It cannot be denied, but that the design of the Apostle from the beginning of this Chapter, unto the end of Ver. 11. is to declare the way whereby lost and condemned sinners come to be delivered, and translated out of that condition into an estate of acceptance with God, and eternal Salvation thereon. And therefore in the first place, he fully describeth their natural state, with their being obnoxious unto the wrath of God thereby. For such was the method of this Apostle, unto the Declaration of the Grace of God in any kind, he did usually, yea, constantly premise the consideration of our sin, misery, and ruin. Others now like not this method so well. Howbeit this hinders not, but that it was his. Unto this purpose he declares unto the Ephesians, That they were dead in trespasses and sins, expressing the power that sin had on their Souls, as unto Spiritual life, and all the actions of it; but withal that they lived and walked in sin, and on all accounts were the children of wrath, or subject and liable unto eternal condemnation, Ver. 1, 2, 3. What such persons can do towards their own deliverance, there are many terms found out to express, all passing my understanding, seeing the entire design of the Apostle is to prove, that they can do nothing at all. But another cause, or other causes of it, he finds out, and that in direct express opposition unto any thing that may be done by our selves unto that end. [Greek or Hebrew], Ver. 4. It is not a work for us to undertake; it is not what we can contribute any thing unto: But God, who is rich in mercy. The adversative includes an opposition, unto every thing on our part, and encloseth the whole work to God. Would Men have rested on this Divine Revelation, the Church of God had been free from many of those perverse opinions and wrangling disputes, which it hath ⟨p. 518⟩been pestered withal. But they will not so easily part with thoughts of some kind of interest in being the Authors of their own happiness. Wherefore two things we may observe in the Apostles assignation of the causes of our deliverance from a state of sin, and acceptance with God.
It cannot be denied, but that the design of the Apostle from the beginning of this Chapter, unto the end of Ver. 11. is to declare the way whereby lost and condemned sinners come to be delivered, and translated out of that condition into an estate of acceptance with God, and eternal Salvation thereon. And therefore in the first place, he fully describeth their natural state, with their being obnoxious unto the wrath of God thereby. For such was the method of this Apostle, unto the Declaration of the Grace of God in any kind, he did usually, yea, constantly premise the consideration of our sin, misery, and ruine. Others now like not this method so well. Howbeit this hinders not, but that it was his. Unto this purpose he declares unto the Ephesians, That they were dead in trespasses and sins, expressing the power that sin had on their Souls, as unto Spiritual life, and all the actions of it; but withal that they lived and walked in sin, and on all accounts were the children of wrath, or subject and liable unto eternal condemnation, Ver. 1, 2, 3. What such persons can do towards their own deliverance, there are many terms found out to express, all passing my understanding, seeing the intire design of the Apostle is to prove, that they can do nothing at all. But another cause, or other causes of it, he finds out, and that in direct express opposition unto any thing that may be done by our selves unto that end. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Ver. 4. It is not a work for us to undertake; it is not what we can contribute any thing unto: But God, who is rich in mercy. The adversative includes an opposition, unto every thing on our part, and incloseth the whole work to God. Would Men have rested on this Divine Revelation, the Church of God had been free from many of those perverse opinions and wrangling disputes, which it hath ⟨p. 518⟩been pestered withal. But they will not so easily part with thoughts of some kind of interest in being the Authors of their own happiness. Wherefore two things we may observe in the Apostles assignation of the causes of our deliverance from a state of sin, and acceptance with God.
