Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6:1

IN the Lord] namely, for the love of him and to obey his commandments, whence followeth that this obedience is restrained within the limets of such things as are conformable to Gods will.

Ephesians 6:2

With promise] namely, with a proper and speciall promise.

Ephesians 6:4

Of the Lord] namely Christian admonition, according to the rules given in Christs Gospell.

Ephesians 6:5

According to] namely, your corporeall and worldly masters As unto] making account of doing Christ your Soveraigne Lord service, who hath set you in that calling, and will be served by you in it. See upon Ephes. 5. 22.

Ephesians 6:6

Eye-service] namely, by outward action, and seeming onely without any affection or sinceritie of heart, or onely whilest you are in your masters presentes.

Ephesians 6:9

Threatning] all kinde of harsh, and inhumane, and fierce way of commanding.

Ephesians 6:10

In the Lord] by the communion which you have with him by faith, desiring and drawing from him all such strength as is needfull for you.

Ephesians 6:11

Armour] namely, the whole furniture of Christian vertues, all the means which God hath appointed to keep you from the devils temptations To stand] namely, to be Conquerours; the action and posture of a Conquerour being to stand upon his feet, whereas the conquered are thrown upon the ground.

Ephesians 6:12

Flesh and blood] namely, against any bodily or humane power Principalities] hereby are meant evil angels, who in the qualitie of their nature, and in the power that God suffereth them to have over the world, have also something common with the holy Angels in the eminency of these titles, see Romans 8:38. Colossians 2:15. The darknesse] namely, of the state of ignorance, of sin, of death, of confusion, which reigneth in the world In high places] the Italian, in heavenly places; this may be understood of that region of the air in which evill spirits do wander which are driven out of Heaven, and where they lie in wait and assault the Church, Ephes. 2. 2. But it seems that it might better have a relation to that Christ having obtained a great victory over the devill in Heaven, Luke 10:18. Revelation 12:7. the battell may be called heavenly, and the combats of the faithfull are but onely as pursuits and reliques of that battell.

Ephesians 6:13

Evil day] namely, in the time of greatest temptation To stand] to be conquerours.

Ephesians 6:14

Girt about] the girdle which bindes the body and strengthens it, is taken in Scripture for a signe of strength and vigour, Job 12:21. Isai. 5. 27. and 22. 21 Dan 5:6. And in this sence the Apostle means that truth and loialty is that which maketh a man sound in all his ac〈…〉ns, whereas there is nothing more base nor remisse in a strong triall then hypocrisie.The breast-plate] for the onely defence of your heart have an upright conscience.

Ephesians 6:15

Your feet shod] being by means of meditating upon the Gospell, which is the doctrine of our peace with God well prepared; and as one should say, our legs well armed, and our feet strongly shod, so that we may be able to passe and trample over all the lets of the world, and finish the course of our heavenly vocation without any spirituall hurt.

Ephesians 6:16

The fiery dars] the most dangerous trials of incredulity, diffidence, and despair.

Ephesians 6:17

And take] apply unto your selves by faith and hope the salvation acquired by Christ, by vertue of which ye may also be saved, and raise up your selves being Conquerours in the battell which you have yet to fight Of the Spirit] that is to say, The spirituall word which the holy Ghost hath forged and putteth it into beleevers hands, and is of a divine strength and temper, to pierce and overthrow the enemie, see 2 Corinthians 10:4.

Ephesians 6:18

In the Spirit] by a divine motion being driven by it, Romans 8:25.

Ephesians 6:19

That I may opn] namely, with a holy liberty and boldnesse.

Ephesians 6:21

In the Lord] namely, in the Lords work: or who in the communion of Gods Church holds this sacred degree, 1 Corinthians 4:17.