Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; Ver. 1. _Be ye therefore followers_] In forgiving one another. _ As dear children_] God hath but a few such children. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 5:45 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 5:48 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Ver. 2. _Hath loved us, and hath given_] When Christ wept for Lazarus, "Lo, how he loved him," said the Jews, John 11:35,36. When he poured forth his soul for... [ Continue Reading ]
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Ver. 3. _But fornication and all uncleanness_] As standing in full opposition to that sweet smelling savour, Ephesians 5:2, being no better than the corruption of a dead soul, the devil's... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Ver. 4. _Neither filthiness_] Borborology (rumblings?), ribaldry, _a_ the language of hell. Some men as ducks have their noses always guzzling in the gutter of obscene talk. Of Eckius' last... [ Continue Reading ]
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Ver. 5. _Who is an idolater_] Dancing about his golden calf, and saying to his wedge of silver, "Thou art my confidence," Job 30:24; which yet s... [ Continue Reading ]
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Ver. 6. _Let no man deceive you_] So as to make you think there is no such danger in fornication, covetousness, &c. There wanted not such proctors for hell in the primitive... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not ye therefore partakers with them. Ver. 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 prayed, From mine other men's sins, good L... [ Continue Reading ]
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now _are ye_ light in the Lord: walk as children of light: Ver. 8. _For ye were sometimes darkness_] Which hath in it (as Mr Dugard well noteth): 1. Error. 2. Terror. 3. Inconsistency with light. 4. Impossibility of reducing itself to light. _ But now are ye lig... [ Continue Reading ]
(For the fruit of the Spirit _is_ in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Ver. 9. _For the fruit of the Spirit_] Why grace is called fruit, see note: _See Trapp on "_ Gal 5:22 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Ver. 10. _Proving what is acceptable_] By the practice of what you know. Let your knowledge and obedience run parallel, mutually transfusing life and vigour one into another.... [ Continue Reading ]
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove _them_. Ver. 11. _Have no fellowship_] No needless society for fear of infection; get the wind of those stinking carcases; "hate the garment spotted by the flesh," that is, avoid ill company (saith Perkins), as Levitic... [ Continue Reading ]
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. Ver. 12. _For it is a shame_] _Sit honos auribus._ Joannes a Casa so far forgot both honesty and nature, that he boasted openly of his beastly sodomy; yea, most impudently commended that odious sin in an Italian poem,... [ Continue Reading ]
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Ver. 13. _But all things that are, &c._] Or, But all these things, viz. these unfruitful works of darkness, while they are reproved or discovered by the light (viz. of the word, as 1 Corinth... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Ver. 14. _Wherefore he saith_] Or, the Scriptare saith. See the like, James 4:6; "But he giveth (or the Scripture giveth) more grace." It convinceth not only, but converteth; it discovereth not... [ Continue Reading ]
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Ver. 15. _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 godliness, as the word importeth; to keep God's commandments to the utmost... [ Continue Reading ]
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ver. 16. _Redeeming the time_] As wise merchants, trading for the most precious commodity, and taking their best opportunity. The common complaint is, We lack time; but the truth is, we do not so much lack it as waste it. _Non parum habemus temporis, s... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord _is_. Ver. 17. _But understanding what_] Drawing your knowledge into practice, asEphesians 5:10. For "the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding,"Job 28:28 : where wisdom (proper to the under... [ Continue Reading ]
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Ver. 18. _And be not drunk with wine_] Nothing so opposite to an accurate life as drunkenness; which therefore is not specially prohibited in any one of the Ten Commandments (saith a divine) because it is not the single b... [ Continue Reading ]
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ver. 19. _Speaking to yourselves, &c._] As drunkards sing and halloo over their cups in their goodfellow meetings; so in a sober sense, do you express your spiritual jollity in psalm... [ Continue Reading ]
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Ver. 20. _Giving thanks always_] In our deepest miseries let us sing cheerfully, as Paul and Silas in the dungeon, as Philpot and his fellows in the coal house, as many martyrs in the flames, as Luther... [ Continue Reading ]
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Ver. 21. _Submitting yourselves_] This is a general admonition to all inferiors, whose duties are afterwards described. Thus in the second table of the law, the fifth commandment for order and obedience is fitly premised to the following prec... [ Continue Reading ]
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Ver. 22. _Wives, submit, &c._] This includes reverence, obedience, &c. God hath scattered the duties of husbands and wives up and down the Scriptures, that they may search, and by learning to be good husbands and wives, they may lea... [ Continue Reading ]
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Ver. 23. _For the husband is the head_] And would it not be ill-favoured to see the shoulders above the head?... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so _let_ the wives _be_ to their own husbands in every thing. Ver. 24. _Therefore as the Church_] Denying herself to please Christ, making his will her law. _ In everything_] In all her husband's lawful commands and restraints. A wife should have no... [ Continue Reading ]
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Ver. 25. _Husbands, love your wives_] He saith not, rule over them (in answer to submit, Eph 5:22), for this they can readily do without bidding; but love your wives, and so make their yoke as easy as may be.... [ Continue Reading ]
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Ver. 26. _That he might sanctify_] The maids were first purified and perfumed before Ahasuerus chose one. But here it is otherwise. Sanctification is a fruit of justification. The Lord will not have a sluttish Church, and... [ Continue Reading ]
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ver. 27. _That he might present_] As Isaac did his Rebecca, adorned with his jewels. See Ezekiel 16:14. _Tales nos amat Deus, quales futuri sumus ip... [ Continue Reading ]
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. Ver. 28. _As their own bodies_] No man may hide himself from his own flesh at large, Isaiah 58:7, that is, from his neighbour of the same stock; much less from a wife, which is such another as himself, Gen... [ Continue Reading ]
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: Ver. 29. _For no man ever hated_] No man but a monk, who whips himself, or a mad man, Mark 5:5, who cuts himself. It was the saying of the Emperor Aurelius, a wife is to be often admonished, some... [ Continue Reading ]
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Ver. 30. _Of his flesh, and of his bones_] While he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:17. This union is neither natural, nor corporal, nor political, nor personal, but mystical and spiritual; and yet it is no le... [ Continue Reading ]
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Ver. 31. _For this cause, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ Mat 19:5 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Gen 2:24 _"_ Shall be one flesh] By virtue of that covenant of God between married couples,Prov... [ Continue Reading ]
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ver. 32. _This is a great mystery_] To wit, this mystical 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 concei... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife _see_ that she reverence _her_ husband. Ver. 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 revere... [ Continue Reading ]