Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1-16

Having laid down the glorious gospel privileges, the apolite proceeds to enforce the obligations thence resulting; for the disclosures of grace are the only powerful principles of true obedience. In this chapter we have drawn coherentness to important duties. 1. One that is more general, vers. 1. 2. An coherence to mutual love, unity, and concord, with the proper means and motives to promote them, vers. 2—16. 3. An coherence to Christians purity and holiness of life; and that hath more general, vers. 17—24. and in several particular instances, vers. 25, to the end.

1. Therefore the prisoner of the Lord, befeeth you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. 2. With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; 3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captives, and gave gifts unto men. 9. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended, first into the lower parts of the earth? 10. He that descended, is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things) 11. And he gave some, apostles, and some, prophets: and some, evangelists, and some, pastors and teachers; 12. For the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14. That we henceforth be no more children, toiled to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the flight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive: 15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, corn Christ: 16. From whom the whole body is joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplicate, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love.

2. A general exhortation to walk worthy of their high vocation. Wherefore, the prisoner of the Lord, suffering now for my fidelity to his gospel, beforth you, by every endearing argument, that ye walk worthy of the vocation subversively to ye call, adorning by your conversation the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

3. He particularly exhorts them, (1.) To behave with all business and mechanics, in humble thoughts of themselves, and the milderly department towards others, with long-suffering paffing by officers, and overlooking the infirmities of their brethren, forbearing an another in love, influenced by this divine principle, and patient towards all men. Now, True love, humility unfeigned, and approved meeknefs, are the most striking lineaments of the Christian’s character. (2.) In this manner endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the head of peace, formally cemented together in holy fellowship, and the whole church being in perfect peace, no jarring discord should disturb the happy union.

4. He sugges the strongest motives to the practice which he recommends. There is one body, of which we are all members; and one Spirit, which actuates the whole, and therefore we cannot, if this be the case, but have the tenderest concern for and chastised union with each other; even as ye are called as one hope of your calling, looking for the same inheritance in glory, and expecting to spend a blessed eternity in your Father’s house above. There is one Lord, the Saviour of his people, and to whom they all owe duty and allegiance; one faith, the same gospel, and to be apprehended in the same way; one baptism, the sacramental rite of admission into the kingdom of grace, wherein we are solemnly dedicated to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; one God and Father of all, who stands in this enslaved relation to all that are the children of grace by faith in Jesus Christ; who is above all, exalted above all blessing and praise, and through all, defending his mighty influences through the whole mystical body; and in you all, making your hearts his temple: and therefore, being connected by this so many and so engaging, we should be most closely united together in love, and appear as actuated by one God.

5. The different gifts and graces bestowed on the members of the same body, far from producing any variance, should commit them the nearer, as they are given for the benefit of the whole. But unto every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ, each member hath his several offices and endowment, and, according to the Lord does fit, he discloses foreseeably to every man the grace suited to his place and station. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up as high, he led captivity captives, triumphant over all his foes, having spoiled principalities and powers, and led Satan, sin, death, and hell, as vanquished enemies, bound to his chariot-wheels; and gave gifts unto men, the richest and most amazing gifts of his Spirit. Now that he ascended in this glorious manner, what is it that is herein intimated to us, but that he also ascended first from heaven into the dooner parts of the earth, humbling himself to take the human nature into personal union with himself, and then to lie down in the grave, making atonement for our sins. He that descended is the same divine Person, the Son of God, who ascended above all heavens to the state of most transcendent dignity, enthroned in majesty on high, that he might fall off sheep, and abundantly dispense to every member of his church the gifts and graces overbid for them. And he gave some oppress, to fill the highest stations in his church; and some prophets, by inspiration to forfeit future events, and to expound the prophetic word; and some evangelists, who were generally employed in preaching the word; and some popters and teachers, to take care of particular churches, and minister unto them in holy things: all which appointments to these several offices are designed for the perfecting of the saints (malachias) to join them in them union together, and carry on the work of grace begun in them to its perfection in glory; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, by means of the same blessed gospel, and by happy experience of the power and grace of the same adored Jesus, unto a perfect man, growing up to higher spiritual attainments, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, when we shall bear his image complete, and when all his elect members shall be collected into his eternal kingdom, and from that glorious body of which he is the Head. That we henceforth be no more children, weak in faith and knowledge, and every grace, and consequently liable to be tested to and free, and carried about with every mind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and running unfounded whereby they lie in want to deserve, and by his pretences seduce the simple and unwary into their pernicious heretics and destructive ways; but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ, which growth in grace the blessed gospel, through the power of Jesus, tends effectually to promote; from whom the whole body, fifty joined together as members to the living Head, and compelled by that which every joint supplicate, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, by that divine energy that is communicated from the life-giving Spirit of the Lord, maketh increase of the body, unto the offspring of itself in love, till it comes to perfect blessedness in the eternal world. Note, Truth from the heart

VOL. II.

should ever be spoken among Christians, and with that love that may gain it a more welcome reception.

17. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ‘ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk’ in the vanity of their mind, 18. ‘Having the underfunding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19. ‘Who being past feeling, have given themselves over unto laferviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20. But ye have not so learned Christ; 21. If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts: 23. And ‘be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour; for ‘we are members one of another. 26. ‘Be ye angry, and sin not; but not the sin go down upon your wrath: 27. ‘Neither give place to the devil. 28. Let him that stole heal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29. ‘Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of enjoying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30. And ‘grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31. ‘Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32. And ‘be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

18. 17—32. Having recommended to them close union, he proceeds to inculcate purity of heart and life.

19. He warns them against the practices of the unconverted heathen. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, entreating and solemnly in his name enjoining it upon you as members of his undefeated body, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in their sinful, idolatrous, sensual courses, in the vanity of their mind, acting after the dictates of their vain and corrupted hearts; having the understanding darkened in all spiritual matters; alienated from the life of God, estranged from him who is the fountain of life, and avers to all his holy ways, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts, repelling every means of malfunction, willfully perverse and obfistate against the notices of his will, and resisting the convictions of their own consciences, not liking to retain God in all their knowledge, Rom. 1. 28. who bring past feeling, their hearts imperceptibly hardened in sin, have given themselves over unto laferviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness, abandoning themselves to every vile affection without restraint, and pursuing their guilty pleasures with infallible desire.

20. For otherwise was the lesson the gospel had taught them. But ye have not so learned Christ; since ye have known his grace, you have been directed to a different spirit and conduct; if ye be, or since that, ye have heard him speaking in his word to your hearts, and have been taught by him through the illumination and powerful energy of his Spirit, as the truth is in Jesus, even that pure unadulterated gospel which Jesus taught by his own ministry, and exemplified in his temper and conversation, which might example his living members delight to imitate: that ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, restraining and modifying that body of sin which is born with you, and ever wars within you; which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, lusts which promise much gratification in the indulgence, but fatally deceive the soul into endless perdition: and be renewed in the spirit of your mind yet more and more in knowledge, grace, and holiness; and that ye put on the new man, made partakers of a divine nature, and in spirit, temper, and conduct, quite changed from your former selves as if you had been really different persons; which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness, after his own image and by his own power. Wherefore, as those who are influenced by another Spirit, beware of those sins to which ye were formerly addicted; particularly,

(1.) Putting away lying in every instance, speak every man truth with his neighbour, without deceit or prevarication, paying the strictest regard to your word at all times and in all circumstances, and preserving the endurance of the greatest evils to the suggestion of the least falsehood: for we are members one of another, and therefore bound to use all Simplicity and fidelity in our conversation with each other. Note, An habitual liar is infallibly a child of wrath. All Christ’s members desire ever to speak the truth from their heart.

(2.) Be ye angry, and sin not; for all anger is not in its own nature evil: but as we are to prove, even where there is just cause, to exceed in our resentments, we must check the rising displeasure, and repel its workings: therefore, whatever cause is given for it, let not the Son be done upon your wrath; but hasten to calm any tumult which may have arisen, that it fix not in hatred, or rankle into malice or revenge: neither give place to the devil, who ever seeks to irritate the iradable nature which is in us, and to blow our passions into a flame. Note, There is scarce a more belittling sin than anger, nor any against which we need be more habitually on our guard.

(3.) Let him that flesh shall no more, utterly abhorring all such iniquitous practices; but rather let him labour, waving such his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that audible, and not only be saved from the temptation to dishonesty, whereunto idleness is the most direct road, but also be enabled by his honest industry to afford a pittance from his gains for the relief of the necessitous.

(4.) Let us corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, nothing good, profane, opprobrious, light, which in its most distant tendency can lead to evil; but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may mindful grace unto the hearers, and serve to promote their spiritual and eternal benefit. Note, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh; and a Christian Spirit will appear in a readiness to introduce and maintain such conversation as is profitable and edifying.

(5.) And grave not the holy Spirit of God, by these or any such like evils, lest you provoke him to withdraw his blessed influences from you; whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption, that glorious day when you shall be delivered from the burdens of the flesh, or when you shall rise again in glory to appear for ever in the presence of God. Lord, take not thy holy Spirit from us!

(6.) Let all bitterness, all manour of Spirit and acrimony in discourse; and wrath, and clamour, and evil-speaking, the fruits of a mind inflamed with paffion and rage; be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind are to another, gentle, courteous, affectionate; tender-hearted, sympathizing and full of pity towards the afflicted and the tempted; forgiving are another every provocations and injury, however great or aggravated, even as God for Christ’s fate hath forgiven you, freely, fully, and for ever. Note, (1.) A sense how much we are ourselves indebted to the pardoning love of God, will engage us to exercise the like forgiveness to our brethren. (2.) A tongue that is set on fire of hell, and full of bitterness, &c. hath never yet been brought under the restraints of a Redeemer’s grace.