3. It informeth us why Satan and his wicked instruments do so hate the light, and oppose and hinder its propagation in the world, either by the preaching of the word or the lives of christians, because the works of darkness are manifested by the light. The devil maligneth the success of the gospel : 2 Cor. iv. 4, ' In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them.' The gospel layeth open the policies and impostures of Satan, by which he beguileth and circumvents souls. It is an enemy to the devil's kingdom : Eph. vi. 12, ' For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.' So for his instruments : 1 John iii. 12, ' Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him ? Because his own works were evil, and his
VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 329*
brother's righteous ; ' 1 Peter iv. 3, 4, ' For the time past of our lives may suffice us to have wrought the will of the gentiles, when we walked in lascivionsness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries. Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.' A spiritual slumber is fallen on the carnal world, and they are loath to be disturbed ; as Jonah, when the sun groweth hot, and beateth upon his head, falleth a chafing. The devil is a prince of darkness, and delighteth in darkness, and envieth to the world this blessed light and the benefit of it.
Use 2. Is exhortation, to persuade us to get light. It is a shame to be ignorant of our necessary duty. If a man be asked whether he- can paint or carve? he may answer without shame, I am ignorant; that skill is not necessary ; but if he be ignorant how to love and please and serve God, then he is brutish, like the horse or mule, that hath na understanding.
SERMON XVI.
Wherefore Tie saith, AivaJce tJiou thai steepest, and arise from the deadf and Christ shall give thee light. — Eph. v. 14.
The apostle confirmeth what he had said, that Christianity is light, by a testimony. All that are converted by God, and brought into a state of light, the doctrine they profess is light, and they are to put to shame the deeds of darkness by the light that shineth from them into the consciences of others : ' Wherefore he saith. Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.' Aa if he had said, The drift of the word of God is to call us to a timely conversion, or to awaken us from the sleep and death of sin, that he may enlighten us with the light of the gospel, and we may walk accord- ingly, and so have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
In the words we have two things — (1.) A preface ; (2.) The testi- mony produced.
1. The preface, 'Wherefore he saith.' Who saith? God in the scriptures. But where doth he say it, since we read not this sentence anywhere in so many formal and direct words ?
Ans. [1.] It may be it was some sentence of Christ then in recent memory, as that, Acts xx. 35, ' And to remember the words of our Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
[2.] It may be this is said to be the voice of God, because it is the drift of the whole scripture ; for all tendeth to this sum, that those who are asleep, and dead in sin, be stirred up to repentance, and coming to Christ by faith, that he may give them light ; that is, that they may be enlightened by his grace, and so fitted for eternal glory : Tilus ii. 11-13, ' The grace of God, that bringeth salvation, hatli
330 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XVI.
appeared to all men,' eire<^dvri hath broken out like light upon us, ' teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.'
[3.] There are some scriptures which are like it ; as Isa. ix. 2, ' The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light ; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.' This is spoken of the Messiah, who cometh to enlighten the world by the ministry of the gospel ; as it is applied, Mat. iv. 16, * The people which sat in darkness saw great light ; and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up.' Nearer yet, Isa. xxvi. 19, ' Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise : awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust.' But nearest of all, Isa. Ix. 1, ' Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee ; ' which chapter speaketh of the glorious estate of the church under the Messiah, and therefore they are exhorted to rouse up themselves, and to mind and improve the grace offered ; that is, those that live in these gospel times are in word and deed to hold forth this light and doctrine of Christ to the conversion of others.