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.

2. Verse.

Grace be vvith you, & peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.

Grace bee with you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.

THis desire or well wishing of the Apostle, comprehen∣deth a summarie of the benefits of the Gospell. First he wisheth vnto the Ephesians Gods grace: which signi∣fieth vnto vs, as well the free good will of God, as also euerie gift whatsoeuer is giuen vs of God. Secondly hée wisheth peace vnto them, that is to say, reconciliation or

attonement of our selues with God: he wisheth likewise vnto them such things as are ioined with this reconci∣liation: namely, the ioy of spirit, and a quiet conscience.

Now, from whence this grace and peace procéedeth, & by whom we possesse them, the Apostle declareth, when he saith (From God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.) From God the Father, as from the beginning & fountain: & from y^e Lord Iesus Christ, as frō y^e Mediatour. For as the Father is the fountaine of all graces: so the sonne is both the matter & merit of all grace & peace. Héere therefore, euen in the verie enterance of this Epistle, all merits of men, and all dreames of Monks, touching their traditiōs, all their Merita congrui, digni & condig••••: that is, of congruitie & worthinesse, &c. are put to silence. For so often as grace is preached so often are the merits of men ouerthrowne and condemned. For how can that be of merit, which is of grace? For that saieng of the holie Ghost standeth vnremouable, Si ex gratia, non ampliùs ex operibus:* 1.1 alioqui gratia non est gratia, &c. If it be of grace, it is no more of works, or else were grace no more grace. But if it be of works, it is no more grace, or else were worke no more worke. The Apostle, in this place doth so oppose and set grace and worke one against the other, that both of them can by no meanes be attributed to one selfe same third thing, neither yet the one ascribed to the other.

Moreouer, this well wishing doth teach vs, that we can obtaine no good thing at Gods hand, but that which procéedeth from God, by and through our Lorde Iesus Christ. Saint Paule therefore sendeth vs to the Well head of all goodnesse, and there withall requireth faith, which is the bucket, whereby wee drawe all good∣nesse out of this Well head. For as the foundation of this grace and peace, is the good will of God, and his fa∣therly loue, in hauing compassion of man: so man is the marke or ende wherevnto this foundation is referred,

but yet by faith. For faith is the instrument, whereby this grace and reconciliation offered vnto vs, is receiued, and possessed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 11. 6