John Trapp on Ephesians 4

CHAP. IV. Verſe 1. Worthy of the vocation]

THere is a [non-Latin text not transcribed], a ſeemlineſſe appertaining to each calling: ſo here. We muſt walk nobly and comfortably, as becometh the heirs of God, an co-heirs of Chriſt. Scipio, when a harlot was offered him, anſwered, Vellem, ſi non eſſem Imperator; I would, if I were not Generall of the Army. Antigonus being invited to a place where a notable harlot was to be preſent, asked counſell of Menedemus, what he ſhould do? He bad him only remember that he was a Kings ſonne: So let men remember their high and heavenly calling, and do nothing unworthy of it. Luth. in Gen. Luther counſels men to anſwer all temptations of Satan with this only, Chriſtianus ſum, I am a Chriſtian.

Verſe 2. With all lowlineſſe and meekneſſe] Theſe are virtutes collactaneae, as Bernard calleth them, a pair of twin-ſiſters, never aſunder.

Verſe 3. The unity of the spirit] That is, Unanimity: this keeps all together, which elſe will ſhatter and fall aſunder. The daughter of diſſenſion is diſſolution, ſaith Nazianzen.

Verſe 4. In one hope of your calling] That is, unto one inheritance, which we all hope for. Fall not out therefore by the way, as Ioſeph charged his brethren.

Verſe 5. One baptiſme] The Authour to the Hebrews ſpeaketh of Baptiſmes, Chap. 6.2. But either he puts the plurall for the ſingular: or elſe he meaneth it of the outward and inward waſhing, which the Schools call baptiſmum ſtuminis & flaminis. See the Note on Mat. 3.11.

Verſe 6.Mal. [illegible: 1 letter] 10. One God and Father of all] Have we not all one Father, ſaith Malachy? Why then diſſent and jar we? How is it that theſe many ones here inſtanced, unite us not? My dove, mine undefiled is but one, Cant 6 9.

Verſe 7. According to the meaſure] And may not Chriſt do with his own as he liſteth? Thoſe of greater gifts are put upon hotter ſervice. [non-Latin text not transcribed]

Verſe 8. He led captivity captive, &c.] As in the Roman triumphs, the Victor aſcended up to the Capitoll in a Chariot of ſtate, the priſoners following on foot with their hands bound behinde, and they threw certain pieces of coyn abroad, to be pickt up by the common people. So Chriſt in they day of his ſolemn inauguration into his heavenly Kingdom, triumphed over ſin, death and hell, Col. 2.15. and gave gifts to men.

And gave gifts unto men] The Hebrew hath it, Pſal. 76 19. Thou receivedſt gifts for men. Chriſt received them, that he might give them, and ſaid, It is a more bleſſed thing to give then to receive. The Pſalmiſt adds, Even for the rebellious. To them alſo Chriſt gives common gifts, for the behoof of his people. Auguſtus in his ſolemn feaſts gave gifts: to ſome, gold, to others, trifles. So God in his ordinances, to ſome ſaving grace, to others common grace, and with this they reſt content.

Verſe 9 Into the lower parts] That is, into his mothers womb; according to Pſal. 139.15. I was curiouſly wrought in the loweſt parts of the earth, i. e. in the womb, where God formed and featured me; like as curious workmen, when they have ſome c[illegible: 1 letter]o[illegible: 1 letter]c[illegible: 1 letter] piece in hand, they perfect it in private, and then bring it forth to light for men to gaze at.

Verſe 10. Farre above all heavens] That is, above all viſible heavens, into the third heaven, not into the Ʋtopia of the Ubiquitaries.

That he might fill all things] viz. With the gifts of his holy Spirit: for the further he is from us in his fleſh, the nearer by his Spirit; he is more efficacious abſent, then preſent.

Verſe 11. Some Pastours and Teachers] Diſtinct offices, Rom. 12.7, 8. yet one man may be both, 1 Cor. 12.28, 29. The eſſentiall difference between Paſtours and Teachers in each Congregation is much denied by many learned and godly Divines.

Verſe 12. For the perfecting of the Saints] For the joynting of them, whom the devil hath diſlocated. [non-Latin text not transcribed].

Verſe 13. Ʋnto the meaſure of the ſtature] Or age: that age wherein Chriſt filleth all in all, as Chap. 3.19. The Saints (ſay ſome) ſhall riſe again in that vigour of age, that a perfect man is at about 33 years old, each in their proper ſex: whereunto they thinke the Apoſtle here alludeth.

Verſe 14. Be no more children] But young men, 1 Joh. 2.14 ſtrong men.

Toſſed to and fro] As a feather or froth upon the waves, wherried about with every winde of doctrine, unſtable ſouls, as S. Peter cals them, ſimple, that believe every thing, as Solomon hath it: giddy hearers that have no mould, but what the next teacher caſteth them into, being blow like glaſſes into this or that ſhape at the pleaſure of his breath.

By the ſleight of men] Gr. By mens cogging of a die, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. the uſuall trade of cheaters, and falſe gameſters.

Whereby they lie in wait to deviſe] Gr. Ʋnto a method of deceiving. The devil and his diſciples are notable method-mongers, ſo as to deceive, if it were poſſible the very elect: but that they cannot do fundamentally, finally, Mat. 24 24. See the Note there.

Verſe 15. But ſpeaking the truth] Or, Doing the truth, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. as the Vulgar hath it. Truthifying, or following the truth, as one rendereth it. S. John bids, Love in truth, 1 Joh. 3.18. S. Paul, Speak or do the truth in love. And again, let all your things be done in love.

Verſe 16. Comp[illegible: 1 letter]cted by that, &c.] The Saints are knit unto Chriſt by his Spirit, as faſt as the ſinews of his bleſſed body to the bones, the fleſh to the ſinews, the skin to the fleſh.

Ʋnto the edifying of it ſelf in love] Our ſouls thrive and are edified, as love is continued and encreaſed. Nothing more furthereth growth in grace and power of godlineſſe in any place or perſon: obſerve it where and when you will.

Verſe 17. This I ſay therefore] Matters of great importance muſt be urged and preſſed with greateſt vehemence.

As other Gentiles walk] Singular things are expected from Saints: who are therefore worſe then others, becauſe they ſhould be better.

Verſe 18. Having the underſtanding darkned] By the devils black hand held before their eyes, 2 Cor. 4.4. See the Note there.

Alienated from the life of God] That is, from a godly life, which none can live, [non-Latin text not transcribed], Caliū obductum but thoſe that partake of the divine nature, 2 Pet. 1.4.

Becauſe of the blindeneſſe] Gr. Hardneſſe, brawnineſſe, a hoof upon their hearts, corneas fibras, brawny breſts, horny heart-ſtrings. The Greek word imports a Metaphor from the hard hand of hardeſt labourers.

Verſe 19. Who being paſt feeling] Under a dead and dedolent diſpoſition, being deſperately ſinfull. Some there are of cauterized conſciences, that like devils, will have nothing to do with God, becauſe loth to be tormented before their time. They feeling ſuch horrible hard hearts, and privy to ſuch notorious ſins, they caſt away ſouls and all for luſt, and ſo periſh wofully, becauſe they lived wickedly: having through cuſ[illegible: 4 letters] in evil contracted ſuch an hardneſſe, as neither miniſtery, not miſery, nor miracle, nor mercy could poſſibly mollifie. As Ducklings dive at any little thing thrown by a man at them, yet ſhrink not at the heavens great thunder: ſo is it with theſe.

Verſe 20. But ye have not ſo [illegible: 1 letter]earned Chriſt] Caracalla never minded any good: Quia id non didicerat (ſaith Dio) quod ipſe fatebatur, becauſe he had never learned it, as himſelf confeſſed.

Verſe 21. Ye have heard him, &c.] When Chriſt ſpeaks once, we muſt hear him twice, as David did, Pſalm 62.11. to wit, by an after deliberate meditation: for otherwiſe we learn nothing.

Verſe 22. That ye put off, &c.] As the beggar puts off his rags, as the maſter puts off his bad ſervant, as the Porter puts off his burden, as the husband puts off his lewd wife, as the Serpent his ſlough, or as the captive maid when ſhe was to be married, put off the garments of her captivity, Deut. 21.13.

The old man which is corrupt] Sin is ſaid to be the old man, becauſe it lives in man ſo, as ſin ſeems to be alive, and the man dead: and becauſe God will take notice of nothing in the ſinner, but his ſin.

According to the deceitfull luſts] Sin, though at firſt it fawn upon a man, yet in the end (with Cains dog lying at the door) it will pluck out the very throat of his ſoul, if not repented of. Like the Serpent, together with the imbrace, it ſtings mortally. Hence the Rulers meat is called deceivable, Pro. 23.3.

Verſe 23. In the spirit of your minde] That is, in the moſt inward and ſubtle parts of the ſoul, the boſome and bottome, the vis vivifica and very quinteſſence of it. This he cals elſwhere, The wiſdome of the fleſh, Rom. 8.7. that carnall reaſon, that like an old beldame is the mother and nurſe of thoſe fleſhly luſts that fight againſt the ſoul.

Verſe 24. Which after God is created] The new man is nothing elſe but the happy cluſter of heavenly graces.

And true holineſſe] Or, Holineſſe of truth. Oppoſite to that deceitfulneſſe of luſts, ver. 22.

Verſe 25. Wherefore putting away lying] A baſe tinkerly ſin, as Plutarch calleth it, ſhamefull and hatefull: therefore the lier denies his own lie, as aſhamed to be taken with it.

For we are members] Of the ſame holy ſociety. Shall we not be true one to another? Shall we not abhor ſleights and ſlipperines in contracts and Covenants?

Verſe 26. Be angry and ſin not] The eaſieſt charge under the hardeſt condition that can be. Anger is a tender vertue, and muſt be warily managed. He that will be angry and not ſin, let him be angry at nothing but ſin.

Let not the Sunne go down] If ye have overſhot in paſſion, let it not reſt or rooſt in you, leſt it become malice.Plut lib. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Plutarch writeth that it was the cuſtome of Pythagoras his ſcholars, however they had been at odds, jarring and jangling in their diſputations yet before the Sun-ſet to kiſſe and ſhake hands as they departed out of the ſchool. How many are there that profeſſing themſelves the ſcholars of Chriſt, do yet nevertheleſſe not only let the Sun go down, but go round his whole courſe, and can finde not time from one end of the year to the other to compoſe and ſay aſide their diſcords? How ſhould this fire be raked up, when the curfew-bell rings?

Verſe 27. Neither give place, &c.] Vindictive ſpirits let the devil into their hearts: and though they defie him, and ſpet at him, yet they ſpet not low enough; for he is ſtill at [illegible: 1 letter]nne with them, as Mr Bradford ſpeaketh. As the Maſter of the pit oft ſets two cocks to fight together, to the death of both, and then, after mutuall conqueſt, ſuppeth with both their bodies: So, faith Gregory dealeth the devil with angry and revengefull men.

Verſe 28 Let him labour Working, &c.] This is the beſt remedy againſt poverty, which oft prompts a man to theft, Prov. 30 9.

That he may have to give] Day-labourers then muſt do ſomewhat for the poor.Act. and Mon. fol. 765. Ibid 811. And indeed alms ſhould not be given untill it ſweat in a mans hand, ſaid he, in the book of Martyrs. Giles of Bruſſels gave away to the poor whatſoever he had that neceſſity could ſpare, and only lived by his ſcience, which was of a Cutler.

Verſe 29. Let no corrupt communication] Gr. Rotten, putid spe[illegible: 1 letter]ch. [non-Latin text not transcribed] A Metaphor from rotten treas, or ſtinking fleſh, or ſtinking breath. Shunne obſcene borborology, and filthy ſpeeches.

Verſe 30. And grieve not, &c.] As men in heavineſſe cannot diſpatch their work, as they were wont: ſo neither doth the Spirit. If we grieve the holy Ghoſt, how ſhould we expect that he ſhould comfort us? It is a foul fault to grieve a father, what then the Spirit?

Verſe 31. Let all bitterneſſe, &c.] If the godly man ſuddenly fall into bitter words, it maketh the holy Ghoſt ſtir within him.

And clamour and evil speaking] Theſe are as ſmoke to the eyes, and make the Spirit ready to loath and leave his lodging.

Be put away from you] When any luſt ariſeth, pray it down preſently (ſaith one:) for otherwiſe we are endangered by yeelding to grieve, by grieving to reſiſt, by reſiſting to quench, by quenching, maliciouſly to oppoſe the Spirit. Sin hath no bounds, but thoſe which the Spirit pats, whom therefore we ſhould not grieve.

Verſe 32. And be ye kinde] Sweet-natured, [non-Latin text not transcribed] facile and fair-conditioned: as Cranmer, whoſe gentleneſſe in pardoning wrongs was ſuch as it grew to a common proverb,Act. and Mon. fol. 1699. Do my Lord of Canterbury a diſpleaſure, and then you may be ſure to have him your friend, while he liveth. He never raged ſo far with any of his houſhold ſervants, as once to call the meaneſt of them Varlet or Knave in anger, much leſſe to reprove a ſtranger with any reproachfull world, &c.