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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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.

I will pray with understanding: For blind devotion is not pleasing to God: 2. A sensible feeling of our wants, we must come weary and heavy laden (Matthew 11:28). Pressed with the guilt of sin, pinched with want of grace: 3. Fervency of spirit (James 5:17), arising from a consid…

It is the praise of John the Baptist, that he was not as a reed shaken of the wind (Matthew 11:7). All believers are to stand fast in temptation, against their spiritual enemies (Ephesians 6:13), and this they shall the better do, if they be directed by the good example of their…

This being so, our duty is to guard and enclose ourselves, specially our hearts (Proverbs 4:23), and all the senses and powers of our souls (Psalm 141:3), by the wholesome precepts, and counsels of God. Considering we lie open to so many enemies, we should continually be armed a…

The time of standing, is the euill day, that is, the day of triall. Eph 6:13. And then to stand fast, is a matter of great difficultie.

The Apostle admonishes us to take heed lest we be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13), and, that we walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise (Ephesians 5:15), that we walk with a right foot (Galatians 2:14), and, make straight steps to our feet, lest th…

And he also shows further, that we shall then be well armed against all idolatries and superstitions, when we rely upon the Law of the Lord. For as Saint Paul calls the word, The sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), so also by it ought we to bring Satan and all his inventions t…

There never was a state of human society so happily constituted, that the greater part followed Christ. Those who will enlist in the cause of Christ must learn this as one of their earliest lessons, and must “put on” this “armor,” (Ephesians 6:11), that they may be steadfast in…

The first thing to be observed here is, that Christ uses Scripture as his shield: for this is the true way of fighting, if we wish to make ourselves sure of the victory. With good reason does Paul say, that, "the sword of the Spirit is the word of God," and enjoin us to "take th…

Rarely will they behold that sentiment more beautifully exemplified, Grace be to all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, (Ephesians 6:24.) Learning ought not to be a prominent feature in a work essentially popular.

It is a highly useful admonition, whenever we meet with any thing that gives us offense, to have always before our eyes the snares of Satan; as Paul also teaches, that we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual armies, (Ephesians 6:12.) The meaning of the words ther…

And therefore if you will be the true child of God, frame your mind so to serve your master, as if Christ himself were present, and commanded you every particular charge to do. For so writes Saint Paul (Ephesians 6): Servants, be obedient to them that are your Masters, according…

For this was evidently the Case with many graceless Jews, such as cried him up so high, following him Day and Night, without Meat, Drink or Sleep; such as said, Lord I will follow thee whither soever thou goest, and cried Hosanna to the Son of David. The Apostle seems to intimat…

And do not think that is enjoining you a course wholly out of your power; for though it be true, that the power of the Holy Ghost is not naturally yours, or at your dispose; yet by gracious provision and ordination it is. If it were not so, what means that exhortation, "Be stron…

For to what purpose do we desire them before we have them, rejoice in them when we have them, value them so highly, sympathize with them so tenderly, grieve for their death so excessively; if in the mean time no care be taken what shall become of them to Eternity? (2.) How God h…

Flesh and blood are no match for a spirit. "And we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). But if God makes a hedge about us, it is not in the power of all the enemies in the world, whe…

For he says that the promises made to the Patriarchs, and confirmed with an oath concerning the victory of their enemies, of the peaceableness of life, of the happy state of the kingdom, are to be understood of these enemies which are vanquished by Jesus Christ, and of the tranq…

It is by Christ himself made the instance, for the tryal of our sincerity in our Universal obedience, which gives no small honor unto it. The apostle puts great weight on the Fifth commandment, honor your father and Mother, because it is the first commandment with promise, Ephes…