ſpeciall licence, Eſth. 1. Not ſo our King. Oh come, for the Master calleth thee!

Verſe 19. Fellow citizens with the Saints] Paul, as a Citizen of Rome, Act. 22.Acts 22eſcaped whipping: we, as Citizens with the Saints, eſcape hell tortures and torments.

Verſe 20. Ʋpon the foundation] Foundation is taken either for Chriſt, 1 Cor. 3.11. Mat. 16.16. or the doctrine of the Scriptures, which teach ſalvation only by Jeſus Chriſt, as here, and Rev. 21.14.

Verſe 21. Fitly framed together] Or, perfectly joyned together by the ciment of the holy Spirit working in the Saints faith in Chriſt, and love one toward another, which the Apoſtle calleth the bond of perfection.

Verſe 22. For an habitation of God, &c.] The Father makes choice of this houſe, the Son purchaſeth it, the holy Ghoſt taketh poſſeſſion of it. This happineſſe he beſt underſtandeth, that moſt feeleth. The Cock on the dunghill knows it not.

p. 217CHAP. III. Verſe 1. For this cauſe]

TO wit, That you may be an habitation of God, through the Spirit.

I Paul the priſoner]. I hold not S. Paul ſo happy for his rapture into Paradiſe (ſaith Chryſostome upon this Text) as for his impriſonment for Chriſt.

Verſe 2. Of the dispenſation] Gr. Oeconomy. The Church is Gods houſe, 1 Tim. 3.15. Paul was faithfull therein as a ſteward, Mat. 24.45.

Verſe 3. As I wrote afore in few] Sc. Chap 1.9. & 2.13, &c. Fulneſſe of matter in fewneſſe of words. This is the Scriptures pre-cellency above all humane writings.

Verſe 4. My knowledge in the mystery] The higheſt point of heavenly learning: and hereby he proveth his calling to the Miniſtery.

Verſe 5. Was not made known] ſc. So clearly and particularly. Peter himſelf could hardly be perſwaded to it, Act. 10.14 34, 35.

Verſe 6. Gentiles ſhould be fellow-heirs] Co-heirs, concorporate, and conſorts: three ſweet ſocieties, the former founded upon the two latter.

Verſe 7. By the effectuall working, &c.] Enabling me to accept and improve that gift of Gods grace: whereunto I ſhould otherwiſe turn not the palme, but the back-ſide of the hand.

Verſe 8. Leſſe then the least] Great Paul is leaſt of Saints,O…ulentiſſima me a…la, qu…rum in … to latent …e…ae. Sen. ep. …3. laſt of Apoſtles, greateſt of ſinners. The beſt b…lſomes ſinke to the bottome: the goodlieſt buildings have loweſt foundations: the heavieſt ears of corn hang downward, ſo do the …ughes or trees that are beſt laden.

The unſearchable riche… ] Gr. Not to be traced out. foreign.Should not Miniſters be made welcome that come to men on ſuch golden meſſages?

Verſe 9. And to make all men ſee] Gr. To illighten them, far more then the preaching of the Prophets could, 2 Pet. 1.19. To us now is a great light ſprung up. Mat. 4 10.

p. 218The fellowſhip] Or, as ſome copies have it) the diſpenſation.foreign.

Who created all things] i. e. Reſtored, repaired: hence Goſpel-daies are called the world to come, Heb. 2.5.

Verſe 10. Might be known by the Church] As by a glaſſe or theatre.

The manifold wiſdome, &c.] Gr. That hath abundance of … rious variety in it, foreign.ſuch as is ſeen in the beſt pictures or textures. This the very Angels look intently into (as the Cherubims in the Tabernacle did into the Mercy-ſeat) and are much amuſed and amazed thereat. They ſee that mans ſalvation by Chriſt is a plot of Gods own deviſing.

Verſe 11. According to the eternall purpoſe] Of calling and ſaving the Gentiles by Chriſt: a ſecret that the Angels themſelves could not underſtand, till the time fore-appointed came.

Verſe 12. Boldneſſe and acceſſe] True peace draws men to God, falſe drives them from God. Uprightneſſe hath boldnes, ſerenity hath ſecurity.

Verſe 13.foreign. Wherefore I deſire] Or, I beg of God, as one would doe an alms,Menaico. Act. 3.2. humbly, heartily. And here the Apoſtle returns to his former diſcourſe, after a long digreſſion, ver. 2. to ver. 13.

At my tribulations for you] For for your ſakes am I maliced and moleſted by the Jews; by whoſe means alſo I am now a priſoner.

Verſe 14 For this cauſe] ſc. That ye faint not, but gather ſtrength.

I bow my knees] A moſt ſeemly and ſutable geſture, uſuall among all Nations, but Turks, who kneel not, nor uncover the head at praier, as holding thoſe poſtures unam…ly.

Verſe 15.foreign Paren…e…a. Of whom the whole family] Or, Paternity: God is the only Father, to ſpeak properly, Mat. 23 9. The Father of all the father-hood in heaven and earth.

Verſe 16. According to the riches of his glory] That is, of his grace: ſo 2 Cor 3.18. See the Note there.

Verſe 17. That Chriſt may dwell] As the Sun dwels in the houſe by his beams. Faith fetcheth Chriſt into the heart, as into his habitation: And if he dwell there, he is bound to all reparations.

p. 219Verſe 18. The breadth and length, &c.] Gods mercy hath all the dimenſions.Pſal. 36, 5.Ps 36:5 Thy mercy, ô God, reacheth to the heavens: There is the height of it, Great is thy mercy toward me, and thou hast delivered my ſoul from the lowest hell: There is the depth of his mercy. The earth is full of thy goodneſſe: There is the breadth of it. All the ends of the earth have ſeen thy ſalvation: There is the length of it.Pſ…l. 86.13.Ps 50:86Ps 50:13

Verſe 19. With all the fulneſſe of God] That is, of Chriſts diffuſive fulneſſe, in whom the Godhead dwelt bodily, and in whom we are complete, Col. 2.9, 10.

Verſe 20. Exceeding abundantly] Gr.foreign. More then exceedingly or exceſſively. God hath not only a fulneſſe of abundance but of redundancy, of plenty, but of bounty. He is oft better to, us then our praiers.

According to the power] The Apoſtle begins his praier with mention of Gods fatherly mercy: he ſhuts it up with a deſcription of his power. Theſe two, Gods might and Gods mercy are the Jachin and Boaz, the two main pillars of a Chriſtians faith, whereon it reſts in praier.

Verſe 21. Glory in the Church by Chriſt] Who is the refulgency of his Fathers glory, Heb. 1.3.

CHAP. IV. Verſe 1. Worthy of the vocation]

THere is a foreign, a ſeemlineſſe appertaining to each calling: ſo here. We muſt walk nobly and comfortably, as becometh the heirs of God, an co-heirs of Chriſt. Scipio, when a harlot was offered him, anſwered, Vellem, ſi non eſſem Imperator; I would, if I were not Generall of the Army. Antigonus being invited to a place where a notable harlot was to be preſent, asked counſell of Menedemus, what he ſhould do? He bad him only remember that he was a Kings ſonne: So let men remember their high and heavenly calling, and do nothing unworthy of it.Luth. in Gen. Luther counſels men to anſwer all temptations of Satan with this only, Chriſtianus ſum, I am a Chriſtian.

Verſe 2. With all lowlineſſe and meekneſſe] Theſe are virtutes collactaneae, as Bernard calleth them, a pair of twin-ſiſters, never aſunder.

p. 220Verſe 3. The unity of the spirit] That is, Unanimity: this keeps all together, which elſe will ſhatter and fall aſunder. The daughter of diſſenſion is diſſolution, ſaith Nazianzen.

Verſe 4. In one hope of your calling] That is, unto one inheritance, which we all hope for. Fall not out therefore by the way, as Ioſeph charged his brethren.

Verſe 5. One baptiſme] The Authour to the Hebrews ſpeaketh of Baptiſmes, Chap. 6.2. But either he puts the plurall for the ſingular: or elſe he meaneth it of the outward and inward waſhing, which the Schools call baptiſmum ſtuminis & flaminis. See the Note on Mat. 3.11.

Verſe 6.Mal. … 10. One God and Father of all] Have we not all one Father, ſaith Malachy? Why then diſſent and jar we? How is it that theſe many ones here inſtanced, unite us not? My dove, mine undefiled is but one, Cant 6 9.

Verſe 7. According to the meaſure] And may not Chriſt do with his own as he liſteth? Thoſe of greater gifts are put upon hotter ſervice. foreign

Verſe 8. He led captivity captive, &c.] As in the Roman triumphs, the Victor aſcended up to the Capitoll in a Chariot of ſtate, the priſoners following on foot with their hands bound behinde, and they threw certain pieces of coyn abroad, to be pickt up by the common people. So Chriſt in they day of his ſolemn inauguration into his heavenly Kingdom, triumphed over ſin, death and hell, Col. 2.15. and gave gifts to men.

And gave gifts unto men] The Hebrew hath it, Pſal. 76 19. Thou receivedſt gifts for men. Chriſt received them, that he might give them, and ſaid, It is a more bleſſed thing to give then to receive. The Pſalmiſt adds, Even for the rebellious. To them alſo Chriſt gives common gifts, for the behoof of his people. Auguſtus in his ſolemn feaſts gave gifts: to ſome, gold, to others, trifles. So God in his ordinances, to ſome ſaving grace, to others common grace, and with this they reſt content.

Verſe 9 Into the lower parts] That is, into his mothers womb; according to Pſal. 139.15. I was curiouſly wrought in the loweſt parts of the earth, i. e. in the womb, where God formed and featured me; like as curious workmen, when they have ſome c…o…c… piece in hand, they perfect it in private, and then bring it forth to light for men to gaze at.

Verſe 10. Farre above all heavens] That is, above all viſible p. 221heavens, into the third heaven, not into the Ʋtopia of the Ubiquitaries.

That he might fill all things] viz. With the gifts of his holy Spirit: for the further he is from us in his fleſh, the nearer by his Spirit; he is more efficacious abſent, then preſent.

Verſe 11. Some Pastours and Teachers] Diſtinct offices, Rom. 12.7, 8. yet one man may be both, 1 Cor. 12.28, 29. The eſſentiall difference between Paſtours and Teachers in each Congregation is much denied by many learned and godly Divines.

Verſe 12. For the perfecting of the Saints] For the joynting of them, whom the devil hath diſlocated.foreign.

Verſe 13. Ʋnto the meaſure of the ſtature] Or age: that age wherein Chriſt filleth all in all, as Chap. 3.19. The Saints (ſay ſome) ſhall riſe again in that vigour of age, that a perfect man is at about 33 years old, each in their proper ſex: whereunto they thinke the Apoſtle here alludeth.

Verſe 14. Be no more children] But young men, 1 Joh. 2.14 ſtrong men.

Toſſed to and fro] As a feather or froth upon the waves, wherried about with every winde of doctrine, unſtable ſouls, as S. Peter cals them, ſimple, that believe every thing, as Solomon hath it: giddy hearers that have no mould, but what the next teacher caſteth them into, being blow like glaſſes into this or that ſhape at the pleaſure of his breath.

By the ſleight of men] Gr. By mens cogging of a die, foreign.the uſuall trade of cheaters, and falſe gameſters.

Whereby they lie in wait to deviſe] Gr. Ʋnto a method of deceiving. The devil and his diſciples are notable method-mongers, ſo as to deceive, if it were poſſible the very elect: but that they cannot do fundamentally, finally, Mat. 24 24. See the Note there.

Verſe 15. But ſpeaking the truth] Or, Doing the truth, foreign.as the Vulgar hath it. Truthifying, or following the truth, as one rendereth it. S. John bids, Love in truth, 1 Joh. 3.18. S. Paul, Speak or do the truth in love. And again, let all your things be done in love.

Verſe 16. Comp…cted by that, &c.] The Saints are knit unto Chriſt by his Spirit, as faſt as the ſinews of his bleſſed body to the bones, the fleſh to the ſinews, the skin to the fleſh.

p. 222Ʋnto the edifying of it ſelf in love] Our ſouls thrive and are edified, as love is continued and encreaſed. Nothing more furthereth growth in grace and power of godlineſſe in any place or perſon: obſerve it where and when you will.

Verſe 17. This I ſay therefore] Matters of great importance muſt be urged and preſſed with greateſt vehemence.

As other Gentiles walk] Singular things are expected from Saints: who are therefore worſe then others, becauſe they ſhould be better.

Verſe 18. Having the underſtanding darkned] By the devils black hand held before their eyes, 2 Cor. 4.4. See the Note there.

Alienated from the life of God] That is, from a godly life, which none can live,foreign, Caliū obductum but thoſe that partake of the divine nature, 2 Pet. 1.4.

Becauſe of the blindeneſſe] Gr. Hardneſſe, brawnineſſe, a hoof upon their hearts, corneas fibras, brawny breſts, horny heart-ſtrings. The Greek word imports a Metaphor from the hard hand of hardeſt labourers.

Verſe 19. Who being paſt feeling] Under a dead and dedolent diſpoſition, being deſperately ſinfull. Some there are of cauterized conſciences, that like devils, will have nothing to do with God, becauſe loth to be tormented before their time. They feeling ſuch horrible hard hearts, and privy to ſuch notorious ſins, they caſt away ſouls and all for luſt, and ſo periſh wofully, becauſe they lived wickedly: having through cuſ… in evil contracted ſuch an hardneſſe, as neither miniſtery, not miſery, nor miracle, nor mercy could poſſibly mollifie. As Ducklings dive at any little thing thrown by a man at them, yet ſhrink not at the heavens great thunder: ſo is it with theſe.

Verſe 20. But ye have not ſo …earned Chriſt] Caracalla never minded any good: Quia id non didicerat (ſaith Dio) quod ipſe fatebatur, becauſe he had never learned it, as himſelf confeſſed.

Verſe 21. Ye have heard him, &c.] When Chriſt ſpeaks once, we muſt hear him twice, as David did, Pſalm 62.11. to wit, by an after deliberate meditation: for otherwiſe we learn nothing.

Verſe 22. That ye put off, &c.] As the beggar puts off his rags, as the maſter puts off his bad ſervant, as the Porter puts off p. 223his burden, as the husband puts off his lewd wife, as the Serpent his ſlough, or as the captive maid when ſhe was to be married, put off the garments of her captivity, Deut. 21.13.

The old man which is corrupt] Sin is ſaid to be the old man, becauſe it lives in man ſo, as ſin ſeems to be alive, and the man dead: and becauſe God will take notice of nothing in the ſinner, but his ſin.

According to the deceitfull luſts] Sin, though at firſt it fawn upon a man, yet in the end (with Cains dog lying at the door) it will pluck out the very throat of his ſoul, if not repented of. Like the Serpent, together with the imbrace, it ſtings mortally. Hence the Rulers meat is called deceivable, Pro. 23.3.

Verſe 23. In the spirit of your minde] That is, in the moſt inward and ſubtle parts of the ſoul, the boſome and bottome, the vis vivifica and very quinteſſence of it. This he cals elſwhere, The wiſdome of the fleſh, Rom. 8.7. that carnall reaſon, that like an old beldame is the mother and nurſe of thoſe fleſhly luſts that fight againſt the ſoul.

Verſe 24. Which after God is created] The new man is nothing elſe but the happy cluſter of heavenly graces.

And true holineſſe] Or, Holineſſe of truth. Oppoſite to that deceitfulneſſe of luſts, ver. 22.

Verſe 25. Wherefore putting away lying] A baſe tinkerly ſin, as Plutarch calleth it, ſhamefull and hatefull: therefore the lier denies his own lie, as aſhamed to be taken with it.

For we are members] Of the ſame holy ſociety. Shall we not be true one to another? Shall we not abhor ſleights and ſlipperines in contracts and Covenants?

Verſe 26. Be angry and ſin not] The eaſieſt charge under the hardeſt condition that can be. Anger is a tender vertue, and muſt be warily managed. He that will be angry and not ſin, let him be angry at nothing but ſin.

Let not the Sunne go down] If ye have overſhot in paſſion, let it not reſt or rooſt in you, leſt it become malice.Plut lib. foreign. Plutarch writeth that it was the cuſtome of Pythagoras his ſcholars, however they had been at odds, jarring and jangling in their diſputations yet before the Sun-ſet to kiſſe and ſhake hands as they departed out of the ſchool. How many are there that profeſſing themſelves the ſcholars of Chriſt, do yet nevertheleſſe not only let the Sun go down, but go round his whole courſe, and can finde not time from p. 224one end of the year to the other to compoſe and ſay aſide their diſcords? How ſhould this fire be raked up, when the curfew-bell rings?

Verſe 27. Neither give place, &c.] Vindictive ſpirits let the devil into their hearts: and though they defie him, and ſpet at him, yet they ſpet not low enough; for he is ſtill at …nne with them, as M^r Bradford ſpeaketh. As the Maſter of the pit oft ſets two cocks to fight together, to the death of both, and then, after mutuall conqueſt, ſuppeth with both their bodies: So, faith Gregory dealeth the devil with angry and revengefull men.

Verſe 28 Let him labour Working, &c.] This is the beſt remedy againſt poverty, which oft prompts a man to theft, Prov. 30 9.

That he may have to give] Day-labourers then muſt do ſomewhat for the poor.Act. and Mon. fol. 765. Ibid 811. And indeed alms ſhould not be given untill it ſweat in a mans hand, ſaid he, in the book of Martyrs. Giles of Bruſſels gave away to the poor whatſoever he had that neceſſity could ſpare, and only lived by his ſcience, which was of a Cutler.

Verſe 29. Let no corrupt communication] Gr. Rotten, putid spe…ch. foreignA Metaphor from rotten treas, or ſtinking fleſh, or ſtinking breath. Shunne obſcene borborology, and filthy ſpeeches.

Verſe 30. And grieve not, &c.] As men in heavineſſe cannot diſpatch their work, as they were wont: ſo neither doth the Spirit. If we grieve the holy Ghoſt, how ſhould we expect that he ſhould comfort us? It is a foul fault to grieve a father, what then the Spirit?

Verſe 31. Let all bitterneſſe, &c.] If the godly man ſuddenly fall into bitter words, it maketh the holy Ghoſt ſtir within him.

And clamour and evil speaking] Theſe are as ſmoke to the eyes, and make the Spirit ready to loath and leave his lodging.

Be put away from you] When any luſt ariſeth, pray it down preſently (ſaith one:) for otherwiſe we are endangered by yeelding to grieve, by grieving to reſiſt, by reſiſting to quench, by quenching, maliciouſly to oppoſe the Spirit. Sin hath no bounds, but thoſe which the Spirit pats, whom therefore we ſhould not grieve.

p. 225Verſe 32. And be ye kinde] Sweet-natured,foreign facile and fair-conditioned: as Cranmer, whoſe gentleneſſe in pardoning wrongs was ſuch as it grew to a common proverb,Act. and Mon. fol. 1699. Do my Lord of Canterbury a diſpleaſure, and then you may be ſure to have him your friend, while he liveth. He never raged ſo far with any of his houſhold ſervants, as once to call the meaneſt of them Varlet or Knave in anger, much leſſe to reprove a ſtranger with any reproachfull world, &c.

CHAP. V. Verſe 1. Be ye therefore followers]

IN forgiving one another.

As dear children] God hath but a few ſuch children. See the Notes on Mat. 5.45, 48.

Verſe 2. Hath loved us, and hath given] When Chriſt wept for Lazarus, Loe how he loved him, ſaid the Jews, Joh. 11.35, 36. When he poured forth his ſoul for a drink-offering for us, was not this a ſurer ſeal of his endeared love?

An offering and a ſacrifice] By this to expiate our ſins, by that to mediate and make requeſt for us; and ſo to ſhew himſelf a perfect high-Prieſt.

Verſe 3. But fornication and all uncleanneſſe] As ſtanding in full oppoſition to that ſweet ſmelling ſavour, verſ. 2. being no better then the corruption of a dead ſoul, the devils excrement.

Let it not be once named] Much leſſe acted, as in Stage-plaies. Ludi praebent ſemina nequitiae. How Alipius was corrupted by them S. Austin tels us. How the youth of Athens, Ovid. Triſt. l. 2.Plato complaineth. One of our countrey-men profeſſeth in print, that he found theaters to be the very hatchers of all wickedneſſe, the brothels of bawdery, the black blaſphemy of the Goſpel, the devils chair, the plague of piety, the canker of the Common-wealth, &c. He inſtanceth on his knowledge Citizens wives confeſſing on their death-beds, that they were ſo impoiſoned at Stage-plaies,Spec belli ſacri. that they brought much diſhonour to God, wrong to their marriage-beds, weakneſſe to their wretched bodies, and woe to their undone ſouls. It was therefore great wiſdom in the Lacedemonians to forbid the acting of Comedies or Tragedies in their Common-wealth, and that for this reaſon, leſt either in jeſt or p. 226earneſt any thing ſhould be ſaid or done amongſt them contrary to the laws in force among them.Plutarch.

Verſe 4. Neither filthineſſe] Borborology, ribaldry, the language of hell. Some men as ducks have their noſes alwaies gozling in the gutter of obſcene talk. Of Eckius his laſt book concerning Prieſts inarriage, Melancthon faith, Non f…it Cygnea cantio, ſed ultimus cr…pi…us: Et ſicut filis fugiens pedit, ſic ille morions hunc crepitum cecinit. Legilibrum, ſubinde accipiens par tem ad cloacam, alioqui non legiſſ…m.

Nor jeſting] Salt j…ſts, ſcurrility, jocularity, dicacity, to the juſt grief or offence of another: This conſiſts not with piety and Chriſtian gravity.foreign Aristotle uſeth the word here found in a good ſenſe, for urbanity, facility and face…iouſneſſe of ſpeech, in a harmleſſe way. But Jaſon in Pindarus ſaith, that he lived twenty years with his Tutour Chiron, and never in all that time heard him ſpeaking or acting foreign,Pindar. any thing ſcurrilous or abuſive to another. On the contrary our Sir Thomas Moor… never thought any thing to be well ſpoken, except he had miniſtred ſome mock in the communication,E…w. Halls Ch…on…e…. ſaith the Chronicler, who therefore ſeemeth to doubt whether to call him a fooliſh wiſe man, or a wiſe fooliſh man, Quid nobis cum fabulis, cum riſu? non ſoliùm profuſos, ſed etiam omnes joeos arbitror declinandos, ſaith Bernard. Bern. de ordin. vit.What have we to doe with tales and j…ſts? Tertullian faith, he was Nulli rei natus niſi poenitentiae, born for nothing elſe, but for repentance. Crede mihi res ſevera est gaudium vernum, ſaith Seneca, True mirth is a ſevere buſineſſe.

Which are not convenient] As not conducing to the main end of our lives.foreign

But rather giving of thanks] A ſpeciall preſervative againſt the former evils, the filth and power of thoſe baſe vices. And the word Rather imports an extraordinary earneſtnes to be uſed in giving thanks to God.

Verſe 5. Who is an Idolater] Dancing about his golden calf, and ſaying to his wedge of ſilver,Job 30.24.Job 30:24 Thou art my confidence: which yet ſhall prove but as Achans wedge to cleave his ſoul in ſunder, and as that Babyloniſh garment to be his winding-ſheet.

Verſe 6. Let no man deceive you] So as to make you think there is no ſuch danger in fornication, covetouſneſſe, &c. There p. 227wanted not ſuch Proctours for hell in the Primitive times, as may be gathered out of 2 Pet. 2. and the Epiſtle of Jude. Againſt theſe he here cautioneth.

Verſe 7 Be not ye therefore partakers] Leſt by infection of their ſin, ye come under infliction of their puniſhment. We are accountable as well for ſins of communion, as of commiſſion: And he knew what he ſaid, that praid, From mine other-mens-ſins, Good Lord deliver me.

Verſe 8. For ye were ſometimes darkneſſe] Which hath in it (as one well noteth.) 1. Errour. 2. Terrour. 3.…. Dugard in loc. Inconſiſtency with light. 4. Impoſſibility of reducing it ſelf to light.

But now are ye light] Semper in ſole ſita eſt Rhodos, ſaith Sylvius. The Saints are alwaies in the Sunſhine.

Walk as children of light] A godly man ſhould be like a cryſtall glaſſe with a light in the midſt, which appeareth thorow every part thereof. He is in the light, and ſhall be more.

Verſe 9. For the fruit of the ſpirit] Why grace is called fruit, See the Note on Gal 5.22.

Verſe 10. Proving what is acceptable] By the practice of what you know. Let your knowledge and obedience run parallell, mutually transfuſing life and vigour one into another.

Verſe 11. Works of darkneſſe] Work done in the dark muſt be undone again, or elſe we are ſure to be thruſt into outer darkneſſe, where we ſhall never ſee light again, till we ſee all the world on a light fire.

But rather reprove them] At leaſt by your contrary courſes, as Noah condemned the old world, by being righteous in his generation, Rev. 14. Thoſe that ſtood with the lamb, had his fathers name on their fore-heads, led convincing lives: ſo did Luther, Bucer, Bradford, &c.

Verſe 12. For it is a ſhame] sit honos auribus. Joannes a Caſa ſo far forgat both honeſty and …,Act. and Mon. fol. 4 17. that he boaſted openly of his beaſtly Sodomy: y… moſt impudently commended that odious ſin in an Italian Poem, ſet forth in print. Faber of Vienna, another filthy Papiſt, publiſhed ſuch a ſtinking book that Eraſmus thus wrote to him,

Mente cares, ſires agitur tibi ſ…ria: rurſus

Fronte cares, ſi… ſic ludis, amice Faber.

p. 228Which are done of them in ſecret] Sinne ſecretly committed ſhall be ſtrangely diſcovered, either by the ſinner himſelf, as Judas, or by his companions in evil. When the ſodder is once melted, this glaſſe will fall in pieces, and all will out.

Verſe 13. But all things that are, &c.] Or, But all theſe things, viz. There unfruitfull works of darkneſſe, whileſt they are reproved or diſcovered by the light (viz. of the word, as 1 Cor. 14.24. Heb. 4 12) are made manifeſt; ſo that thereby they grow abaſhed and abaſed before God and men.

Verſe 14.Iſa. 9.2. & 26.19. & 60.1.Isa 9:2Isa 26:19Isa 60:1 Wherefore he ſaith] Or, The Scripture ſaith. See the like Jam. 4.6. But he giveth (or the Scripture giveth) more grace. It convinceth not only, but converteth, it diſcovereth not only, but cureth corrupt hearts. Theſe waters of the Sanctuary are healing. Some there are that interpret this he of our Saviour Chriſt, and take this ſaying for a ſentence of his: ſuch as was that, Act. 20.35. Others reade, Therefore the light ſaith, &c.

Awake thou that ſleepeſt] Lex jubet, gratia juvat: Praecipit Deus, quod ipſe praestat. God giveth us to do what he biddeth us to doe.

Verſe 15.foreign See then that ye Walk circumſpectly] Preciſely, exactly, accurately, by line and by rule, and as it were in a frame, ſtriving to get up to the top of godlineſſe, as the word importeth; to keep Gods Commandments to the utmoſt, to go to the extremity of it. Hereunto if we ſtand ſtraitly, one may ſay ſafely, Lord, if I be deceived, thou and thy word have deceived me.

Not as fiols] Chriſtians muſt excell others, ſtanding as ſtandard-bearers.

But as wiſe] Great need we have to fly to Chriſt,foreign ab Heb. Tſopheb ſpeculator. who dwels with prudence, Prov. 8. to ſtand upon our watch.

Verſe 16, Redeeming the time] As wiſe Merchants, trading for the moſt precious commodity, and taking their beſt opportunity. The common complaint is,Non parùm habemus temporis, ſed multùm perdimus. Sen. We want time: but the truth is, do not ſo much want it, as waſte it. The men of Iſſachar were in great account with David, becauſe they had underſtanding of the times, to know what Iſrael ought to doe, 1 Chron. 12.32. So are they in great account with God, that regard and uſe the ſeaſon of well-doing.

Becauſe the daies are evil] Corrupted by the devil, who hath ingroſſed our time, and out of whoſe hands we muſt p. 229redeem time for holy uſes, and pious purpoſes.

Verſe 17. But underſtanding what] Drawing your knowledge into practice, as verſ. 10. For the fear of the Lord that is wiſdome, and to depart from evil is underſtanding, Job 28.28. Where, wiſdome (proper to the underſtanding) is aſcribed to the will, becauſe practice ſhould be joyned to knowledge. Hence alſo Eccleſ. 10.2. A wiſe mans heart is at his right hand, becauſe his heart teacheth his hand to put things in practice.

Verſe 18. And be not drunk with wine] Nothing ſo oppoſite to an accurate life as drunkenneſſe! which therefore is not ſpecially prohibited in any one of the ten Commandments (ſaith a Divine) becauſe it is not the ſingle breach of any one, but in effect the violation of all and every one: It is no one, but all ſins, the inlet and ſluce to all other ſins.

Wherein is exceſſe] Exceſſive drinking then is drunkenneſſe: when as ſwine do their bellies, ſo men break their heads with filthy quaſſing.

But be filled with the ſpirit] Call for flagons of this holy wine, Cant. 2.5. that goeth down ſweetly, cauſing the lips of thoſe that are aſleep to ſpeak, Cant. 7.9. This is called by Luther, Crapula ſacra, a ſpirituall ſurquedry or ſurfet.

Verſe 19. Speaking to your ſelves, &c.] As drunkards ſing and hollow over their cups in their good-…ellow-meetings: ſo, in a ſober ſenſe, doe you expreſſe your ſpirituall jollity in Pſalms, &c.

Melody in your hearts unto the Lord] This is the beſt tune to any Pſalm. Spirituall ſongs they are called, both becauſe they are indited by the ſpirit, and becauſe they ſpiritualize us in the uſe of them.

Verſe 20. Giving thanks alwaies] In our deepeſt miſeries, let us ſing chearfully, as Paul and Silas in the dungeon, as Philpot and his fellows in the cole-houſe, as many Martyrs in the …lames, as Luther did in a great conflict with the devil. Venite, Joh M…. loc. com. page 43.ſaid he to his company, in contemptum diaboli Pſalmum de profundis quatuor vocibus cantemus. Let us ſing the 130. Pſalm in deſpite of the devil. Happy was that tongue in the Primitive times that could ſound out aliquid Davidicum, any thing of Davids doing.

Verſe 21. Submitting your ſelves] This is a generall admonition to all inferiours, whoſe duties are afterwards deſcribed. p. 230Thus in the ſecond Table of the Law, the fifth Commandment for order and obedience is fitly premiſed to the following p…cepts.

In the fear of God] This frameth the heart to a ready and regular ſubmiſſion. Hence that ſaying of Luther: Primo praecepto reliquorum omnium obſervantia praecipitur. The firſt Commandment includes the other nine.

Verſe 22. Wives ſubmit, &c.] This includes reverence, obedience, &c. God hath ſcattered the duties of husbands and wives up and down the Scritptures, that they may ſearch, and by learning to be good husbands and wives, they may learn alſo to be good men and women.

As unto the Lord] Who taketh himſelf diſhonoured by wives diſobedience. And though husbands may remit the offence done to them, yet they cannot remit Gods offence, but there muſt be ſpeciall repentance.

Verſe 23. For the husband is the head] And would it not be ill-favour'd to ſee the ſhoulders above the head?

Verſe 24. Therefore as the Church] Denying her ſelf to pleaſe Chriſt, making his will her law.

In every thing] In all her husbands lawfull commands and reſtraints. A wife ſhould have no will of her own, but ſubmit to her husbands: albeit there are that merrily ſay, that when man loſt free-will, woman took it up.

Verſe 25. Husbands, love your wives] He ſaith not, Rule over them (in anſwer to ſubmit, verſ. 22.) for this they can readily do without bidding: but love your wives, and ſo make their yoke as eaſie as may be. columbae trahunt currum Veneris.

Verſe 26. That he might ſanctifie] The maids were firſt purified and perfumed, before Ahaſhneroſh choſe one. But here it is otherwiſe. Sanctification is a fruit of juſtification. The Lord will not have a ſluttiſh Church, and therefore he came not by bloud only, but by water alſo, that clean water of his ſpirit, whereby he waſheth away the ſwiniſh nature of his Saints, ſo that they deſire no more to wallow in the mire.

Verſe 27.Concil. Arauſican. ſecund. Oanon. 12. That he might preſent] As Iſaac did his Rebecca, adorned with his jewels. See Ezek. 16.14. Tales nos amat Deus quales futuri ſumns ipſius dono, non quales ſumus noſtro merito, ſaith an ancient Councel.

p. 231Verſe 28. As their own bodies] No man may hide himſelf from his own fleſh at large, Iſa. 58.7. that is, from his neighbour of the ſame ſtock: much leſſe from a wife, which is ſuch another as himſelf, Geneſis 2.18. nay his very ſelfe, as here.

Verſe 29. For no man over hated] No man but a Monk, who whips himſelf, or a mad man, Mar. 5.5. who cuts himſelf. It was the ſaying of the Emperour Aurelius, A wife is to be oft admoniſhed, ſometimes reproved, but never beaten. and yet of the Ruſſian women it is reported, that they love that husband beſt that beats them moſt, and that they think themſelves elſe not regarded, unleſſe two or three times a day well-favouredly ſwadled.M. Jun in orat. Heyl. Geog. Chryſostom ſaith, It is the greateſt reproach in the world for a man to beat his wiſe.

But nouriſheth and cheriſheth it] As the hen doth her chickens, or as the cock-pigeon doth the eggs.foreign Columbarum maſculus ipſe ovis incubat. Chytrae. in Levit. 13. M…lanctton.Lev 13 Contrariwiſe the Pie hunts away his mate about autumn, leſt he ſhould be forced to keep her all the Winter: and ſo becometh the hieroglyphick of an unkinde husband.

Even as the Lord, the Church] Loe this is the patern of all true love, whether to our ſelves or others.

Verſe 30. Of his fleſh, and of his bones] Whileſt he that is joyned to the Lord is one ſpirit, 1 Cor. 6.17. This union is neither naturall, nor corporall, nor politicall, nor perſonall, but myſticall and ſpirituall: And yet it is no leſſe true and reall, then that of God the Father, and God the Son, Joh. 17.21, 22. For as the holy Ghoſt did unite in the Virgins womb, the divine and humane natures of Chriſt, and made them one perſon; by reaſon whereof Chriſt is of our fleſh and of our bones: So the Spirit unites that perſon of Chriſt, his whole perſon, God-man, with our perſons, by reaſon whereof we are of his fleſh, and of his bones.

Verſe 31. For this cauſe, &c.] See the Note on Mat. 19.5. and on Gen. 2.24.

Shall be one fleſh] By vertue of that Covenant of God betwixt married couples, Prov. 2.17. for he keepeth the bonds of wedlock.

Verſe 32. This is a great myſtery] To wit, this myſticall marriage with Chriſt. It paſſeth the capacity of man to underſtand it in the perfection of it. Preachers can make it known but in part; and hearers can but in part conceive it. Let us therefore p. 232wait for perfect underſtanding of it, till all things be perfected in Chriſt.

Verſe 33. Nevertheleſſ… [q. d. But that I may return to my former diſcourſe, from the which I have ſomewhat digreſſed for your ſatisfaction.

See that ſhe reverence] 1. In heart, as Sarah did Abraham, and ſhe is crowned and chronicled for it, I Pet. 3.6. 2. In her ſpeeches both to him, and of him, as the Spouſe in the Canticles. 3. In all her geſtures and deportments: for ſhe may ſcold with her looks, &c. Vultu ſaepè laeditur pietas. God hath a barren Womb for mocking Michal.

CHAP. VI. Verſe 1. Children obey your Parents]

AS Iſaac did Abraham in ſubmitting to be ſacrificed: As Chriſt became obedient even to the death of the Croſſe.

For this is right] Good and acceptable before God and men, 1 Tim. 5.4. See the Note on Mat. 15.4.

Verſe 2. Firſt Commandment with promiſe] To wit, with ſpeciall promiſe of long life. See more in the Note on Mat. 15.4.

Verſe 3. And thou maist live long] Good children help to lengthen their parents daies, as Joſeph did Jacobs. God therefore lengthens the…s in redhoſtimentum, as it were. Or if he take from them this long leaſe, he gives them a free-hold of better value.

Verſe 4. Provoke not, &c.] God forbids bitterneſſe and auſterity in husbands, Coloſ. 3.19. Maſters, Coloſ. 4.1. parents here, and Col 3.21. Superiours muſt ſo carry themſelves, as to be at once loved and feared.

But bring them up in the nurture, &c.] Or nouriſh them and nurture them. The later is as needfull as the former. They that nouriſh their children only, what do they more, then the unreaſonable creatures?Selue…er. The bleſſing upon poſterity is entailed to piety in the ſecond Commandment. If I may ſee grace in my wife and children, ſaid reverend Claviger, Satis habeo, ſatiſ que mihi, mea ux-ar… filiis & filiabus proſpexi, I ſhall account them ſufficiently cared for.

p. 233Verſe 5. Servants be obedient] The Centurion was happy in his ſervants, and no marvell, for he was a loving Maſter. See the Note on Mat 8 6.

Verſe 6. Not with eye-ſervi…e] And yet it were well if we would do God, our great Maſter, but eye-ſervice. For his eye is ever upon us, and pierceth into the inward parts So that they much deceive themſelves, who think all is well, becauſe no m…n can ſay to them, Black is thine eye.

Verſe 7. As to the Lord] In obedience to his will, and with reference to his glory.

Verſe 8. Whether he be bond or free] The Centurion did but complain of the ſickneſſe of his ſervant, and Chriſt unasked, ſaies, I will come and heal him. He that came in the ſhape of a ſervant, would go down to the ſick ſervants pallet, would not go to the bed of the rich Rulers ſon.

Verſe 9. Do the ſame things] That is, Do your parts and duties by them; and uſe them as men, not as beaſts.

Forbearing threatning] Thoſe bluſters and terrible thunder-cracks of fierce and furious language found in the mouths of many maſt…rs, i… never ſo little croſſed. Severitas nec ſit tetra, nec t… trica: Servants ſhould be chidden with good words,Sidon. epiſt. with Gods words, and not reviled.

Verſe 10. Be ſtrong in the Lord] For by his own ſtrength ſhall no man prevail, 1 Sam. 2.9. Get Gods Arm, wherewith to wield his Armour, and then you may do any thing.

Verſe 11. Put òn the whole armour] Or elſe never think to do the fore-mentioned duties: we have a buſie adverſary to deal with. The Turks bear no weapons, but in travell: then ſome of them ſeem like a walking armory: ſo muſt a Chriſtian be. Coriolanus …ad ſo uſed his weapons of a childe-little, that they ſeemed as if they had been born with him, or grown into his hands.foreign. Plutarch. Seneca reports of Caeſar, that he quickly ſheathed his ſword, but never laid it off. No more muſt we.

The wiles of the devil] Gr. The methods or way-layings of that old ſubtile Serpent, who like Dans adder in the path, biteth the heels of paſſengers,Gen. 48.17.Gen 48:17 and thereby transfuſeth his venome to the head and heart. Julian by his craft drew more from the faith, then all his perſecuting predeceſſours could do by their cruelty. So doth Satan more hurt in his ſheepskin then by roaring like a Lion.

p. 234Verſe 12. Not againſt fleſh and bloud] Hereby the Apoſtle meaneth not ſo much the corruption, as the weakneſſe of our natures. q. d. We have not only to conflict with weak, frail men, but with puiſſant devils. Look to it therefore, and lie open at no place: but get on every piece of this ſpirituall armour, whether thoſe of defence (as the girdle of truth, bre…t-pla…e of righteouſneſſe, the ſhoes of peace and patience, the helmet of hope) or thoſe of offence, as the ſword of the Spirit, and the darts of praier. Fetch all theſe out of the holy Scriptures, which are like Solomons tower, where hang a thouſand ſhields, and all the weapons of ſtrong men. The Apoſtle here ſoundeth the alarm, crying, Arm, arm, &c.

But againſt principalities,] So wicked men make the devils, by being at their beck and obedience. Obſerve here, ((ſaith an Interpreter) in the holy Ghoſt a wonderfull patern of candour: he praiſeth what is praiſe-worthy in his very enem…es. How then ſhall not the Saints be accepted and acknowledged, ſith they ſin not of malicious wickedneſſe, as devils do.

Againſt spirituall wickedneſſe] Gr.foreign The ſpirituals of wickedneſſe, thoſe helliſh plots and ſatanicall ſuggeſtions, black and blaſphemous temptations, horrid and hideous injections, &c.

In high places] Or,foreign About our intereſt in thoſe heavenly priviledges, which the devil would wring from us, and rob us of. He ſtrove with the Angel about the body of Moſes: but with us about our precious ſoules. And herein he hath the advantage▪ that he is above us, and doth ou… of the aire aſſault us, being upon the upper ground, as it were.

Verſe 13. That ye may be able to with ſtand] Not ſeeking to reſiſt Satans craft with craft, fraud with fraud, Sed per apertum Martem, but by open defiance. He ſhoots (ſaith Greenham) with Satan in his own bow, who thinks by diſputing and reaſoning to put him off.

Verſe 14. Stand therefore]foreign A military expreſſion. A man may well ſay to the Chriſtian ſouldier, as Simeon in the eccleſiaſticall hiſtory did to the pillars,D. H…ll's, Quò vadis. which he whipped before the earthquake: Stand faſt for ye ſhall be ſhaken.

Your loins girt about] Here if ever, Ʋngirt, unbleſt. p. 235He is a looſe man that wants this g…dle of ſince…ity.

The breaſt-plate of righteouſnes] Inherent righteouſnes, 1 Ioh. 3.7. that enſureth election. 2 Pet. 1, 10.

Verſe 15. And your feet ſhod] As one that is well booted or buskind can walk unhurt amidſt briers and brambles: ſo may he amidſt Satans ſnares, whereof all places are full, that is fortified with Goſpel-comforts, whereby God creates peace.

Verſe 16. Above all] Or, Over and upon all. foreignFor the word here rendred a ſhield cometh from another word that ſignifieth a door: to note that as a door or gate doth the body,foreign ſo the ſhield of faith covereth the whole ſoul. Let us be therefore (as Epaminondas) Non d… vita, ſed de ſc…to ſolliciti. S…eva at the ſiege of Dyrrachium ſo long alone reſiſted Pompeys army, that he had 220 darts ſticking in his ſhield, and loſt one of his eyes, and yet gave not over till Caeſar came to his reſcue.

To quench all the fiery darts] Pointed and poiſoned with the venome of ſerpents, which ſet the heart on fire from one luſt to another. Or fiery for the dolour and diſtemper that they work: in alluſion to the Scythian darts, dipt in the gall of aſps and vipers; the venemous heat of which, like a fire in their fleſh, killed the wounded with torments the likeſt hell of any other.

Verſe 17. The helmet of ſalvation] Hope which holds head above water, and maketh the ſoul with ſtretcht-out …eck expect deliverance, Rom 8.19. crying out not only, Dum ſpiro, ſpero, but dum expiro ſpero.

And the ſword of the ſpirit] Wherewith our Saviour beat the devil on his own dunghill the wilderneſſe, fetching all out of that one book of Deuteronomy, Matth. 4. See the Notes there.

Verſe 18. Praying alwaies] Praier is not only a part of the armour, but enables to uſe all the reſt. It is not only a charm for that crooked ſerpent Leviathan, Iſa. 26.16. to inchant him,Flagellum Diaboli. but a whip to torment him, and put him into another hell, ſaith Chryſostome. It …etcheth Chriſt into the battle, and ſo is ſure of victory. It obtaineth freſh ſupplies of the Spirit, Phil. 1.19. and ſo maketh us more then conquerours, even triumphers. It driveth the devil out of the field, and maketh him flie from p. 236us, Tanquà;m ſi leones ignem expuentes eſſemus, ſaith Chryſoſtome. Eſpecially if we go not to the battle,foreign, with our break faſt, as Nestor in Homer, but faſting and praying. For ſome kinde of devils are not caſt cut, but by faſting and praier.

And watching thereunto] That we be not ſurprized at unawares. The bird Onocratal… is ſo well practiſ…d to expect the Hawk to grapple with her, that even when ſhe ſhutteth her eyes, ſhe ſleepeth with her beak exalted, as if ſhe would contend with her adverſary: Let us like wiſe ſtand continually upon our guard. The devil watcheth and wa…keth the round, 1 Pet. 5.8. Watch therefore.

Verſe 19 And for me] Miniſters muſt be eſpecially pray'd for, that they may have a door not only of utterance, but of entrance to mens hearts, and ſo be able to ſave themſelves, and thoſe that hear them. In praying for ſu…h, we pray for ou… ſelves.

Verſe 20.foreign I am an Embaſſadour] Venerable for mine age and authority, as the word ſignifieth. The ancient and the honourable are uſually imploied as Embaſſadours. Cognata ſunt foreign & foreign, old age and honour are akin in the Greek tongue.

In bonds] Gr. In a chain; inſtead of a chain of gold (worne commonly by Embaſſadours) and far more glorious.foreign I bear about my bonds (ſaith Ignatius in his Epiſtle like wiſe to the Epheſians) as ſo many ſpirituall Jewels or Enſigns of honour. Oh, ſaid Alice Driver, here is a goodly neckerchief, bleſſed be God for it, when the chain was put about her neck.

That therein I may ſpeak boldly] He ſaith not, That I may be freed from my chain, but that I may do my office well in my chain. Let God ſerve himſelf upon us, and then no matter what becomes of us. Martinus decumbens, Domine, dixi…, ſi adhuc populo tuo firm neceſſarius, nonrecuſo L…borem.Sever. epiſt. 3.

Verſe 21. But that ye may know] It is of good uſe to the Church to know the lives and affairs of men eminent in goodneſſe, and of exemplary holineſſe; that others may expreſſe them, as Polycarp did Iohn the Evangeliſt, as Irenaeus did Polycarp, as Cyprian did Tertullian, Paraeus did Vrſin, &c.

Verſe 22. Comfort your hearts] It is God that comforts by p. 237the creatures, as by conduit-pipes. The air yeelds light as an inſtrument, the water may heat, but not of it ſelf. When a potion is given in beer, the beer of it ſelf doth not work, but the potion by the beer. So in this eaſe.

Verſe 23. Peace be to the brethren] Theſe only be the children of peace, Luk. 10.10. The wicked are like the troubled ſea, Iſa. 57.20. which may ſeem ſometimes ſtill, but is never ſo: no more are they. The peace of proſperity they may have, but not of tranquillity. Sinceritas ſerenitatis mater. Hence it followeth.

Verſe 24. In ſincerity] Or, Immortality, foreignoppoſite to that Anathema Maranatha, 1 Cor. 16.23.