John Trapp on Ephesians 6

CHAP. VI. Verſe 1. Children obey your Parents]

AS Iſaac did Abraham in ſubmitting to be ſacrificed: As Chriſt became obedient even to the death of the Croſſe.

For this is right] Good and acceptable before God and men, 1 Tim. 5.4. See the Note on Mat. 15.4.

Verſe 2. Firſt Commandment with promiſe] To wit, with ſpeciall promiſe of long life. See more in the Note on Mat. 15.4.

Verſe 3. And thou maist live long] Good children help to lengthen their parents daies, as Joſeph did Jacobs. God therefore lengthens the[illegible: 1 letter]s in redhoſtimentum, as it were. Or if he take from them this long leaſe, he gives them a free-hold of better value.

Verſe 4. Provoke not, &c.] God forbids bitterneſſe and auſterity in husbands, Coloſ. 3.19. Maſters, Coloſ. 4.1. parents here, and Col 3.21. Superiours muſt ſo carry themſelves, as to be at once loved and feared.

But bring them up in the nurture, &c.] Or nouriſh them and nurture them. The later is as needfull as the former. They that nouriſh their children only, what do they more, then the unreaſonable creatures?Selue[illegible: 2 letters]er. The bleſſing upon poſterity is entailed to piety in the ſecond Commandment. If I may ſee grace in my wife and children, ſaid reverend Claviger, Satis habeo, ſatiſ que mihi, mea ux-ar[illegible: 1 letter] filiis & filiabus proſpexi, I ſhall account them ſufficiently cared for.

Verſe 5. Servants be obedient] The Centurion was happy in his ſervants, and no marvell, for he was a loving Maſter. See the Note on Mat 8 6.

Verſe 6. Not with eye-ſervi[illegible: 1 letter]e] And yet it were well if we would do God, our great Maſter, but eye-ſervice. For his eye is ever upon us, and pierceth into the inward parts So that they much deceive themſelves, who think all is well, becauſe no m[illegible: 1 letter]n can ſay to them, Black is thine eye.

Verſe 7. As to the Lord] In obedience to his will, and with reference to his glory.

Verſe 8. Whether he be bond or free] The Centurion did but complain of the ſickneſſe of his ſervant, and Chriſt unasked, ſaies, I will come and heal him. He that came in the ſhape of a ſervant, would go down to the ſick ſervants pallet, would not go to the bed of the rich Rulers ſon.

Verſe 9. Do the ſame things] That is, Do your parts and duties by them; and uſe them as men, not as beaſts.

Forbearing threatning] Thoſe bluſters and terrible thunder-cracks of fierce and furious language found in the mouths of many maſt[illegible: 1 letter]rs, i[illegible: 1 letter] never ſo little croſſed. Severitas nec ſit tetra, nec t[illegible: 1 letter] trica: Servants ſhould be chidden with good words,Sidon. epiſt. with Gods words, and not reviled.

Verſe 10. Be ſtrong in the Lord] For by his own ſtrength ſhall no man prevail, 1 Sam. 2.9. Get Gods Arm, wherewith to wield his Armour, and then you may do any thing.

Verſe 11. Put òn the whole armour] Or elſe never think to do the fore-mentioned duties: we have a buſie adverſary to deal with. The Turks bear no weapons, but in travell: then ſome of them ſeem like a walking armory: ſo muſt a Chriſtian be. Coriolanus [illegible: 1 letter]ad ſo uſed his weapons of a childe-little, that they ſeemed as if they had been born with him, or grown into his hands. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Plutarch. Seneca reports of Caeſar, that he quickly ſheathed his ſword, but never laid it off. No more muſt we.

The wiles of the devil] Gr. The methods or way-layings of that old ſubtile Serpent, who like Dans adder in the path, biteth the heels of paſſengers,Gen. 48.17. and thereby transfuſeth his venome to the head and heart. Julian by his craft drew more from the faith, then all his perſecuting predeceſſours could do by their cruelty. So doth Satan more hurt in his ſheepskin then by roaring like a Lion.

Verſe 12. Not againſt fleſh and bloud] Hereby the Apoſtle meaneth not ſo much the corruption, as the weakneſſe of our natures. q. d. We have not only to conflict with weak, frail men, but with puiſſant devils. Look to it therefore, and lie open at no place: but get on every piece of this ſpirituall armour, whether thoſe of defence (as the girdle of truth, bre[illegible: 1 letter]t-pla[illegible: 1 letter]e of righteouſneſſe, the ſhoes of peace and patience, the helmet of hope) or thoſe of offence, as the ſword of the Spirit, and the darts of praier. Fetch all theſe out of the holy Scriptures, which are like Solomons tower, where hang a thouſand ſhields, and all the weapons of ſtrong men. The Apoſtle here ſoundeth the alarm, crying, Arm, arm, &c.

But againſt principalities,] So wicked men make the devils, by being at their beck and obedience. Obſerve here, ((ſaith an Interpreter) in the holy Ghoſt a wonderfull patern of candour: he praiſeth what is praiſe-worthy in his very enem[illegible: 1 letter]es. How then ſhall not the Saints be accepted and acknowledged, ſith they ſin not of malicious wickedneſſe, as devils do.

Againſt spirituall wickedneſſe] Gr. [non-Latin text not transcribed] The ſpirituals of wickedneſſe, thoſe helliſh plots and ſatanicall ſuggeſtions, black and blaſphemous temptations, horrid and hideous injections, &c.

In high places] Or, [non-Latin text not transcribed] About our intereſt in thoſe heavenly priviledges, which the devil would wring from us, and rob us of. He ſtrove with the Angel about the body of Moſes: but with us about our precious ſoules. And herein he hath the advantage▪ that he is above us, and doth ou[illegible: 1 letter] of the aire aſſault us, being upon the upper ground, as it were.

Verſe 13. That ye may be able to with ſtand] Not ſeeking to reſiſt Satans craft with craft, fraud with fraud, Sed per apertum Martem, but by open defiance. He ſhoots (ſaith Greenham) with Satan in his own bow, who thinks by diſputing and reaſoning to put him off.

Verſe 14. Stand therefore] [non-Latin text not transcribed] A military expreſſion. A man may well ſay to the Chriſtian ſouldier, as Simeon in the eccleſiaſticall hiſtory did to the pillars, D. H[illegible: 1 letter]ll's, Quò vadis. which he whipped before the earthquake: Stand faſt for ye ſhall be ſhaken.

Your loins girt about] Here if ever, Ʋngirt, unbleſt. He is a looſe man that wants this g[illegible: 2 letters]dle of ſince[illegible: 1 letter]ity.

The breaſt-plate of righteouſnes] Inherent righteouſnes, 1 Ioh. 3.7. that enſureth election. 2 Pet. 1, 10.

Verſe 15. And your feet ſhod] As one that is well booted or buskind can walk unhurt amidſt briers and brambles: ſo may he amidſt Satans ſnares, whereof all places are full, that is fortified with Goſpel-comforts, whereby God creates peace.

Verſe 16. Above all] Or, Over and upon all. [non-Latin text not transcribed] For the word here rendred a ſhield cometh from another word that ſignifieth a door: to note that as a door or gate doth the body, [non-Latin text not transcribed] ſo the ſhield of faith covereth the whole ſoul. Let us be therefore (as Epaminondas) Non d[illegible: 1 letter] vita, ſed de ſc[illegible: 1 letter]to ſolliciti. S[illegible: 1 letter]eva at the ſiege of Dyrrachium ſo long alone reſiſted Pompeys army, that he had 220 darts ſticking in his ſhield, and loſt one of his eyes, and yet gave not over till Caeſar came to his reſcue.

To quench all the fiery darts] Pointed and poiſoned with the venome of ſerpents, which ſet the heart on fire from one luſt to another. Or fiery for the dolour and diſtemper that they work: in alluſion to the Scythian darts, dipt in the gall of aſps and vipers; the venemous heat of which, like a fire in their fleſh, killed the wounded with torments the likeſt hell of any other.

Verſe 17. The helmet of ſalvation] Hope which holds head above water, and maketh the ſoul with ſtretcht-out [illegible: 1 letter]eck expect deliverance, Rom 8.19. crying out not only, Dum ſpiro, ſpero, but dum expiro ſpero.

And the ſword of the ſpirit] Wherewith our Saviour beat the devil on his own dunghill the wilderneſſe, fetching all out of that one book of Deuteronomy, Matth. 4. See the Notes there.

Verſe 18. Praying alwaies] Praier is not only a part of the armour, but enables to uſe all the reſt. It is not only a charm for that crooked ſerpent Leviathan, Iſa. 26.16. to inchant him,Flagellum Diaboli. but a whip to torment him, and put him into another hell, ſaith Chryſostome. It [illegible: 1 letter]etcheth Chriſt into the battle, and ſo is ſure of victory. It obtaineth freſh ſupplies of the Spirit, Phil. 1.19. and ſo maketh us more then conquerours, even triumphers. It driveth the devil out of the field, and maketh him flie from us, Tanquà;m ſi leones ignem expuentes eſſemus, ſaith Chryſoſtome. Eſpecially if we go not to the battle,[non-Latin text not transcribed], with our break faſt, as Nestor in Homer, but faſting and praying. For ſome kinde of devils are not caſt cut, but by faſting and praier.

And watching thereunto] That we be not ſurprized at unawares. The bird Onocratal[illegible: 2 letters] is ſo well practiſ[illegible: 1 letter]d to expect the Hawk to grapple with her, that even when ſhe ſhutteth her eyes, ſhe ſleepeth with her beak exalted, as if ſhe would contend with her adverſary: Let us like wiſe ſtand continually upon our guard. The devil watcheth and wa[illegible: 1 letter]keth the round, 1 Pet. 5.8. Watch therefore.

Verſe 19 And for me] Miniſters muſt be eſpecially pray'd for, that they may have a door not only of utterance, but of entrance to mens hearts, and ſo be able to ſave themſelves, and thoſe that hear them. In praying for ſu[illegible: 1 letter]h, we pray for ou[illegible: 1 letter] ſelves.

Verſe 20. [non-Latin text not transcribed] I am an Embaſſadour] Venerable for mine age and authority, as the word ſignifieth. The ancient and the honourable are uſually imploied as Embaſſadours. Cognata ſunt [non-Latin text not transcribed] & [non-Latin text not transcribed], old age and honour are akin in the Greek tongue.

In bonds] Gr. In a chain; inſtead of a chain of gold (worne commonly by Embaſſadours) and far more glorious. [non-Latin text not transcribed] I bear about my bonds (ſaith Ignatius in his Epiſtle like wiſe to the Epheſians) as ſo many ſpirituall Jewels or Enſigns of honour. Oh, ſaid Alice Driver, here is a goodly neckerchief, bleſſed be God for it, when the chain was put about her neck.

That therein I may ſpeak boldly] He ſaith not, That I may be freed from my chain, but that I may do my office well in my chain. Let God ſerve himſelf upon us, and then no matter what becomes of us. Martinus decumbens, Domine, dixi[illegible: 1 letter], ſi adhuc populo tuo firm neceſſarius, nonrecuſo L[illegible: 1 letter]borem. Sever. epiſt. 3.

Verſe 21. But that ye may know] It is of good uſe to the Church to know the lives and affairs of men eminent in goodneſſe, and of exemplary holineſſe; that others may expreſſe them, as Polycarp did Iohn the Evangeliſt, as Irenaeus did Polycarp, as Cyprian did Tertullian, Paraeus did Vrſin, &c.

Verſe 22. Comfort your hearts] It is God that comforts by the creatures, as by conduit-pipes. The air yeelds light as an inſtrument, the water may heat, but not of it ſelf. When a potion is given in beer, the beer of it ſelf doth not work, but the potion by the beer. So in this eaſe.

Verſe 23. Peace be to the brethren] Theſe only be the children of peace, Luk. 10.10. The wicked are like the troubled ſea, Iſa. 57.20. which may ſeem ſometimes ſtill, but is never ſo: no more are they. The peace of proſperity they may have, but not of tranquillity. Sinceritas ſerenitatis mater. Hence it followeth.

Verſe 24. In ſincerity] Or, Immortality, [non-Latin text not transcribed] oppoſite to that Anathema Maranatha, 1 Cor. 16.23.