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.

Verse. 15.

15 But let vs follovve the truth in loue, and in all things grovve vp into him, vvhich is the head, that is Christ.

But following the truth in loue, let vs grown vp in him through all things, which is the head, euen Christ.

THis is an Antithesis, or opposition, to the former member. For as he made mention there, that we shuld take héede of false doctrine, and of snares which decei∣uers laie to choke the true doctrine: so héere he biddeth vs (Followe the truth,) that is to saie, sticke to the true doctrine, and in the faith. (For he vseth the figure Sy∣necdoche, whereby vnder the word (Truth) is also comprised the affection following, according to the man∣ner of the scripture,) (And in loue one towards another:) whereby it shall come to passe, that we shall (Growe vp into Christ himselfe,) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, euerie waie, (In all things,) he béeing our head. For, how much more we growe in the knowledge of Christ, in faith, and (In loue:) so much more we growe in Christ.

As children therefore growe by little and litle, till they are come to their perfect age: euen so it is the dutie of Christians, to growe daie by daie in the knowledge of Christ, in faith, and in loue, and neuer to cease till they haue gotten perfectnesse. All this serueth héereto, that we should submit our selues vnto Christ our head, and mainteine vnitie among vs one with another, as we are all ruled by one and the same spirit of Christ.

Furthermore, Christ is said to be the head of the Church, in working, in perfection, in merit, and in order. In working, because he quickeneth, sustaineth, and

kéepeth the Church by his spirit. In perfection, because he excelleth both Angels and men in wisdome and righ∣teousnesse. In merite, because he hath taken awaie our sinnes by his obedience of the crosse: and by the obe∣dience of the lawe, hath made satisfaction to the righte∣ousnesse of God, that as manie as doe beléeue in him, should be counted righteous, through the righteousnesse of Christ. In order, bicause he is the Monarch and one∣lie Souereigne of the Church.