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A02916 The epistle of the blessed apostle Saint Paule which he, in the time of his trouble and imprisonment, sent in writting from Rome to the Ephesians. Faithfully expounded, both for the benefite of the learned and vnlearned, by Nicholas Hemming ... Familiarlie translated out of Latine into English, by Abraham Fleming. Heerein are handled the high mysteries of our saluation, as maie appeare by the table of commonplaces necessarilie annexed by the same A.F. Perused and authorised.; Commentarius in epistolam Pauli ad Ephesios. English Hemmingsen, Niels, 1513-1600.; Fleming, Abraham, 1552?-1607. 1580 (1580) STC 13057.8; ESTC S102723 176,886 270

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respect as the Psalmist most plainly pronounceth Non volens c. Thou art a God which canst not away with iniquitie truly it cannot be that God shuld be the author of sin or of anie euill procéeding of a fault Lastly y e circumstance of the place restraineth y t vniuersal word all things to one certeine kinde of action or déede For y e text hangeth thus together Which worketh all things that we should be vnto the praise of his glorie that is to say he bringeth to passe that we both wil do those things which turne to the glorie and praise of God The Apostle therefore speaketh manifestlie of the wholsome or healthful workings of God in his Church For he moueth our will that we may will and our strength that we may not will in waste Verse 13 14 13 In vvhom also ye haue trusted after that ye heard the vvord of truth euen the gospel of your saluation wherein also after that ye beleeued ye vvere sealed with the holie spirit of promise 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the possession purchased vnto the praise of his glory In whom also ye hauing heard the word of truth euen the Gospell of your saluation wherein ye beleeued were sealed with the holie spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritaunce vnto redemption to the praise of his glorie THis is an other member of our diuision wherein he applieth the partaking of heauenlie grace spirituall blessing adoption and election with the Saints vnto the Gentiles vnder the name of the Ephesians drawing his argument from the effect or fruit of the Gospell preached among the Ephesians But because this part is verie full of spirituall doctrine I will lay it open and declare it in his proper members to the intent that the doctrine may the more plainlie be perceiued and made to serue our vse In the first place mention is made of the preaching of the Gospell whereby God reuealeth vnto the world his will touching saluation fréelie giuen and offereth the same indifferentlie vnto all without respect of person or people according to that saieng Goe ye throughout the whole world and preach the Gospell vnto euerie creature In the second place followeth faith which being conceiued in vs by the Gospell preached the holie Ghost working effectually in our hearts laieth fast holde vpon the saluation which the Gospell offereth giuing vnto God the praise of his truth In the third place is added the sealing of the holie spirit wherewith we are then saied to be seased when we bring forth the true fruites of faith by the faith of Iesus Christ This holie spirit the Apostle calleth The spirit of promise both bicause it sealeth vnto vs the good things promised and also bicause it is giuen vs by promise In the fourth place is added the vse of this holie spirite giuen vnto vs namelie That it should be the earnest of our inheritance which we doe not yet perfectlie possesse but looke waite for the same héerafter to come For as that is an earnest when some thing of the price is giuen which is not to be drawen backe againe but to be perfourmed and fullie downe paid so the giuing of the holie spirit is a certaine part of our inheritaunce bestowed vpon vs for this ende to wit that we might be assured of the full and perfect possession of the whole inheritaunce which is euerlasting life And why is it called an inheritance but because it pleased God of his fatherlie goodnesse without our merites to appoint the same our portion which are made the members of Christ the naturall sonne of God vnto whom all things which are his fathers doe belong In the fift place the circumstaunce of time is noted Vntill the redemptiō of the possessiō purchased saith the Apostle that is to say vntill the day of iudgement when we which are redéemed with the price of Christs bloud shall obtaine and enioie our full inheritance Vntill the redemption therefore that is to say vntill the day of redemption Of the possession purchased that is to say for vs who by our redemption wrought in his bloud are put in possession of the promised inheritance Hetherto we haue vntwisted as it were and laid open this present point in his proper parts or members in the which our Apostle setteth out verie trimlie the manner and order of our restitution or redemption For he beginneth at the preaching of the Gospell and teacheth vs that faith must be added therevnto which being done the sealing of the holie spirit is felt in the heart which is a certaine earnest as it were of the promised inheritance The last end of all these is the glorie of God of his mercie healing and also sauing all such as beléeue For saith Saint Ambrose as it is y e Physicians praise and commendation if he heale manie so the praise of Gods glorie is when manie are wonne to beléeue with vnfeigned faith Finallie we must marke that the Apostle decketh the Gospell of Christ with a double title For first by the figure Antonomasia he calleth the Gospell The word of truth which title is taken of the matter conteined in the Gospell For the Gospell doeth conteine the euerlasting truth of God an vndeceiuable testimonie of obteining saluation through Christ The second is The Gospell of saluation which is taken of the end of the Gospell For the Gospell was ordeined and giuen for our saluation For as the Law whiles it requireth righteousnesse promiseth saluation and life to them which fulfill the same contrariwise threateneth damnation death to all the transgressours thereof so the Gospell because we haue not the righteousnes which the Lawe requireth sheweth Christ vnto vs who is y e end of the Law to all them that beléeue Thus y e righteousnes saluation which we could not reach vnto in doing we obteine in beléeuing whiles y e righteousnes of Christ being imputed vnto vs our sins washed away by y e sacrifice of himself we are made righteous heires also of saluation Neither is this slightlie to be ouerslipped that as before he made the glorie of God the end of our election of our predestination and likewise of our calling so héere also he maketh the same the ende of our sanctification Wherevpon it followeth that all glorie of saluation must be taken quite away from euerie creature and merite of man and giuen to God alone by Iesus Christ Wherefore as in all things that are good so héere chiefelie that short sentence of Nazianzen taketh place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Make God the beginning and ende of euerie thing Verse 15 16. 15 Therefore also after that I heard of the faith vvhich ye haue in the Lord Iesus loue towards all Saints 16 I cease not to giue thanks for you making mention of you in my praiers For this cause I also hauing heard of your faith in
the similitude in this manner As breath and life descending or comming downe from the braine by and through the sinewes veines and artires bringeth féeling and liuelinesse vnto all the members according to the proportion of euerie one in his kinde euen so Christ giueth vnto vs who are his members his gifts and that not at happe hazard or rashlie but according to the measure of euerie member that is to saie as euerie member is able to receiue and take and thus he maketh the whole bodie to be builded vp and growe together into him This point of doctrine deliuered vnto vs by Saint Paule offereth vnto vs manifold lessons for our learning For first of all we haue to gather héerehence that all and euerie of them are out of the Church how manie soeuer which submit not themselues vnto Christ in the true knowledge of Christ and in faith and which setting light by loue are at daggers drawing one with another so excéeding great is their hatred betwéene themselues Furthermore a true and euident description of the Church maie heerehence be taken that it is An assemble of such as beleeue in the Gospell who cleaue so close vnto Christ their head and are so knit and ioined together betweene themselues according to the measure of euerie ones faith according to the diuersitie of the giftes of the holie Ghost according to the condition of callings that they all euerie of them liue and are lead by one and the selfe same spirit and that they succour and maintaine one another in mutuall goodwill charitie and loue Moreouer this place also sheweth vs the trimme handsome and neate order of Christes Church For such is the order of the Church as of the members of one and the same bodie vnder one and the same head Againe this present place teacheth vs what manner of like-suffering consent or agréement there ought to be among Christians one with another For as in one bodie when one member is pained and suffereth the rest of the members all and euerie of them are partakers of that paine and suffer therewithall euen so Christians who are members of the same bodie ought to be like minded one towards another that as well in aduersitie as in prosperitie one should take part with another To this serueth the precept of S. Paule Gaudete c. Reioice with them that reioice weepe with them that weepe Finallie and lastlie we must marke that the Apostle placeth The edification of the bodie of Christ chiefelie in loue For by loue the knowledge of Christ is made fruitfull and faith effectuall yea both of them are made more notable and excellent For where loue is not there doubtlesse the knowledge of Christ is but small and slender as for faith it is so little that there is neuer a whit For according to the measure of faith loue is more or lesse Verses 17. 18. 19. 17 This I saie therefore and testifie in the Lord that yee henceforth vvalke not as other Gentiles vvalke in the vanitie of their minde 18 Hauing their cogitation darkened and beeing straungers from the life of God thorough the ignorance that is in them bicause of the hardnesse of their heart 19 Which being past feeling haue giuen themsselues vnto wantonnesse to vvorke all vncleannesse euen vvith greedinesse This I saie therefore and testifie in the Lorde that yee walke no more as the rest of the Gentiles walk in vanitie of their minde blinded in their vnderstanding beeing straungers from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them bicause of the hardnes of their hearts which being past repentance or sorow haue giuen themselues vnto wantonnesse to commit all kinde of vncleannesse with greedinesse THe Apostle vpon a generall sentence or clause frameth particular exhortations First his admonition is to all teaching vs from what kinde of manners wée should absteine to wit from the maners of the Gentiles which he confirmeth from contrarie causes and first from the beginnings of actions or causes The beginnings of actions in the vnholie heathenish Gentiles he maketh to be of thrée sorts to wit The vanitie of their mind the darknesse or blindnes of their vnderstanding the hardnesse of their heart The Minde is that which the Philosophers call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wit when a man by the light of reason discerneth perceiueth and iudgeth of things honest and dishonest but the Apostle auoucheth that this Minde was vaine Cogitation or vnderstanding which in Gréeke is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is that naturall abilitie whereby we deuise determine remember reason and gather somewhat by and out of those things which our minde quietlie séeth and perceiueth without debating or reasoning but the Apostle saith that this vnderstanding was darkened or blinded wherby it came to passe that the Gentiles béeing ignorant of God became estraunged From the life of God Now The life of God in this place is that wherby God liueth within in the heart and vpon the which all abilitie and desire to doe anie good dependeth Vnder the word Heart the Apostle compriseth all the lusts and appetites attributing Hardnesse vnto them whereof it commeth that men are not touched with anie sparkle of the feare of God but rather runne headlong whether so euer their lewd lustes filthie affections carrie or driue them These are the beginnings and causes of morall actions or behauiours touching religion in the Gentiles which as yet are not turned vnto God But that these things maie somewhat the more plainlie bée perceiued we will inlarge and lighten the same by examples The Minde of man séeth that there is a God and iudgeth that he is to be worshipped which iudgement although it be true yet notwithstanding it is héere accused of vanitie by the Apostle and good reason whie euen because it vanisheth to nothing and by the corruption and naughtinesse of nature is choked and strangled before the matter commeth to action practise For when the Vnderstanding reasoneth out of this beginning principle or ground yet straieth from the true God from the right waie of worshipping him the Minde in deed séeth that there is both a God and that he also is to be worshipped but the Vnderstanding in the Babylonians reasoneth that Bel in the Aegyptians that Apis so in other nations other idols are to be worshipped that one while by oblations of men an other while by other rites and ceremonies the méere deuises of men And this is that which Saint Paule speaketh of saieng that The Gentiles turned the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and serued the creature forsaking the Creator Furthermore the Apostle addeth the fit fruites of such causes namelie Ignorance of God estraunging from the life of God and hardnesse of heart which is senslesse blockishnesse or numnesse not suffering them to féele the greatnesse and gréeuousnesse of their sinnes but to growe past all remorse of conscience or repentance
so that they ceasse vtterlie and altogether leaue off to bée sorrie for their sinnes A certaine inclination to all Wantonnesse followeth this senslesse duinesse or blockishnesse yea rather a certaine vnbrideled desire to sinne which the Apostle tearmeth heere by the name of Wantonnesse This gréedie lust bursteth out into all kinde of villanies and abhominable misbehauiours which are héere noted vnder the word Vncleanesse all which are increased made more by Greedinesse the vtter aduersarie to contentation or temperance vntill it throwe a man downe headlong into the bottomlesse gulfe of damnation For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is an vnmeasurable lust or desire which hauing neuer inough is alwais séeking to haue more In this place is first to be marked what a wretched creature man is without the grace of regeneration or new birth after the fall of our first parents to wit Vaine of mind blind of vnderstanding hard in hart wherby we may easilie perceiue what manner of frée will that is which the Sophisters Schoolmen haue in such count so highlie praise euen in such as are not regenerate or new borne If therefore according to the doctrine of S. Paule our intents our procéedings and our verie dooings are faultie and sinfull what sounde thing is remaining Tell mée that And although the Apostle doth not take from man his naturall abilities yet notwithstanding hée proueth that they were corrupt after his fall Moreouer we haue héere to marke that Saint Paule speaketh not of actions naturall or ciuill which are ruled gouerned by the mouing and gesture of the bodie For in these remaineth some libertie in such as are not yet regenerate or borne a new but he speaketh onelie of the actions which concerne Gods worship and seruice of which actions there are thrée causes The first is the word which instructeth the minde and frameth the iudgment The second is the holie Ghost which is effectuall in the word to the inlightening of the minde and the inclination or bending of the will The third is the will of man resting in the worde and giuing place to the holie Ghost of whom it is both instructed and moued Verses 20. 21. 20 But ye haue not so learned Christ 21 If so be ye haue heard him and haue bene taught by him as the truth is in Iesu But ye haue not so learned Christ if so bee that yee haue heard of him and are taught in him euen as the truth is in Iesus THe Apostle sheweth the cause whie the Ephesians ought not as other hethernish Gentiles doe to liue in the ignorance of the Gospell of Christ to wit bicause they haue learned Christ For as a little before he rehearsed the causes of manie fowle sinnes in the Gentiles which causes are these namelie The vanitie of their minde the blindnesse of their vnderstanding and the hardnesse of their heart so in this place he setteth flatlie against all these the knowledge of Christ aloue and further auoucheth that the same is the cause of leading a godlie and an honest life This knowledge therefore of Christ ought to bréed in vs an other manner of liuing than is in the Gentiles which are not yet to this daie turned vnto God by and through the preaching of the Gospell For this effectuall forceable knowledge of Christ what doth it Forsooth it reformeth the minde it inlighteneth the vnderstanding and if softeneth the heart to be short it reneweth the whole man by the spirit of God that now he beginneth to liue The life of God And this is that which the Apostle saith As the truth is in Iesus that is to saie the true waie to liue well set foorth vnto vs in an excellent and notable example For in Christ appeared no kinde of marke or token of the olde man because he bare the verie image of the Father and béeing full of the holie Ghost obeied his Father in all things The word Truth therefore doth signifie not onelie the assent of trueth but also the action which followeth the assent by the figure Synecdoche much vsed in Hebrew This place therefore is diligentlie to be marked which teacheth that the knowledge of Christ or of the Gospell is but vaine vnlesse wée haue ioined therewithall such manners as are worthie of Christ and the Gospell For the knowledge of the Gospell standeth not vpon a naked contemplation or gazing at things not in idle disputations c but in the single knoweledge of Christ in faith and in harmelessenesse of life or as Saint Paule saith else-where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to saie In knowledge and vnderstanding Verses 22. 23. 24. 22 That is that ye cast off concerning the conuersation in time past the olde man which is corrupt through the deceiuable lusts 23 And be renevved in the spirit of your minde 24 And put on the nevv man vvhich after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse That ye should cast off or laie 〈◊〉 from you after the former conuersation the olde man which is corrupt thorough the concupiscenses of error and should be renewed in the spirit of your minde and put on the new man which after God is shaped in righteousnesse and holinesse of truth THe Apostle declareth in a short rehearsall but yet full and pithie what it is to haue learned Christ trulie what truth is in Iesus and what manner of life the life of a Christian ought to bée Of this rehearsall there are thrée partes to wit To put off the olde man to be renewed in the spirit and to put on the new man The first part therefore is the putting off of the olde man The Olde man signifieth not the substance but the qualitie namelie vice and corruption all custome of sinning according to the conuersation of old This custome of sinning S. Paule would haue all Christians to put off that the rule and gouernement of the spirit might be effectuall and full of which thing he sheweth the cause Which is corrupt through the concupiscences of errour that is to saie whome deceiuable lustes do corrupt whiles they drawe men into corruption and destruction Whosoeuer therefore desireth to escape destruction and vtter vndooing let him put off the Olde man Now the Olde man is then said to be put off when the bodie of sinne is weakened and brought vnder that wée should serue sinne no more For so the Apostle expoundeth his owne words saieng Hoc scientes c. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the bodie of sin might be destroied that henceforth we should not serue sinne In this speach of Saint Paule the word Crucified must be considered For by that is signified the efficacie and working of Christs crosse and this death in vs to the crucifieng and mortifieng of the Olde man To this serueth the exhortation of the Apostle Neigitur c. Let not sinne therefore reigne in your mortall bodie that ye should obeie it in the lustes
profits sake but also bicause it is a seruice pleasing God when it issueth and commeth from true faith and loue The fift is that the errour of the olde heretikes is héere ouerthrowne who estéemed and tooke marriage for a prophane and vnholie thing and after a sort vnworthie for Christians But the holie Ghost in this place is of a farre contrarie minde who compareth honest marriage to the coupling of Christ and his Church Heere let vs note well that saieng in the Epistle to the Hebrewes a saieng deseruing due memorie Honorabile inter omnes c Marriage is honourable among all and the bed vndefiled but whooremongers and adulterers God will iudge Verse 25. 25 Husbands loue your wiues euen as Christ loued the Church and gaue himselfe for it Husbandes loue your wiues euen as Christ loued the Church and gaue himselfe for the same THis is the second example or specialtie of the generaltie alreadie past and conteineth thrée thinges to wit the precept the cause or the reason and the manner of loue The precept is Husbandes loue your wiues The cause or reason is Euen as Christ loued the Church The manner is expressed by example And gaue himselfe for it Héerehence doth appeare the greatnesse of Christes loue If therefore husbandes will rule ouer their wiues after the example of Christ let them then learne and knowe that they are warned by his example to declare their loue by their déedes if occasion so require euen as Christ did whiles he sought and bought the life and saluation of his Church with his owne death Verses 26. 27. 26 That he might sanctifie it and cleanse it by the vvashing of vvater through the vvord 27 That he might make it vnto himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinkle or anie such thing but that it should be holie and vvithout blame That he might make her holie cleansing her with the washing of water in the word that he might make her vnto himselfe a glorious Church not hauing blemish or wrinkle or anie such thing but that she should be holie and blamelesse THE Apostle hauing taken occasion by the example of Christ louing his Church and giuing himselfe for it maketh a fitte enteraunce into the commendation of the grace of Christ towardes his Church according to the order of such benefites as Christ of his méere grace bestowed vpon his Church For first of all hee loued the Church Secondlie for that loues sake he gaue himselfe for hir Thirdlie he sanctified his Church that is to saie he seuereth and taketh hir apart to himselfe and maketh hir holie vnto God through the forgiuenesse of finnes and the spirit of regeneration or new birth Fourthlie the Apostle addeth the manner how Christ sanctified his Church saieng Cleansing it by the washing of water throgh the word Fiftlie the end of the sanctification of the Church is set downe to wit That the Church might be faire beautifull without spot or wrinkle deckt and garnished with holinesse and vnblameablenesse But the fourth and the fift degrée doe néede a larger exposition For they conteine diuerse and manifold doctrines When the Apostle therefore saith Cleansing it by the washing of water through the word he most liuelie setteth foorth the force of the sacrament of Baptisme For if we shall as it were vnfolde and laie open these wordes we shall sée fiue thinges in Baptisme méete and worthie of marking The first is Christ cleansing vs. For to Christ alone this honour doth agrée and belong Who appeared to this end that he might destroie the works of the diuell and take awaie sinne Héereto serueth the saieng of S. Iohn Sanguis Iesu c. The bloud of Iesus Christ the sonne of God cleanseth vs from all sinne The second is The washing of water which is the outward signe of grace and the seale of our inward cleansing The third is the truth answering vnto the signe which is to be considered this is a secret cleansing of our soules and an inward washing awaie of our sinnes The fourth is The word that the force and vertue of Baptisme maie be vnderstoode by the worde of promise The fift is the analogie or proportion of the signe to the truth which analogie or proportion is diligentlie to be considered in euerie sacrament The signe is The washing of water the analogie or proportion is As water cleanseth the bodie without so the bloude of Christ washeth awaie the filth of sinne from the soule within This analogie or proportion the Apostle signifieth vnto vs under this word Cleansing These things throughlie considered and rightlie weighed it is easie to knowe in what accompt the sacraments of the Church ought to be For they are signes seales tokens whereby God offereth his grace and giueth euidence that he will indéed perfourme that which the outward things themselues do represent For the truth of the thing vnséene is alwaies ioined with the sacraments séene and so is the giuing it selfe which is throughlie done by the secret working of the holie ghost Not that the holie Ghost standeth in neede of anie outward helpe but there is consideration had of our weaknesse Out of these things it is easie to gather that a sacrament is rightlie defined in the new Testament to bée a signe séene and fealt ordeined euen of Christ himselfe to seale the word of grace and promise which is to be receiued by faith And although the wicked are neither washed with Baptisme nor nourished by the Lords supper yet notwithstanding the sacraments kéepe their force and vertue in respect of God because howsoeuer the vnthankfull will none of it Gods grace is offered vnto them neuerthelesse Furthermore the description of the Church which followeth doth not belong to outward shewe and fashion but to the inward cleannesse of the heart This is rightlie to be vnderstood because of them which denie that there is a Church where anie such are assembled as beare about with them anie manner of spot blemish or staine whatsoeuer To the boulstering vp of which errour of theirs they wrest this place of Saint Paule If saie they the Church haue no spot and no wrinkle if the Church be holie and without blame then shall not this assemblie where so manie misliuers are met together be the Church This errour is disprooued by the order of praieng which the Lord left vs for a paterne For we are bidden to praie thus Remitte nobis debita c. Forgiue vs our trespasses And in the Psalme it is said Pro iniquitate c. For the remission of sinnes euerie holie godlie one shall praie vnto thee If therefore all the holie ones commonlie called Saints haue néede to praie dailie for the remission of sinnes they shall not then be altogether frée from euerie spotte And Saint Iohn saith Si dixerimus c. If that we saie we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues and truth is not in vs. If we acknowledge