Paraphrase of the Hard Texts of Scripture, Scripture 45
THE EPISTLE OF S. PAVL THE APOSTLE TO THE EPHESIANS.
CAP. I.
WHo hath blessed us, not with these outward favours of riches, and honour, and such like blessings, which are uncertaine, and transitory; but with all spirituall blessings,3 Who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ. which may fit us for those heavenly places, provided for us, in, and by Christ.
Which blessings of his have beene bestowed upon us out of that infinite love, whereby he hath chosen us,4 According as hee hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love. before the beginnings of the world, to this end and purpose, and with this effect, that wee should be holy, and blamelesse, both in our disposition and conversation before him, approving our unfained love unto him in all things.
Having by his eternall decree predestinated,5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Iesus Christ to himselfe, according to the good pleasure of his will. and fore-ordained us to be his adopted sonnes, in, and by Jesus Christ; not out of ought that was or should be in us, but according to his owne mere mercy, and the good pleasure of his owne will.
All which God hath done for us,6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. for the onelyonly praise and glory of his infinite grace, and mercy; wherein hee hath made us (which were of our selves justly hatefull) to be accepted in his beloved Sonne Jesus Christ.
In,7 In whom wee have redemption through his blood, the forgivenesse of sinnes, according to the riches of his grace. and by whom wee have redemption through his precious blood (which was paid as our ransome,) and full forgivenesse of all our sinnes, according to the abundance of his mercy to us.
8 Wherein hee hath abounded towards us in all wisedome and prudence.Wherein hee hath beene exceeding bountifull unto us, in imparting to us the rich treasures of spirituall wisdome, and prudence.
10 That in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him.That in the fulnesse of time, which God in his wise dispensation, and providence had appointed, hee might call and gather together, under one head, Christ Jesus, all, both Angels in heaven, and men on earth, which pertaine unto him.
11 In whom also wee have obtained an inheritance.By whom also, and in whom, upon his gracious uniting of us to him, wee have obtained an happy and glorious inheritance, &c.
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.That our glory might be, to the praise and glory of him, who hath thus crowned and glorified us, who first here below beleeved in Christ.
In whom also after that ye beleeved, yee were made sure, and sealed up for his, by that holy Spirit of his, which hee promised13 In whom also after that ye beleeved, yee were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise: to send to all his elect, infallibly witnessing to your spirits, that yee are the sonnes of God.
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance, untill the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.Which is to us beforehand, the certaine earnest, and pledge of our full inheritance to come, even untill that purchased possession of eternall life may be fully accomplished and stated upon us, to the praise of his glory.
18 That yee may know what is the hope of his calling, & what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints.That ye may know what great, and wonderfull good things yee may, and ought to hope for, by vertue of his effectuall calling of you: and what the unspeakable and unvaluable riches are of that glorious inheritance, which he hath laid up for his Saints.
20 And set him at his owne right hand in the heavenly places.And exalted him in his humane nature, to the participation of his infinite glory and majesty, in the highest heavens.
21 Farre above all principalitie, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that, &c.Farre above all the most mighty, and most glorious Angels of heaven, and whatsoever thing else is, or can be named, either in earth or in heaven.
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church:And hath put all things in subjection to him, as mediator, and hath appointed him to have the disposing of all things, as the head of the Church:
23 Which is his body, the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all.Which Church is so to Christ, as the body is to the head, making up the fulnesse of Christ (who hath of himselfe full perfection and infinite power and majesty) so as his goodnesse holds not himselfe complete without his Church.
CAP. II.
ANd you hath hee by his Spirit quickned,1 And you hath hee quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sinnes; who were in the state of your corrupt nature, dead in your sinnes, and trespasses; having therefore no more power to raise up your selves, then the dead man hath to raise himselfe from his grave, now hee hath wrought powerfully in you, and hath freed you from those your sinnes;
Wherein ye lived in times past,2 Wherein in time past, ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the aire, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience; framing your selves according to the wicked course, and trade of the world; and according to the will of him, who is the prince of those wicked spirits, which exercise their power in the aire; even that evill spirit, which now worketh, and ruleth in them who are wilfully disobedient;
Fulfilling the sinfull desires of their corrupt nature, both in carnall, and in mentall, or spirituall sins;3 Fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. both in bodily uncleannesses, and in the errours, and exorbitances of the minde; and were naturally such, as could expect nothing from the hands of God, but wrath, and damnation; even as other heathens justly may, and are.
Having raised Christ, the head, hath together with,5 Hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.) and in him, quickned us his members, by vertue of his resurrection; and that merely out of his owne good will towards us; for by grace, and not by any merits of ours, are wee saved.
So also verse 6.
That not onelyonly the present age,7 That in the ages to come, hee might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindnesse towards us, through Christ Iesus. but those that are to come also, might see and feele the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindnesse towards the Gentiles also, in calling them home to him, through Jesus Christ.
For out of the mere favour, and mercy of God, are ye saved, through faith in Christ,8 For by grace are ye saved thorow faith, and that not of your selves; it is the gift of God. yee cannot merit any thing, as of your selves; it is the free gift of God.
This salvation is not of workes, lest any man should finde cause of boasting in himselfe,9 Not of workes, lest any man should boast: that he hath earned it at Gods hand, and therefore is not beholden to his mercy.
For all that we are, and have, is his;10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Iesus unto good workes, which God hath before ordeined, that wee should walke in them. wee are his workmanship, created not onelyonly in Adam to a naturall life, but in Christ to a spirituall life of new obedience, that wee should do all manner of good workes, which God hath in his eternall counsell prepared, and fore-ordained for us to walke in.
11 Who are called uncircumcisiō, by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands.Who are scornefully called, The uncircumcision, by those Jewes which boast themselves to bee called by the title of a fleshly circumcision; as if in this right they were accepted of God; and ye in the defect thereof were forlorne, and rejected.
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.That at that time ye had neither knowledge of Christ, nor any interest in him; being mere forainers from the holy Church of God, and strangers from the gracious covenant which hee hath made with all his faithfull ones; having neither any hope of salvation, nor any just ground of hope; and living, as without the acknowledgement of a God in the world.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken downe the middle wall of partition between us.For he is our perfect peace-maker; yea our very peace and reconciliation it selfe; who hath conjoyned in one body of the Church, both Jewes and Gentiles; and, whereas there was a wall of partition set up betwixt these two, so as they could not come together, hee hath broken downe that pile of division, so as now, wee are one family, as it were, in one roome of the same Church.
15 Having abolished in his flesh, the enmity, even the law of commandements, conteined in ordinances, for to make in himselfe of twaine, one new man, so making peace.Having in his suffering of death in his body utterly abolished the cause of this division and enmity, which was the Law ceremoniall, consisting of divers rites, and ordinances; for to make those two kindes of people, Jewes and Gentiles, one new creature, in and to himselfe, so by this gracious union, making peace betwixt them.
16 And that hee might reconcile both unto God, in one body, by the crosse, having slaine the enmity thereby.And that having made them up into one body, hee might reconcile them, not to themselves onelyonly, but to God also, by that propitiatory sacrifice, which he made of himselfe, upon his crosse; having utterly extinguished thereby the enmity betwixt God and us.
And are the living stones of that holy Church of his, which is built upon the foundation of the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles: Jesus Christ himselfe being that chiefe corner stone,20 And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles, and Prophets, Christ Iesus himselfe being the chiefe corner stone. in whom both the wals of Jewes and Gentiles, are conjoyned.
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy Temple.In whom alone, all the whole building, being compacted, and cemented together by love, is made up into one Euangelicall Church, whereof the Temple was a type.
CAP. III.
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given to me-ward.IF ye have heard of my Apostleship, and charge to preach unto you the tidings of grace, and salvation; which is committed unto me for your behoofe.
And to make manifest unto all men,9 And to make all men see, what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath beene hid in God, &c. the communication of this wonderfull mystery of the saving of mankinde, which God (the creator of all things by Christ) reserved from all eternity in his owne secret counsell.
To the end that now,10 To the intent that now unto the principalities, and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the Church, the manifold wisedome of God. the glorious Angels of heaven (after that God had once vented, and declared that his good purpose to mankinde) might see in this wonderfull redemption, and blessed union of the Church, a cleare proofe and demonstration of the manifold, and infini…e wisedome of God.
In whom we have boldnesse,12 In whom wee have boldnesse, & accesse, with confidence, by the faith of him. and free and confident accesse to the throne of Gods grace, by that faith which gives us a right in him, and assures us of a gracious acceptation.
Wherefore,13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. I desire you that yee be not discouraged at the sight of those tribulations, which I suffer, for preaching the Gospell to you; yea rather, yee ought to account them your glory, and rejoycing; in that ye have an Apostle, who is thought worthy to suffer for the name of Christ.
Of whom that whole united family of Saints,15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named both in heaven and earth, and here below of Jewes and Gentiles, is named to be the one universall Church of Christ.
That yee may be able with all his Saints,19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that yee might be filled with all the fulnesse of God. to conceive the absolutenesse, and infinite perfectnesse, and exactnes of the worke of that reconciliation, which hee hath wrought for mankinde, in all the dimensions of it; and may be affected with it accordingly.
And,20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that we aske or thinke, according to the power that worketh in us. that ye may apprehend that unspeakable love of Christ towards us, the full knowledge whereof paseth all finite capacity; and that ye may be filled with all perfection of the graces of God.
CAP. IV.
ENdeavouring to preserve that holy,3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. and Christian unity, which the Spirit of God hath wrought in you, by a peaceable disposition, and carriage one to another.
See Psal. 68.18.8 When he ascended up on high, hee led captivity captive, and gave gifts, &c.
Now in that David sayes that Christ ascended;9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that hee also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? what doth it imply, but that hee had before descended, both from heaven to the earth, which is the lowest part of the world, and from the surface of the earth, into the bowels thereof, the grave.
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up, farre above all heavens, that hee might fill all, &c.He that thus descended, &c. that hee might fulfill all that was fore-said of him, and all that is or should be requisite for the full glorification of his Church.
And some hee gave to be pastors, and teachers of his Church,11 And some pastors, and teachers, &c. to lead forth his people, and to feed them with wholsome doctrine, and holy government.
12 For the perfecting of the Saints, for the worke of the ministerie, for the edifying of the body of Christ:All which he hath given, and ordained for the perfecting of the grace of his Saints; and for the full and exact discharg of the great work of the ministery, which could not be sufficiently managed by any one ranke of gifts, or men; and in generall, for the full edification of the Church, which is the mysticall body of Christ:
13 Till wee all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulnes of Christ:Till all those, yet unbeleevers, which belong to Gods election, be brought to one, and the same saving faith, and to the true knowledge, and acknowledgement of the Sonne of God, together with us; and so the whole Church (as if it were one body) grow up to be a perfect and divine grown man; even to that full stature of grace, and full knowledge, which it is ordained unto, in and by Christ; yea untill that Christ, who accounts the Church to be no other then his body, and holds himselfe not perfect, without it, have in us attained to that full growth, as that no degree of perfection shall be wanting to this mysticall body of his.
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carryed about with every winde of doctrine, by the sleight of men.That henceforth, wee be no more children, unstayed, and unconstant in our good courses, and purposes; tossed to and fro with every winde of false doctrine, in the tottering cock-boat of our weake irresolution; and cheated, through the sleight and cunning craftinesse of insinuating false teachers, &c.
16 From whom the whole body fitly joyned together, and compacted by that which every joint supplyeth, according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of it selfe in love.That, as in the naturall body, wee see that it is knit together by joynts and sinewes, to make up one complete living frame, which receiveth vertue and power of motion from the head, which is diffused into all the severall parts according to the use and occasion of the diverse members thereof; so as the whole body, by this meanes growes up together in strength and stature; so it is spiritually in the mysticall body of Christ, the Church: it receiving vertue, and grace from Christ, the head, which is distributed to every faithfull soule, as a limbe and member of this body, growes up to the full state of perfection in Christ: and is in the whole bulke, and frame thereof, edified by the mutuall love of each beleever unto other.
Being estranged from that course of life,18 Being alienated from the life of God. which God hath prescribed unto us, &c.
But ye have not so learned Christianity,20 But yee have not so learned Christ. as to give your selves over, under that pretence, to riot and disorder.
If, at least,21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Iesus, yee have given eare to the doctrine of Christ, and have beene taught in his schoole, so, as yee ought, according to the truth of this heavenly discipline: which is this,
That ye put off your old, sinfull, depraved nature,22 That ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts. which is corrupt according to those deceitfull lusts, and desires that are inbred in your bosomes, & now change your former affections, and conversation,
And be renewed, not onelyonly in the baser,23 And be renewed in the spirit of your minde, and lower faculties of the soule, which are your affections, and appetite, but even in the more noble and higher powers thereof, which are your understanding and will.
If,26 Be ye angry and sinne not; let not the Sunne goe downe upon your wrath: according to the weaknesse of humane nature yee be carried into the passion of anger, yet take heed of being transported by the vehemence thereof, into sinne; neither let that unquiet passion (howsoever it may seize upon you) lodge, and sleep with you:
Neither doe,27 Neither give place to the Devill. by this harbouring of an uncharitable passion, let in Satan into your soules.
Doe not cause the Spirit of God to withdraw his graces from you, as in a detestation of your leud courses;30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. neither doe, by your sinnes, give just distast to that good Spirit, whereto ye have beene so infinitely beholden for your confirmation, and sealing up to the full possession of your future glory.
CAP. V.
YEE were once, not only darksome,8 For yee were sometimes darknesse, but now are ye light in the Lord. with ignorance and unbeleefe, but even darknesse it selfe; but now, ye are clearely inlightened by the Spirit of God, &c.
Awake,14 Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. thou sinner that sleepest securely in the state of sinne; and rise up from that spirituall death, wherein thou liest, by confessing, and forsaking thy sin; and then Christ, which is the true light, shall shine forth unto thee, by giving thee remission, and salvation.
Strive to recover and fetch up that time,16 Redeeming the time, because the daies are evill. which your negligence hath lost; and make carefull use of all oportunities of doing good; because the world is full of corruption, and yee shall meete with many occasions of distraction, and discouragement.
18 And be not drunke with wine wherein is excesse: but be filled with the Spirit.Doe not give your selves to intemperance, in the use of meates, and drinkes; which is the cause of much luxurie, and outrage; but, if yee desire to cheare up your hearts, be ye filled with that holy Spirit of God, which only can give perfect joy to the soule.
19 Speaking to your selves in Psalmes, and Hymnes, and spirituall songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.Which joy, shall expresse it selfe at your holy meetings, in Psalmes, and hymnes, and sprituall songs; in stead of those wanton, and offensive songs, which the mirth of sensuall men is usually wont to breake forth into, &c.
23 And he is the Saviour of the body.Even as Christ is so the head of his Church (which is his body) as that he is the Saviour of it; governing it for the benefit, and salvation thereof; so should the husband who is the head of his wife, rule over her (not tyrannically, and harshly, but) lovingly, and so as may be to the behoofe, preservation, and comfort of her.
26 That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.That he might sanctifie and cleanse it by his holy Spirit, working in us by his word, and by his Sacrament of Baptisme, as the meanes thereof.
27 That he might present it to himselfe a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.That at the last hee may present this his spouse the Church, perfectly beautifull, before the Tribunall of his Father, cleared from the spots of her sins, and wrinckles of her infirmities.
For, as Evah was part of the very body of Adam, flesh of his flesh,28 So ought men to love their wives, as their owne bodies: he that loveth his wife, loveth himselfe and bone of his bone; so are wee spiritually the very parts and members of the mysticall body of this second Adam: out of his pretious side was the Church taken.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joyned, &c.See Genes. 2.24.
32 This is a great mystery, but I speake concerning Christ & the Church.This union, and conjugall conjunction is then a great mystery, not in respect of it selfe, but, in respect of that which is thereby represented, even the blessed union which is betwixt the husband Christ, and the Church his spouse.
CAP. VI.
2 Honour thy father & mother (which is the first commandement with promise.)WHich is the first Commandement; yea, the onelyonly one, that hath a peculiar promise of blessing annexed unto the charge given.
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.In the services that yee doe, having an eye not so much to your masters, as to the Lord, who calls for this your obedience unto them.
Brethren, yee are souldiers in Gods warfare;11 Put on the whole armour of God, that yee may be able to stād against the wiles of the Devill. as souldiers, therefore, are wont to put on a compleat harnesse from head to foot; so doe yee furnish your soules with all holy graces, which may defend and preserve you from all the crafty assaults of the devill.
For, our fight doth not lye against flesh and blood,12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darknesse of this world, against spirituall wickednesse, in high places. (weake and impotent like our selves) but against the strong, and mighty powers, and principalities of hell; against those evill spirits, which sway this wicked world, that is, all darksome with ignorance and infidelitie; against those spirituall tempters, who being themselves wicked, labour to infect all others, and have so much more advantage, as they are more eminent in the place of their abode, and onset, being the region of the ayre, wherein they doe ordinarily worke.
Put your selves therefore into a fit and sure posture,14 Stand therefore, having your loines girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousnesse; having your loynes girt about with the belt of sincere, and rectified affections; and having your hearts defended with the brest-plate of innocence, and holy and upright intentions;
And your feet shod with a ready alacritie to professe and maintaine that Gospell of Christ,15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace. which can onelyonly bring true peace to the soule.
But,16 Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. in vaine should yee pretend to be girt with all this complete harnesse, if yee did not hold out also before you, the shield of a true, and lively faith, whereby yee may be able both to beat back, and to extinguish all the strong, sudden, violent, fiery tentations of that wicked one.
And let your head be defenced with the assured hope of salvation, as with an helmet;17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. and let your hand be armed with the word of God, which is as the sword of the Spirit, whereby satan may not onelyonly be resisted, but vanquished also, and utterly foyled.
And that all this preparation,18 Praying alwaies with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto. and holy munition may prevaile, and take happy effect, ye must ever be praying unto God, with all fervency of soule, in all frequence, and instance of prayer, and supplication; watching therin, &c.