Ephesians 3
These words contain two parts, a prayer, and a thanksgiving. In the prayer these points are to be marked. First, the gesture: I bow my knees, whereby Paul signifies his humble submission to God in prayer. Secondly, to whom he prays. To the father, who is described by two titles: the first, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that by nature as he is God, and as he is man by personal union. The other title: Of whom the whole family, which is in heaven and earth, is named: In which words is set down a description of the church: first it is a family, because it is the company of God's elect children under the government of one father (1 Timothy 3:15). It is called the house of God (Ephesians 2:19). They that believe are said to be of the household of God: secondly, the parts of the Catholic church are noted, namely, the saints in heaven departed, and saints living on earth: thirdly, it is said to be named of the father of Christ, because as the father of Christ is the father of this family, so also this family is called by him (Genesis 6:2; Daniel 9:[illegible]). Thirdly, the matter of the prayer stands of four most worthy points.
The first is strength to bear the cross and to resist spiritual temptations, verse 16, where the strength is set out by various arguments: First, that it is the mere gift of God, that he would grant you: Secondly, the cause of strength, by his Spirit: Thirdly, the subject or place where this strength must be, in the inner man, that is, in the whole man, so far forth as he is renewed by grace (Ephesians 6:14). The second is, the dwelling of Christ in their hearts by faith: faith is when a man being seriously humbled for his sins, is further in conscience persuaded, and resolved of the pardon of them, and of reconciliation to God. Now where this persuasion is in deed, there follows necessarily Christ's dwelling in the heart, which stands in two things: the first is, the ruling and ordering of the thoughts, affections, and desires of the heart, according to his will; as a master rules in his house: the second is the continuance of his rule. For he cannot be said to dwell in a place, who rules in it but for a day.
The third, is the knowledge and the acknowledgment of the infinite greatness of God's love in Christ, an effect of the former, verse 18, 19. The words are thus explained: Rooted and grounded. Here the love of God with which he loves the elect, is as a root and foundation of all God's benefits, election, calling, justification, and glorification. Men are rooted and grounded in love, when God's spirit assures their hearts of God's love, and does give them some inward sense and feeling of it. For then they are as it were sensibly put into the root, and laid on the foundation. With all saints: Paul desires this benefit, not only to the Ephesians, but also to all the faithful with them. What is the length, the breadth. Here is a speech borrowed from the Geometricians, and it signifies the absolute greatness or infiniteness of God's love, and that it is like a world, which for length, breadth, height, and depth, is endless. Here note the order of receiving grace. First, Christ dwells in the heart by faith. Secondly, then comes a sense and feeling of God's love, as it were by certain drops thereof. Thirdly, after this arises a plentiful knowledge, and apprehension of God's love, and as it were the pouring out of a sea into a man's heart, that for greatness has neither bottom nor bank. And know the love of Christ: these words (as I take it) are an exposition of the former: for to comprehend the love of God, is nothing else but to know the love of Christ: considering that all whom the father loves, he loves them in Christ: which passes knowledge, that is, which for the greatness of it no man can fully know.
The fourth thing is the fullness of God's graces, verse 19. Here the fullness of God, does not signify fullness of the Godhead or divine nature, but the perfection of the inner man which shall not be till after this life.
Now follows the thanksgiving, or the praise of God, verse 20, 21, containing these points. The matter of praise, his power and bountifulness, whereby he can work exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think: and both these are not only to be conceived in mind, but also may be felt in the heart, according to the power that works in us. 2. The form of praise, glory to God by Christ, as all benefits are received from the father by Christ. 3. The proper place of true praise of God, the church. 4. The continuance of his praise, through all generations for ever.
