Ephesians 6

It is the espousing incorporating grace, it gives us coalition and union with Christ's person; other graces make us like Christ, faith makes us members of Christ. 1. Use of Exhortation: Let us above all things labor for faith: Fides est sanctissimum humani pectoris bonum (Ephesi…

It commends to us whatever is just, lovely, of good report (Philippians 4:8). This sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) cuts down vice. Out of this tower of Scripture is thrown down a millstone upon the head of sin.

1. In General. Masters must remember that they have a Master in Heaven, who will call them to account (Ephesians 6:9). Knowing, that your Master is also in Heaven.

Response 1. If you would have your children honor you, 1. Be careful to bring them up in the fear and nurture of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Bring them up in the admonition of the Lord.

John 3:15. That whoever believes in him should not perish. Ephesians 6:16. 〈in non-Latin alphabet〉, Above all taking the shield of faith. Say as Queen Esther, I will go in to the King, and if I perish I perish.

You desire truth in the inward parts. Sincerity is the sauce which seasons all our actions, and makes them savory; it is the ingredient into every grace: It is called faith unfeigned (2 Timothy 1:5), and love [illegible] in sincerity (Ephesians 6:24). Coin will not go current th…

We must love our neighbors as ourselves; therefore we must pray for them as well as for ourselves. Every good Christian has a fellow-feeling of the wants and miseries of others, and he prays that God would extend his bounty to them; especially he prays for the saints (Ephesians…

What balances these persons have got, to weigh these loves in, and to conclude which is the greatest or most weighty, I know not. Although only the actual discharge of his Office be directly assigned to the love of Christ, yet his condescension in taking our nature upon him expr…

(2) Hebrews 13:17; 1 Corinthians 16:16. (3) Ephesians 6:18, 19; Colossians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Colossians 4:17. (4) Galatians 6:6; 1 Corinthians 9:14.

Quest. 52. Wherein consists the duty of any Church of Christ towards other Churches? Answ. (1) In walking circumspectly, so as to give them no offence. (2) In prayer for their peace and prosperity. (3) In communicating supplyes to their wants according to ability. (4) In receivi…

Q. What is the Church militant? A. It is that part of the catholic Church which is warring and fighting here on earth against spiritual enemies, the devil, the world and the flesh (Ephesians 6:12; Philippians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Timothy 1:18). Q. And what is the Church T…

Q. What is the special rule according to which the life of a christian ought to be framed? A. The life of a christian ought to be framed according to the moral Law of God (Romans 13:8, 9; Ephesians 6:2, 3; James 2:8). Q. How may that be further cleared?

There must be particular selected remedies to heal these wounds, because they are usually of a differing nature. For some objections Satan has devised that the most learned men never met with in books, and Satan has devised methods of tempting deserted souls (Ephesians 6) which…

Thus far our own hearts, upon the Holy Ghost's deserting, become authors to us of this darkness. But herein believers wrestle not alone with flesh and blood and the darkness thereof, but do further conflict also with those spiritual wickednesses, the princes of darkness (Ephesia…

It is his trade; therefore as men are called lawyers or divines from their calling, so he is called the tempter and the accuser from his employment. And by this his long experience and observation he has his set and composed machinations (2 Corinthians 2:11), his methods of temp…

And further, because in these accusations his scope is to misrepresent our estates to us and falsely to disquiet us, therefore he is yet more especially called 'the slanderer' — as one that falsely and lyingly calumniates and slanders all our graces, all God's dealings toward us…

Therefore (1 Thessalonians 3:5) the apostle was jealous of Satan in nothing more than in this, lest he had been dealing and tampering with and perverting their faith: 'I sent to know of your faith, lest by some means the tempter has tempted you.' For faith in God is the greatest…

And so in this place, Moses' parents feared not the King's commandment; that is, they did not fear it overmuch, or wholly, or only, or so much as others did in the like case. Here then first we may learn, how far forth we must obey superiors and magistrates; we must obey them, n…

Now when we die, we are to encounter with this hideous and fearful serpent. He is fearful every way, but especially for his sting; that sting is our sin: and this sting is not taken away, nor the force of it quenched, but by true faith, which quenches all the fiery darts of the…

Is it not a greater privilege for an infant to be born of a believer, than to be born of a Jew, a Turk, or a heathen? Yes; for the children born of believers are brought up in holy instruction, and education from their childhood (as young Timothy was taught in the Scriptures fro…

Neither will the first compleat our interest in that body without the latter. Hence are they frequently conjoyned by our Apostle, not only as those which are necessary to, but as those which essentially constitute the union of the whole mystical body and communion therein (Galat…

The great use, benefit and advantage which believers have by this grace, is the supporting of their souls under the troubles and difficulties which they meet withal upon the account of the profession of what they do believe (Romans 5:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 15:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:…

(1.) That they prepare themselves for it (1 Corinthians 9:25): self-denial, and readiness for the cross, contempt of the world, and the enjoyments of it, are this preparation; without this we shall never be able to go through with this conflict. (2.) A vigorous acting of all gra…

But the sufferings of our Apostle in this kind of bonds and imprisonment were peculiar above any other Apostles whatever. Hence he styles himself in particular (Philemon 1) the bondman for Christ, and gloried in his bonds as his peculiar honor (Acts 26:29), an Ambassador in bond…

1 Timothy 1:14: he that believes, he also loves: as soon as a man has a sight of Christ, he falls in love with him: he is altogether lovely: as soon as the grace of God that brings salvation does appear to the soul, it does unite the heart to him, by love. Ephesians 6:23: Peace…

And when the Holy Ghost says, that they must take heed to themselves and to all the flock (Acts 20:28), and that they must watch for their souls, as they that must give account (Hebrews 13:17), to say, that these souls, and this flock, are only such as are in full communion, and…

He durst not say so, his fall broke the neck of his pride. 2. The foiling by a temptation, causes more circumspection and watchfulness in a child of God: Though Satan did before decoy him into sin, yet for the future he will be the more cautious, he will have a care of coming wi…

And here all governors must be put in mind that they have a higher Lord, that they may not oppress or deal hardly with their inferiors. This is Paul's reason, Ye masters, says he, do the same things to your servants, putting away threatening: and know that even your master is al…

By it Moses stood in the breach, which God's wrath had made into the people of Israel, and stayed the same, Psalms 106:23. By this, Christian men fight as valiant champions against their own corruptions, and all other spiritual enemies, Ephesians 6:18. Infinite were it to show h…

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: Second…

6. A righteous man has more excellent armor; namely, the armor of light (Romans 13:12). This is armor of God's making (Ephesians 6:16), and the Lord with his armor gives strength. Alexander might give a coward his armor, but he could not give him his courage; but God infuses a s…

2. It noteth a pious care to perform God's revealed Will; they that out of a sense of his love resign up themselves to do his Will, are called his servants; so he that is called in the Lord, whether he be bond or free, is said to be Christ's servant (1 Corinthians 7:22). So godl…

I hope I can say, and I am sure some of you have acknowledged, that I came at first among you as the return and answer of your prayers: and indeed so it should be (see Luke 10:2). I am persuaded also I have been carried on in my work by your prayers — it is sweet when it is so (…

You cannot touch any extreme without being touched by that enemy, whose greatest advantages lie in assaulting you there. Satan is called the ruler of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6:12) — that is, his kingdom is supported by darkness. Now there is a twofold darkness whic…

Consider also, that prayer is a worthy means of defence, not only to us, but also to the Church, and them that are absent. By it Moses stood in the breach, which God's wrath had made into the people of Israel, and stayed the same (Psalm 106:23); by this Christian men fight, as v…

To prove by the Spirit, or spiritually the persons that are to be made Ministers or Bishops, is to have their names revealed to us. Stephen is said to speak [in non-Latin alphabet], Acts 6:10, and Paul purposed [in non-Latin alphabet], Acts 19:21, and we are said to serve God [i…

Againe the Scripture noteth him, to be a powerfull spirit, whose strength farre exceedeth and surpasseth the might of any man or creature, that is not of an Angelical nature, as himselfe is. For he is tearmed a Prince of the aire, and the god of this world, his power reacheth ev…

Fourthly, by prouocation: thus they sin that prouoke others to sin, and hereof Paul speaks when he says, Fathers must not prouoke their children to wrath. Eph. 6. 4. Fiftly, by negligence, when men are called to reprooue sin, and doe not.

Here is forbidden the least remission or weakness (Revelation 2:4). Uprightness is, when the affection loves, desires, etc. in a single heart, only because God commands, and for that end; this is called simplicity, truth, a single heart (Deuteronomy 18:13; John 1:17; Ephesians 6…

1 Timothy 5:8: If one care not for his own, especially those of his house — which shows an especial rule of mutual duty between these two. Also the wisdom of the holy Ghost, in setting down mutual duties to them: Proverbs 31; Ephesians 6:2: Honor your father and your Mother, whi…

And therefore the exercise of faith is to be continued in the use making of this offering, in reference to these particulars, as well as in reference to the making of our peace with God at first. In which respect, faith is called a shield (Ephesians 6:16). When new guilt is cont…

The Devil, and Satan, and his Angels, were cast out (verse 7). The Dragon and his Angels fought with Michael; and he has Legions garrisoned in one poor man, he has kept the fields above these five thousand years, with a huge and mighty army, both by Sea, and Land (Ephesians 6:12…

1. That our deliverance from sin in Christ is, in a devilish and hellish spirituality (as Calvin speaks); as that wicked Priest Anto Pocquius said, was in judging neither murders, adulteries, perjury, lying, oppression, to be sins, when once the pardoned and justified person com…

Not to walk in darkness, nor hate our brother (1 John 2:8, 9), for this is the new commandment. And that the Gospel has commandments is clear (Matthew 15:3; John 15:12; Romans 16:6; Ephesians 6:2; 1 Timothy 1:1; the holy commandment, 2 Peter 2:21; 1 John 3:23; Revelation 22:14;…

Many occasions and temptations may meet with us in the world, temptations from Satan, as well as from the world (1 John 2:14). And if a man have strong enemies, he will stand in need of a strong faith, to cut asunder all the fiery darts of the Devil (Ephesians 6:16). Above all t…

Consider therefore, God marks the very bent of my soul, and desire in every petition I put up, and therefore observing what I desire, he will accordingly grant either the thing I desire according to my desire, or that which I aim at in my desire, and this is a glory to the name…

And here are two things whereby we overcome. 1. By Scripture, the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and (1 John 2:14): The Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one. It is good to have the Word of God abide in our memories, but chiefly…

Indeed Paul goes higher, and calls him the god of this world, (2 Corinthians 4:4) In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them, which believe not: but this is by usurpation not just right. And the devils are called (Ephesians 6:12) the rulers of the darkness of th…

2. He cites Scripture, and thereby teaches that the word of God laid up in the heart and used pertinently will ward off the blows of every temptation. This weapon Christ used all along with success, and therefore it is well called the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). It is…

There's also Public Prayer, Family Prayer, and Closet Prayer. Now a Christian must pray with all prayer and supplication (Ephesians 6:18). The last, is here insisted on.