understood by comparing not the parts of the earth among themselves but earth with heaven the earth being the lowest part of the world and particularly it pointeth either at His conception in the womb of the Virgin See conception so expressed Psal. 139. 15. or at His burial expressed by a like phrase Matth. 12. 40. wherein the Apostle's scope is not only to prove that the former testimony is pertinently cited and applyed to Christ but also to presse humility in order to unity and peace from Christs example as Phil. 2. 7. Now Christ is said to have descended not properly and locally as man for before His incarnation He was not man but as God and therefore not properly by changing place but improperly and with respect had to His state by taking on the humane nature upon earth under the infirmities whereof He did for a time hide His divine glory so that very little of it did appear and to some few only Isa. 53. 12. Doct. 1. Sacred Scripture is a great depth containing much more than what is obvious at the first view and therefore we are to advert not only to that which is expresly said in Scripture but what may be drawn from it by direct and just consequence for Paul doth so look on this testimony of Christs ascension as finding another great Truth concerning His previous humiliation lurking under it and by just consequence deducible from it while he saith Now that He ascended what is it but that He first descended 2. It is not enough for Ministers to cite Scriptures for confirmation of those Truths which they hold forth to the Lords People except the Scriptures cited be pertinent and the pertinency of them be also made clear and obvious for Paul having cited a Scripture to confirm somewhat which he said of Christ doth prove the Scripture cited doth speak of Christ because it implyeth previous descending and humiliation in the partie spoken of which can agree to none other of the Persons of the blessed Trinity but to Christ only Now that He ascended what is it but that He descended 3. Such was the love of Christ to lost sinners Joh. 15. 13. and to the glory of His own and his Fathers mercy to be manifested in their salvation Joh. 17. 4. that He did willingly lay aside His glory which He had with His Father before the world was Joh. 17. 5. by assuming the nature of man to Himself and suffering therein the utmost of misery and grief which the malice of men and devils could inflict and which seemed good unto the Father in order to the satisfaction of provoked justice to inflict Heb 10. 7. for all this is implyed in His descending and saith Paul Now that He ascended what is it but that He descended 4. Then do we study and know Christs exaltation aright when we do also seriously consider and think upon His previous humiliation and abasement for therein we may see not only how low He stooped for our good but also that He hath fully accomplished whatever He undertook and is now absolved Joh. 17. 4 5. and that the Lords usuall way is with His own as it was with Christ to make their deep humiliation and lowlinesse of mind go before their highest exaltation and honour Prov. 15. 33. for Paul doth read previous humiliation in Christs exaltation and thinks upon both joyntly Now that He ascended what is it but that He descended 5. Then do we think upon Christs humiliation and abasement aright when we consider it in its greatest depth and lowest step unto which He demitted Himself even to the lowest parts of the earth for therein we may see the greatnesse of His love the depth of our misery and the full sufficiency of the price paid by Christ in the state of His humiliation in order to our delivery He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth by which is not meaned the place of the damned nor any place near to that where the souls of the Patriarchs were before Christs death as the Papists affirm this being contrary to Scripture affirming that Christs soul was after death to be in heaven Luk. 23. 43. and that the souls of the Patriarchs were there also Luke 16. 22 23 25 26. but hereby as I shew in the exposition is meaned His conception and buriall with all the other steps of His humiliation interveening Vers. 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that He might fill all things THe Apostle in the explication and application of the cited testimony doth next shew what it expresly holdeth forth to wit Christs ascension and illustrates it from this that the person who ascended though now made man was the same with him who descended to take on the nature of man 2. That He ascended to the highest heavens the seat of eternall glory far above those visible heavens not only in situation but also in duration and glory and are called the heaven of heavens 1 King 8. 27. the third heavens 2 Cor. 12. 3. 4. and sometime simply by the name of heavens Act. 3. 21. And thirdly from the end of His ascending even to fill all things not all places with His bodily presence for Him must the heavens contain Act. 3. 21. but that He might fulfill all prophesies concerning Himself and all those parts of His mediatory Office which were yet to be performed in heaven and particularly that He might fill His Church and all the members thereof which are His all even His whole body Joh. 6. 45. with a large and plentifull measure of the gifts and graces of His spirit Joh. 7. 39. according as was foretold in the cited testimony Doct 1. The distinction of natures in Christ after His incarnation doth not infer a distinction of persons in Him He remaineth one person still for the Apostle speaketh of Him after incarnation as of one He that descended is the same also that ascended 2. Jesus Christ remaineth one and the same person after His assuming the humane nature unto Himself with that which He was before so that neither is the person of God-man Mediator any third thing made up or compounded of both those natures neither did the humane nature add any thing before wanting to make up perfect or work any alteration in the personall substance of the Son of God only the humanity of Christ being destitute of any personal subsistance of its own is as it were ingrafted in the second person of the God-head the Son of God and doth subsist in Him for Paul sheweth that He who ascended being now God-man is the same with Him who descended before His incarnation He that descended is the same also that ascended 3. By vertue of this personall union betwixt the divine and humane nature of Christ there ariseth such a communion of the distinct properties of each nature that those things which are proper only to the one nature are ascribed to the whole
Truths or at least if they erre of humane frailty and not obstinately or avowedly for the Churches of Galatia had made a grievous revolt even from a fundamental Truth ver 6. and chap. 3. 1. and yet because they were rather through frailty seduced by others than active seducers of others therefore he useth much meeknesse and moderation towards them allowing them the name of Churches and exercising his Apostolick care towards them as a part of his charge and thereby keeping communion with them as with Churches which were sickly and under cure Unto the Churches of Galatia which Truth makes nothing against our separation from the Church of Rome as being after much pains taken in order to their reclaiming and not untill we were driven to it by persecution besides that the Romish Church had erred in the foundation obstinately and avowedly Vers. 3. Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. HEre is the Salutation wherein he wisheth unto them God's gracious favour and good-will whereby He is well-pleased with the Elect in and for Christ Rom. 3. 24. and Peace that is first Peace of conscience and with God Rom. 5. 1. Secondly peace with the creatures as with the Angels Col. 1. 20. with the Godly Isa. 11. 9. with our selves all within us being conform to the rule of the renewed mind Rom. 8. â—1 and in some respect with our enemies Prov. 16. 7. and with the beasts of the field Hos. 2. 18. Thirdly Prosperity and good successe Psal. 122. 7. All which he seeketh from God the Father as the fountain of Grace and from Jesus Christ as the conduit or pipe to convey Grace from the Father unto us Job 1. 16. Doct. 1. God's gracious favour and good-will is to be sought by us in the first place whether for our selves Psal. 4. 6. or others that being a most discriminating mercy betwixt the Godly and the wicked Ephes. 1. 6. and a mercy which of any other bringeth maniest mercies alongst with it Psal. 84. 11. Yea all things are mercy to a man who hath obtained that mercy Rom. 8. 28. for the Apostle wisheth for Grace unto them first Grace and peace 2. Peace also is to be sought even Peace with God Peace with the creatures together with prosperity and good success but withall Peace is to be sought after Grace and not to be expected before it Peace without Grace is no Peace there can be no peace with God no sanctified peace with the creatures nor sanctified prosperity or successe to our undertakings except through Jesus Christ we lay hold on God's favour and grace Yea there is no peace to the wicked saith my God Isa. 57. 21. Thus the Apostle wisheth unto them also Peace but so as it flow from Grace Grace and Peace 3. Grace and Peace are such as we cannot acquire unto our selves by our own industry or pains they come from God are to be sought from Him and His blessing is more to be depended upon for attaining of any thing which cometh under the compasse of Grace and Peace than our own wisdom industry or diligence So Paul seeketh Grace and Peace from God the Father 4. Whatever favour we seek from God we are to seek it also from Jesus Christ as Mediator for He hath purchased it Eph. 1. 7. He is appointed Lord of His own purchase to bestow all Act. 5. 31. and there is no coming to or trysting with the Father but in Him Joh. 14. 6. Thus Paul seeketh Grace and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ. 5. They to whom Grace and Peace belong are such as acknowledge Christ for their Lord to command and rule them and do yeeld subjection to Him in their heart and life for while the Apostle wisheth Grace and Peace to them he doth lead them to thoughts of Christ's Soveraignity he himself taking Him up as Lord and holding Him forth so unto others From our Lord Jesus Christ. Vers. 4. Who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father THe Apostle having but mentioned Christ ver 3 that he may in the very entry draw the minds of these Galatians from off their errors and superstitions to imbrace Him as one in whom is fulnesse of sufficiency for the redemption and justification of lost sinners doth describe Him from one eminent action of His whereby as the great High-priest over the House of God Heb. 10. 21. He did offer up Himself Soul Isa. 55. 10. and Body Heb. 2. 14. by death upon the Crosse Joh. 19. 17 18. that He might expiate and take away Joh. 1. 29. the sins of the Elect Joh. 17. 9. and that hereby He might deliver them from this present evil world or from the sin misery and cruelty of wicked men in the world who get the name of world 1 Joh. 5. 19. and all this He did in obedience to His Father's will who had fore-ordained this to be the only way of bringing lost sinners to Heaven Heb. 10. 8 9. Doct. 1. The lively impression of Christ's worth and excellency doth ordinarily so fill the hearts of those who know Him and have tasted how gracious He is as there will be a readinesse upon any occasion of mentioning Him to breakforth in His commendation for such is the constraining power of love on Paul's heart that usually he doth not so much as make mention of Him but presently he must extoll and at large commend Him so doth he in this verse Who gave himself c. which his attainment should be our aim and his practice our copie 1 Cor. 11. 1. 2. The well-grounded knowledge of what Christ is to us and hath done for us together with the frequent remembrance of it is a soveraign Antidote against all those Errors and Superstitions which tend to draw us from Christ either in part or in whole and that both to prevent them and to purge us from them He is that Sun of righteousnesse Mal. 4. 2. the arising whereof doth easily dispel and scatter all those fogs and mists Act. 19. 18 19 20. for Paul in order to this end doth in the very entry hold forth what Christ had done for them Who gave himself c. saith he 3. So deep and deadly was the guilt of sin Gal. 13. 10. So exact was the justice of God and so unalterable was His faithfulnesse in executing the judgment which was denounced for sin Gen. 2. 17. that there was no delivery to the Elect from it without the payment of a ransom and satisfaction for the wrong done by sin to the provoked justice of God for Christ gave himself for our sins that is a propitiation for them 1 Joh. 2. 2. and to cleanse us from them 1 Joh. 1. 7. 4. Nothing lesse could be a satisfying ransom to the Father's justice than the offering-up of Jesus Christ the holy harmlesse and spotlesse Lamb of God both in Soul
from his twofold relation to Christ as being the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the particle and in this place is not copulative of things different but exegetick of one and the same thing as Psal. 18. 46. And first He is a God to Christ chiefly because of the Covenant of Redemption betwixt God and Christ as Mediator the mutual conditions of which Covenant are Is. 53. 10 11. Joh. 6. 39 40. And secondly He is the Father of Christ to wit not only as Christ is God by an eternal and unspeakable generation Psal. 2. 7. but also as Christ is Man God is His Father by vertue of the personal union of the two natures in Christ Luke 1. 32 The reason of which his thanksgiving to God he sheweth to be Gods bestowing of real blessings upon Believers and those not common or temporal only but special and spiritual blessings which tend to a spiritual and supernaturalend and those not sparingly but fully and with an open hand even all blessings and this in heavenly places that is from Heaven His glorious Throne or because those spiritual blessings shall not be consummated and fully perfected until Believers be in Heaven all which blessings he sheweth are bestowed upon Believers in Christ He as our Head Atturney and Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. having received those blessings in our name and for our behoof Eph. 2. 6. by whose merit also they are purchased Isa. 53. 5. In whom and by vertue of our union with Him and right to Him we have a right to such of those blessings as we have not yet actually received 1 Joh. 5. 12. and do come to the possession of these which we already enjoy Joh. 1. 16. Doct. 1. Though we cannot blesse the Lord as He blesseth us by bestowing real blessings and favours upon us which before we wanted Gen. 24. 35. there being such a fulnesse of blessednesse in God as nothing can be superadded Joh 22. 2. Yet it is our duty to blesse Him so as that being convinced of that blessednesse of those excellencies which are in Him and favours which are bestowed upon us by Him we do not only esteem highly of Him because of those Luke 1. 46. but also expresse this our high esteem and that not only in words whether by speaking to God Himself in the duty of prayer and praise Psal. 104. 1. or by speaking of Him and to His commendation unto others Psal. 34. 3 4 c. but also and mainly in our life and actions 1 Cor. 10. 31. for Paul doth here blesse the Lord Blessed be God saith he 2. It is a looking to God with respect had to Jesus Christ which inflameth the heart with such a mixture of love and admiration at His excellencies and worth that it must of necessity break forth in blessing of Him God considered without Christ being a consuming fire to whom there can be no confident approaching by sinfull creatures neither in the duties of prayer nor of praise but the vail of Christ's flesh doth break the beams of His terror so that we may stedfastly behold His attributes and excellencies rejoycing in them and blessing Him for them for Paul while he blesseth God doth look upon Him through this vail Blessed be God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 3. A holy soul truly sensible of his lost condition by nature and of God's mercy in his delivery from that wofull state cannot seriously think or speak of that subject but his heart must be inflamed with love to God yea and break forth in praises and thanksgiving to Him when occasion offereth for so doth Paul Blessed be God who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings 4. Though we are bound to blesse the Lord even for temporal favours and things necessary for the life which now is Psal. 107. 8. yet a renewed heart is most taken up with and blesseth God most for spiritual blessings and such as concern our eternal welbeing those being not only most durable Job 6. 27. but also most discriminating betwixt the regenerate and unregenerate Eccles. 9. 1. 1 Joh. 3. 14. for Paul blesseth God for these blessings Who bath blessed us with all spiritual blessings 5. God is the author and worker of all spiritual blessings in a special manner in so far as He produceth them not by a general providence actuating and concurring with natural principles and powers for producing of such and such effects as He is the author even of common blessings health riches honour and such like Psal. 75. 6 7. but by his special grace whereby He createth in the heart by nature dead in sins and trespasses Eph. 2. 1. a power to do good Ezek 36. 26. and actuateth that power making it to work Phil. 2. 13. for the Apostle ascribeth the production of all spiritual blessings to God while speaking of God he saith Who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings 6. Though God considered as Creator and merciful upholder of His own creatures doth bestow temporal blessings upon the world even upon those who never heard of Christ Psal. 17. 14. yet spiritual blessings such as the saving graces of faith hope and love come from God being considered not as Creator but in and with relation to Jesus Christ who behoved to purchase those blessings of new before fallen man could acquire either a right unto them or possession of them for saith Paul it is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings and again He hath blessed as in Christ. 7. Spiritual blessings to wit those of them which are absolutely necessary to salvation and eternal blessednesse are linked together and cannot be separated where God bestoweth one of those He bestoweth all there being a necessary concatenation among them all Rom. 8. 29 30. so that they either co-exist or at least in God's due time do follow one upon another Philip 1. 6. for saith Paul He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings 8. Though there be some spiritual blessings such as perfection in holinesse and the full enjoying of God in glory the possession whereof is not attained unto by Believers so long as they are here on earth 1 Cor. 13. 12. yet because of the Believer's undoubted right unto those blessings 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. and God's unchangeable purpose to bestow them Psal. 84. 11. and because of the first fruits and earnest of those blessings already bestowed upon the Believer See ver 14. and of Christ's having taken possession of those in the Believer's name chap. 2. 6. he may be as much assured of his full enjoying of them as if he had them already in hand for saith Paul He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings as if all none being excepted were already enjoyed 9. Spirituall blessings are of an heavenly rise and nature there being no second cause upon earth or among things created which doth concur with God in bringing them to passe
Apostle while he seeketh increase of spirituall strength unto those converted Ephesians he prayeth that God would grant or give it as a gift for the word signifieth so much and that from the inexhaustible fountain of His glorious grace That He would grant unto you according to the riches of His glory not according to your worth 6. As all the attributes of God and especially His mercy and power are not onely altogether glorious because the glory of God is manifested unto the creatures in their severall wonderfull effects Psal. 19. 1 c. but are also infinite and without measure as being indefatigable in working wholly insuperable by any impediment or opposition whatsoever and inexhaustible by supplying any want in the creature So in making our approaches unto God for seeking any good and especially saving good it is most necessary that we lift our eyes above any thing that is ours whether our good or our evil and fasten them by faith upon that inexhaustible fountain of mercy and power in God whereby he is not only willing as mercifull but also able as omnipotent to bestow what ever we shall ask according to his will for the Apostle in seeking spirituall strength for those Ephesians doth look to the inexhaustible riches of Gods mercy and power called here His glory that He would grant according to the riches of His grace 7. It is the Spirit of God the third person in the blessed Trinity who taking up His place of abode in the truly regenerate 1 Joh. 4. 13. doth make it His work to renew their strength by upholding and actuating their graces and making them advance from strength to strength in despite of all imaginable difficulties neither is there any other strength or might whether naturall or acquired which can sufficiently furnish us to rancounter all those difficulties which are incident in our Christian course but that whereof the Spirit of God residing in us is the author and giver for he prayeth they may be strengthened with might in the inner man from the spirit 8. Though Christians are not to neglect their outward and bodily concernments 1 Tim. 5. 8. 23. yet the spirituall estate of their eternall souls is to be cared for most and so much as if it go well with that and if the soul be strengthened with might for carrying on the concernments thereof their outward concernments may trouble them the lesse and especially the care of Ministers should be employed about the inward and spirituall estate of their flock for Paul prayeth they may be strengthened in the inner man his care did run most upon that Vers. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith HEre is the second petition of the Apostle's prayer wherein he seeketh that which is the cause of strengthning and corroboration by the Spirit spoken of ver 16. even that Jesus Christ by vertue of a continued act of lively faith in Him might be perpetually present in His Vertue Grace and Spirit working not only in their tougnes and brains but also and mainly in their hearts Doct. 1. That we may partake of any saving benefit purchased by Christ and particularly that we may be strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man for doing any thing that is spiritually good it is most necessary that we partake first of Christ Himself being most strictly united to Him and even as the members are to the head from which they receive sense and motion Christ giveth nothing of His purchase unto any but to whom He giveth Himself first 1 Joh. 5. 11 12. and to whomsoever He giveth Himself upon those He bestoweth all things Christ in us being the hope of glory Col. 1. 27. the fountain of life Gal. 2. 20. and of all things needfull 1 Job 4. 4. for Paul having prayed that they may be strengthened with might in the inner man subjoyneth the way and manner how this strength was to be conveyed unto them even by Christ's dwelling in their hearts by faith 2. There is a strict conjunction and near familiarity between Christ and Believers even such in some sort as is between an indweller and the house wherein he dwelleth whereby Jesus Christ God and Man in one person is present with the Believer not in His substance only as He is God for so He is every where Jer. 23. 24. nor in His substance at all as He is Man for so the heavens do contain Him Act. 3. 21. but by His gracious operation and speciall influence upon them whereby He quickeneth them Rom. 8. 10. ruleth them Act. 9. 6. and liveth in them Gal. 2. 20. for he prayeth that Christ may dwell in their hearts which petition is granted in behalf of all Believers seing he prayed in faith 3 Though Christ doth thus familiarly communicate Himself unto all Believers so as to dwell in them by His gracious presence yet not unto all alike but unto some in a larger measure than unto others according as He worketh more and more effectually in some than in others for though Christ did already dwell in those converted Ephesians chap. 2. 22. yet Paul doth pray that Christ may dwell in them which therefore must be understood of a greater measure and degree of His indwelling presence than formerly they had 4. Where Jesus Christ doth once take up His abode and dwelling in the heart there He remaineth constantly and flitteth not in so far as though sometimes He withholdeth that gracious influence of His which is necessary only to the wel-being flourishing and vigorous thriving of grace in the heart Cant. 5. 6. yet He never withdraweth that influence which is necessary to the being of grace and without which grace would utterly die and perish Psal. 73. 23. for the word rendered to dwell signifieth to take up a fixed and immovable habitation and differeth from another word very like unto it which signifieth to sojourn in a place only for a season 1 Pet. 1. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts 5. Though even the bodies of Believers be temples of the holy Ghost and consequently of Jesus Christ for Christ dwelleth in them by His Spirit 1 Cor. 6. 19. yet the heart will and affections of man are the chief place of His habitation wherein He resideth as in His strong citadel from which He commandeth the other faculties and members And without His presence there He cannot have any habitation in any part of the man elsewhere the tongue cannot receive Him by speaking nor the understanding by knowing nor the hand by external working except He be received in the heart from which proceed the issues of life Pro. 4. 23. for he prayeth that Christ may dwell in their hearts 6. Though Jesus Christ doth make His first entry unto and dwelleth in Believers by His Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 13. whereby He uniteth them to Himself quickeneth and ruleth them yea and worketh the grace of faith in them Joh. 6. 44. yet faith being so wrought the