An expositon of all St. Pauls epistles together with an explanation of those other epistles of the apostles St. James, Peter, John & Jude : wherein the sense of every chapter and verse is analytically unfolded and the text enlightened. / David Dickson ...

The Second Part.

Verse 18. Wives, submit your selves unto your own Husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

The Other part of the Chapter follows, containing spe∣cial Exhortations to all degrees in a Family; The Ex∣hortations are five.

Exhort. 1. Is to Wives, with whom hee begins, be∣cause their condition is harder and more difficult than mens, and therefore it is no wonder if God speak first to them: Hee requires of them, that they bee subject to their own Husbands, i. e. that they give them obedience, honour, and reverence, but with a limitation, in the Lord, that their obedience bee in things lawful, and for the command of the Lord, to whom Wives are first sub∣ject, and do owe obedience.

As it is fit] The Argument of the Exhortation is from equity and comeliness, for what is commanded is fitting from divine Ordination, and from the Law of Na∣ture.

Vers. 19. Husbands, love your Wives, and bee not bitter against them.

Exhort. 2. To Husbands, whom hee commands in the first place, that they love their own Wives, and that with a singular and holy affection, and to rest satisfied in one Wife: Further, hee forbids them, that they bee not bitter towards them, either in word or deeds, al∣though they bee provoked by their infirmities, but that they prudently rule them, as it becomes Husbands.

Vers. 20. Children, obey your Parents in all things▪ for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord.

Exhort. 3. To Children, with whom hee begins as before with Wives, and afterwards hee will begin with Servants, because their condition is harder, and they have need of the instruction of God, that they do that which is necessary for them to do, of their own accord, hee requires of these obedience from the heart, toward their

parents in all things, viz. which their heavenly Father hath not prohibited: The Argument of the Exhortation is this, because the performance of this duty is most ac∣ceptable unto God.

Vers. 21. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they bee discouraged.

Exhort. 4. Especially to Fathers who use to bee more severe than Mothers, That they by reproaches, injuries, and cruel chastisements do not alienate the mindes of their children from them: Besides the reasons which are contained in the relation betwixt Fathers and Children, he expresly adds this one, lest children used more severely, at length should despair of th••••r Fathers love, and so bee discouraged.

Vers. 22. Servants, obey in all things your Masters ac∣cording to the flesh: not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

Exhort. 5. To servants, wherein hee more largely in∣sists, because their condition is hardest. The ••ranches of the Exhortation are six: In the first, hee mitigates the condition of servitude, from this, that it onely be∣longs to the carnal duties of this life, and doth not infer any necessity of obeying in things unlawful. In the second, hee commands, that they obey and serve in all things lawfull, even when the commands are hardest. 3. That they do that sincerely and faithfully, not onely in the sight of their Masters, but also when they are absent, lest they bee accused of negligence. 4. That they in sincerity of heart serve in the fear of the Lord.

Vers. 23. And whatsoever yee do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.

5. That in all service the outward action draws its o∣riginal from the minde, and more inward affections, from whence the outward action may bee derived.

6. That they acknowledge the authority of God in the commands of their Masters, and that they do the will of God, whilst they perform the will of their Ma∣sters.

Vers. 24. Knowing, that of the Lord yee shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for yee serve the Lord Christ.

The Arguments of the Exhortation are four: 1. Be∣cause God will give them a better reward, than their Masters agree with them for, or can give them, viz. Life eternal, for a free inheritance.

For] Arg. 2. Because they may bee certain of a free reward, from this, that they serve Christ, who cannot neglect his servants.

Vers. 25. But hee that doth wrong, shall receive for the wrong which hee hath done; and there is no respect of persons.

Arg. 3. Because God will revenge injuries done to servants by their Masters, and also the injuries of ser∣vants against Masters, unless they submit themselves to this precept.

There is] Arg. 4. Confirming the former, because God neither accepteth the person of the Master, nor the servant, in judging, but exercises his justice in punishing evils.