Ephesians 5

Ephesians 5:2

A Sweet smelling] A manner of speech taken from what was anciently spoken of sacrifices which were acceptable to God, the smell whereof, as one might say, he did sent with pleasure, Genesis 8:21. Leviticus 1:9.

Ephesians 5:3

Let it not be] Abhorre even the name of these vices, let them be unknown and unheard of amongst you.

Ephesians 5:5

An idolater] insomuch as he sets all his affection, and puts all his considence in riches, and holds them for an universall good, sufficient for all things, as God is; and because he beaes a certain respect unto them, that he dares not freely make use of them, and serves them with his heart as some Godhead. See Matth. 6. 2.

Ephesians 5:6

Vain] not so much by allurements, as by false inducements and perswasions; as that these sinnes are but sleight things, that Gods patience suffereth all things, that his grace pardonevery thing, that man cannot be perfect in the world, and the like The children] namely, upon all the devils part and the worlds, which is rebellious to Gods Law, and believeth not in the Gospell, by reason of its naturall perversenesse.

Ephesians 5:8

Darknesse] namely, inwardly, being deprived of all light of truth, of grace and of the spirit, having contrary qualities; and outwardly, without any inlightening or instruction Light]that is to say, you are not onely inlightened outwarldly by doctrine, but also inwardly, imprinted by a lively divine Light In the Lord] in vertue of your communion in spirit with him.

Ephesians 5:9

For the] that is to say, the qualitie of the children of God, which you have acquired by the illumination and regeneration of the holy Ghost, bindes you to do all manner of holy workes, as the fruit ought to be correspondent to the nature and qualitie of the root and seed, Galatians 5:22.

Ephesians 5:10

Proving] namely, examining by the rule of Gods Word, what is conformable to his will, and what is not, without suffering your selves to be deceived by opinions or perswasion,verse 6. See Proverbs 10:32. Romans 12:2.

Ephesians 5:11

Unfruitfull] which cannot bring forth for man that excellent fruit of Life, Romans 6:21. Galatians 6:8. Of darknesse] proceeding from the corruption of man, who hath no light of knowledge, and of Gods Spirit, irregulate and without any certain end, as done by one that walkes in darknesse; shamefull and infamous workes which cannot endure the day: and finally, which are condemned to everlasting darknesse with the devil who is the first author of them.

Ephesians 5:13

But all things] though these things be hidden from men, yet ther is the light of Gods universal knowledge and providence that seeth them, and doth thereof convince the consciences, untill such time as at the last judgement they be set forth for a full evidence For whatsoever] if these things must one day be revealed, it is a signe that God doth even at this time know them, and see them, as clear as noon day. See Psal. 139. 11.

Ephesians 5:14

Wherefore he saith] because that every man shall answer for what he hath done before Gods terrible judgement-〈…〉, they are all called by his word to timely converion, to awake from the sleep and stupefaction, yea, from the death of sin, for to be enlightned by the light of the Gospell, and to walk according to it.

Ephesians 5:16

Redeeming] seeking, and taking any occasion of doing good: and therefore leaving all worldly imployment and delight. Or regaining the time which had formerly been lost, with endeavouring to supply at this time what you had then lost The dayes] there are hard and calamitus times comming upon the Church, in which all means of well-doing will be cut off, or much restrained: and therefore we must be beforehand in doing good, Ecclesiastes 11:2. Iohn 9. 4. and 11. 9. and 12. 35 Galatians 6:10.

Ephesians 5:18

With the Spirit] namely, with spirituall thoughts, and meditations of divine joy, faith, and zeal.

Ephesians 5:20

In the name] that is to say, Offering them to God, as sacrifices pleasing to him, in vertue and favour of Christ, high Priest and Intercessour.

Ephesians 5:21

Submitting] namely, all through charity, yeelding to other mens just desires, necessities, and profits; and the inferiours to superiours through obedience and respect, 1 Peter 5:5.

Ephesians 5:22

As unto] namely, in all things which belong to the lawfull authority and superiority that Christ hath given the husband over his wife, and wherein the husband bears Christs image, 1 Corinthians 11:3. see Ephes. 6. 5.

Ephesians 5:23

And he is] as Christs dominion over the Church, which is his body, hath its whole relation to the salvation of it, so the husbands authority over the wife ought to have the same end: and likewise the wife ought to resemble the Church in voluntary obedience and subjection.

Ephesians 5:24

In every thing] that is lawfull and belongeth to her duty according to God, see Colossians 3:20; Colossians 3:22. Titus 2:9.

Ephesians 5:26

That he might] he doth severally touch the three parts of the salvation acquired to the Church by Christ, which are the justification or remission of sins, signified by the washing, the sanctification and regeneration in Spirit, and the everlasting glorification, vers. 27 Cleanse it] from all spot of sin, which will not suffer God to look graciously and favourably upon man The washing] namely, the spirituall washing, which is nothing but the essectuall application of Christs death and blood for an expiation before God, which is called the washing of water, as well by reason of the similitude of the action, as because of the signe and seale thereof which is appointed in baptisme, Iohn 3. 5. Titus 3:5. Heb. 10. 22. 1 Iohn 5. 6. By the word]the ground of these benefits is Gods free promise or appointment; or the outward Baptisme obtaineth the property of a Sacrament of those two foresaid benefits by Gods appointment, and is made effectuall to all beleevers by faith in the promise of grace.

Ephesians 5:27

Present it] namely, in the celestiall glory where the regeneration shall be compleat.

Ephesians 5:28

As their own] because that by the bond of matrimony man and wife become one and the self same flesh, Genesis 2:24.

Ephesians 5:30

Of his 〈…〉sh] figurative termes, taken from the making of Eve of one of Adams ribs: to the likenesse whereof the Church is regenerate by Christs Spiit, and by this means enters into the union of spirituall matrimonie with him, which consists in the communitie of spirituall life, in communion of goods, and in communication of vertue, to bring forth the blessed generation of beleevers.

Ephesians 5:31

For this cause] no more for that cause onely which is alleaged by Moses, Genesis 2:24. but chiefly by reason of the new bond which Christ imposeth upon his by his benefit and example,

Ephesians 5:32

Mysterie] namely, divine doctrine and action, holy, spirituall, and not to be comprehended by humane understanding, namely, of Christs and his Churches union.

Ephesians 5:33

Let every one] this mysterie is so high that it cannot be comprehended; and it is sufficient that matrimonie is a pourtraiture of it: and that by the comparing of the one with the other, beleevers are taught by Christ, the spirituall husbands great example, what are the interchangeable duties of corporall matrimonie.