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. 17. & 18.

17 That the God of our Lord Iesus Christ, the Father of glo∣rie, might giue vnto you, the spirit of vvisedome & reuelati∣on, through the knovvledge of him,

18 That the eyes of your vn∣derstanding may be lightened.

That the God of our Lord Iesus Christ, the Father of glo∣rie, might giue vnto you the spirit of wisedome and reuela∣tion in the knowledge of him∣selfe, & lighten the eies of your minde.

THe Apostle declareth, what he wisheth to the E∣phesians in his praiers: to wit, (The spirit of wisdome and reuelation, through the knowledge of Ie∣sus Christ,) that is to say, a true knowledge of the myste∣rie of the Gospell, which the spirit reuealeth, when the Gospell is effectuall in the hearts of the hearers thereof, and the meditaters therevpon. For séeing the Gospell guideth vs to the knowledge of Christ, who is the wise∣dome of his Father giuen vnto vs of God: we are also possessed with the spirit of wisedome, whereby the eies of our minde are enlightened, to vnderstand the mysterie of the Gospell. Now let vs sée the circumstaunces of the Apostles praier. The first is, that he praieth vnto God, who as he alone is the Authour of all good things: so he alone is to be called vpon. The second is, by and through whom he praieth: this he sheweth when he saith, (The God of our Lord Iesus Christ:) as if he should say: I leane not to mine owne merites, but boldlie staieng my self vpon the intercession, of Christ, I call vpon God. For he alone is the Mediatour betwene God & men: & ther∣fore he himselfe said,* 1.1 Quicquid, &c. Whatsoeuer ye shall aske the Father in my name,* 1.2 he shall giue it you.

Athanasius putteth these words (Of our Lord Iesus Christ) in a Parenthesis,* 1.3 that glorie should goe with the word,* 1.4 God, and not with the word Father. But this is pinched in too much,* 1.5 or too strait laced: let vs rather place the words in this order, (The God of our Lord Iesus Christ, and Father of glorie.) For the Apostle séemeth to haue an eie to the words of the Lord after he was rai∣sed

vp from the dead,* 1.6 and speaking in this manner, I a∣scend to my Father, and to your Father, to my God, and to your God. Therefore was Christ borne a man, not onelie that he might haue a common Father with vs, but also a God: from whom the greatest comfort of the faith∣full floweth. For thus doth faith conclude. The Father and God of our Lord Iesus Christ, is likewise our Fa∣ther & God. Therfore, we are partakers of all heauenlie benefits with Christ, our copartner. Therfore his will & pleasure is to doe vs good: and he both knoweth and also can giue vs those things, that are healthfull to serue for our saluation. But how hangeth this together? What? Is not the sonne equall to the Father? As (doubtlesse) he is consubstantiall, so is he coequall with the Father: But the sonne abased himselfe,* 1.7 putting on the state and con∣dition of a seruant. And albeit it agréeth properlie with the nature of man, that Christ should be subiect vnto God the Father: yet neuerthelesse, that is referred to the ve∣rie person, in respect of the vnitie of the person, bicause Christ is both God & man. Furthermore, God is called (The Father of glorie:) first, bicause all things are full of his glorie: secondlie, bicause all glorie belongeth to him a∣lone: Lastlie, bicause he is the Author & fountaine of all glorie. Now the cause why Saint Paule in this place giueth God this title, is this. He praieth vnto God, that it would please him to giue the Ephesians the spirit of wisedome, &c. Which gift (doubtlesse) both tendeth to the glorie of God: and also bringeth to passe, that the Ephe∣sians are made partakers of heauenlie glorie. For it is a common thing and much vsed in the scriptures, to giue certeine titles vnto God, in consideration of the matter which is handeled. Wherevpon it followeth, that one while he is called,* 1.8 Pater misericordiarum, The Father of mercies:* 1.9 another while, Deus omnis consolationis, The God of all comfort:* 1.10 Deus salutis, The God of saluation: Deus pacis & dilectionis,* 1.11 The God of peace & loue. Of

this kinde there are manie examples in the Psalmes of Dauid,* 1.12 as when it is said, Dominus fortitudo, &c. The Lord is my strength,* 1.13 and the horne of my health. A∣gaine, Dominus,* 1.14 &c. The Lod is my rocke. Againe, Deus, &c. God is my refuge & my strength. Againe, De∣us, &c. The Lord is a God of vengeaunce, the Lord is a God of iudgement.

It shall be good and profitable for vs, to followe and kéepe this order in our praiers. For it is much materi∣all and auailable, to stirre vp and quicken our mindes as we are a praieng.

The third circumstance is, that Saint Paule wisheth healthfull things to the faithfull Ephesians in Christ: to wit, (The spirit of wisedome and reuelation, and the enlightning of the eyes of their minde,) that they might knowe Christ. This circumstaunce admonisheth the mi∣nisters of the word of their dutie: namelie, that they ought not onlie to teach their hearers healthfull things, but also to wish them healthfull things.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Tim. 2. 5
• * 1.2

  Math. 7. 7 16.
• * 1.3

  Mark. 11. 24.
• * 1.4

  Luke. 11. 9.
• * 1.5

  Iohn. 14. 13 & 15. 7. & 16. 24.
• * 1.6

  Iohn. 20. 17.
• * 1.7

  Phi. 2. 7. 8.
• * 1.8

  2. Cor. 1. 3.
• * 1.9

  2. Cor. 1. 3.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 88. 1.
• * 1.11

  2. Cor. 13. 11.
• * 1.12

  Psal. 17. 1
• * 1.13

  Psal. 43. 2
• * 1.14

  Psal. 118. 14.