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.

Verses. 10. 11.

10 Approuing that vvhich is pleasing to the Lord.

11 And haue no fellowship vvith the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse, but euen reproue them rather.

Allowing that whereby the Lord is well pleased, and haue nothing to doe (or meddle not) with vnfruitfull (or vnprofita∣ble) workes, but rather rebuke them.

THe Apostle declareth, what it is (To walke as chil∣dren of light,) and he draweth the endeuours or stu∣dies of the children of light, as it were to thrée heads. For his will is first, that we should search out and ap∣proue whatsoeuer is acceptable vnto God: that is to saie, whatsoeuer is commanded and set downe in his word. For, as the word of God alone instructeth and teacheth vs, what pleaseth him, and what displeaseth him: so this word alone ought to be the rule of life vnto the godlie.

Secondlie, the Apostle requireth vs (Not to haue anie fellowship with the vnfruitfull) that is to saie, vn∣profitable & hurtfull (works of darknesse:) to wit, which procéed from the ignorance of the Gospell, & of Christ, and which haue in them as their cause, concupiscence in∣gendered: such are the heathenish and horrible sinnes, wherewith they that are ignoraunt of the Gospell, de∣file and staine themselues▪ Now, we are said then to haue fellowship with heinous and great disordered sinnes, both when we either make proofe anie manner of waie, one or other, that they please vs, or when we ouerslip them with silence, and that most of all, if our calling otherwise séeme to charge vs, that we ought openlie to professe our selues displeased with them.

Thirdlie, that we should rebuke the workes of dark∣nesse, and that as well by our holie and honest life, as al∣so

by liuelie voice, springing from a certeine zeale of the glorie of God: and thus must we chieflie doe, if it stand with the order of our vocation and calling. But, if we maie not doe it in words: yet notwithstanding, wée must shewe one waie or other, that these sinnes and offenses like vs not in anie case, but altogether irke and loath vs.

This place is to be marked. For the Apostle doeth not comprise in a short Aphorisme, the duties of the chil∣dren of light: to wit, of Christians onelie: but also dis∣proueth and throweth vnder foote the vanitie of them, that giue a gesse, (as the blinde man shootes his bolt,) that they doe their duties to the vttermost, if they sinne not themselues in their owne person, being neuer a whit carefull for others. Moreouer, the Apostle teacheth in this place, that they also are out of the waie, and twang vpon a wrong string, who though they liue in blind Po∣perie, thinke notwithstanding that it is enough to ab∣horre vngodlinesse, and defie papisticall superstition in minde and thought, supposing that to be present at the abhominable,* 1.1 théeuish, and heathenish deuotions of Pa∣pists, for outward peace and quietnesse sake, is nothing hurtfull. For they, which either by their presence séeme to allowe these trumperies, although in minde they mislike them much: yet notwithstanding, they put the halter of wicked fellowshippe about their owne neckes.

And what doe they? They vnderstand not, that it makes no matter, whether they doe it of blinde super∣stition, or of craftie and close dissimulation: seeing that by either euill, as well this, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that, men make a mocke of Gods holie religion, and by their example, partlie con∣firme and embolden the ignoraunce of the blunter sort in more obstinate stubbornesse: and partlie inféeble and shake the doubtfull and wauering consciences of weak∣lings.* 1.2 As for Naaman the Gouernour of Syria, hée

makes verie litle or nothing on their side, who at such time as he asked God forgiuenesse of one thing: to wit, if he entered into the temple of Rimmon with his Lord and King, and worshipped there: the Prophet let him goe in peace. For that worshipping was not a falling downe before idols: but a certeine stooping and ben∣ding forward of his bodie, that the King might the more eastlie leane vpon him, as he staied and bare him vp. That this is so, the historie it selfe plainlie proueth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Because that in beeing buisie therea∣bouts, they pil∣fer and steale frō God, part of his ho∣nour and seruice.
• * 1.2

  2. Reg. 5. 18.