After the salutation,

and thankesgiving for the Ephesians,

he treateth of our Election,

and Adoption by grace,

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE

TO THE EPHESIANS

CHAPTER I

JAUL an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God, to the Saincts which are at Ephesus, and to the faithfull in Christ Iesus. Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that wee should bee holy, and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Iesus Christ to himselfe, according to the good pleasure of his will: to the praise of the glorie of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved: in whom wee have redemption through his blood, the forgivenesse of sinnes, according to the riches of his grace, wherein hee hath abounded toward us in all wisedome and prudence: having made knowen unto us the mysterie of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he had purposed in himselfe, that in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him: in whom true and proper also we have obteined an inheritance, being predestinated accordfountaine of mans salvation. ing to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsell of his owne will: that we should be to the praise of his glorie, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of trueth, the Gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that yee beleeved, yee were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, untill the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glorie. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord they may come Iesus, and love unto all the Saints, cease not to give thankes for

which is the

And because

the height of this mysterie

cannot easily be atteined unto,

he praieth that

CHAPTER
I

and

you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glorie, may give unto you the Spirit of wisedome and revelation in the knowledge of him: the to the full eyes of your understanding being inlightned: that yee may know knowledge, what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glorie of his inheritance in the Saints: and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who beleeve, according to the working of his mightie power: which he wrought in Christ when he possession raised him from the dead, and set him at his owne right hand in thereof in the heavenly places, farre above all principalitie, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not onely in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feete, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all.

Christ.

CHAPTER II

AND

ND you hath hee quickned who were dead in trespasses, and By comparsinnes, wherein in time past ye walked according to the ing what we were by course of this world, according to the prince of the power

of the aire, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in times nature, with past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and what we are of the minde, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others but God who is rich in mercie, for his great love wherewith hee loved us, even when wee were dead in sinnes, hath by grace: quickned us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Iesus: that in the ages to come, hee might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindenesse towards us, through Christ Iesus. For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of your selves: it is the gift of God: not of workes, lest any man should boast. For wee are his work emanship, He declareth, created in Christ Iesus unto good workes, which God hath before that wee are made for good ordeined, that we should walke in them. Wherefore remember workes; and that ye being in time passed Gentiles in the flesh, who are called beeing brought uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the neere by Christ, flesh made by hands, that at that time yee were without Christ, as Gentiles, and being aliens from the common wealth of Israel, and strangers from forreiners in time past, but as the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now in Christ Iesus, ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For hee is our peace, who 6: PP

297

should not live

CHAPTER
II

citizens with

the Saints, and the family of God.

The hidden mysterie,

that the Gentiles should

be saved,

was made

knowen to Paul

And to him

hath made both one, and hath broken downe the middle wall of partition betweene us: having abolished in his flesh the enmitie, even the Lawe of Commandements conteined in Ordinances, for to make in himselfe, of twaine, one newe man, so making peace. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the crosse, having slaine the enmitie thereby, and came, and preached peace to you, which were afarre off, and to them that were nigh. For through him wee both have an accesse by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore yee are no more strangers and forreiners; but fellow citizens with the Saints, and of the houshold of God, and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God thorow the Spirit.

F°

:

CHAPTER III

OR this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Iesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation hee made knowen unto me the mysterie, (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby when ye reade, ye may understand my knowledge in the mysterie of Christ.) Which in other ages was not made knowen unto the sonnes of men, as it is now reveiled unto by revelation: his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles should be fellow heires, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ, by the Gospel: whereof I was made a Minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto mee, by the effectuall working of his power. Unto mee, who am lesse then the least of all Saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see, what is the fellowship of the mysterie, which from the beginning of the world, hath bene hid in God, who created all things by Iesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be knowen by the church, the manifold wisedome of God, according to the eternall purpose which he purposed in Christ Iesus our Lord: in whom we have boldnesse and accesse, with confidence, by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that yee faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you according to

was that grace
given, that
he should
preach it.

He desireth

them not to faint for his tribulation,

and praieth,

CHAPTER

III

the riches of his glory, to bee strengthened with might, by his Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that yee being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: and to know the love of Christ, which passeth that they may knowledge, that yee might bee filled with all the fulnesse of God. perceive the Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all Christ tothat wee aske or thinke, according to the power that worketh in us, ward them. unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Iesus, throughout all ages, world without end.

I

Amen.

CHAPTER IIII

great love of

THEREFORE the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that yee He exhorteth walke worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with to unitie, all lowlinesse and meekenesse, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love. Endevouring to keepe the unitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one Faith, one Baptisme, one God and Father of all, who is above all,

and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given and declareth grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore that God he saith:

When he ascended up on high, he led captivitie captive,

And gave gifts unto men.

therefore giveth divers

(Now that he ascended, what is it but that hee also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended, is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, Apostles: and some, gifts unto men, Prophets: and some, Evangelists: and some, Pastors, and teachers that his Church for the perfecting of the Saints, for the worke of the ministerie, for might be the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unitie edified, and of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ that we hencefoorth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and caried about with every winde of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftinesse, whereby they lye in waite to deceive but speaking the trueth in love, may grow up into him in all things which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole growen up body fitly ioyned together, and compacted by that which every in Christ. ioynt supplyeth, according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of it selfe in love. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord, that

CHAPTER
IIII

He calleth them

from the impuritie of the Gentiles.

new man.

To cast of lying, and

yee henceforth walke not as other Gentiles walke in the vanitie of their minde, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindnesse of their heart: who being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousnesse, to worke all uncleannesse with greedinesse. But ye have not so learned Christ: if so be that ye have heard him, and have bene taught by him, as the trueth is in Iesus, that yee put off concerning the former conversation, the olde man, which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts: and To put on the bee renewed in the spirit of your minde: and that yee put on that new man, which after God is created in righteousnesse, and true holinesse. Wherefore putting away lying, speake every man trueth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry and sinne not, let not the Sunne go down upon your wrath : neither give place to the devill. Let him that stole, steale no more: but rather let him labour, working with his handes the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceede out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby yee are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitternes, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evill speaking, be put away from you, with all malice, and bee ye kinde one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you.

corrupt communication.

After generall exhortations, to love,

to flie fornication,

and all uncleannesse,

not to converse with the wicked,

BE

CHAPTER V

E ye therefore followers of God, as deare children. And walke in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himselfe for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour; but fornication and all uncleannesse, or covetousnesse, let it not be once named amongst you, as becommeth Saints neither filthinesse, nor foolish talking, nor iesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thankes. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor uncleane person, nor covetous man who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ, and of God. Let no man deceive you with vaine words for because of these things commeth the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Bee not yee therefore partakers with them. For yee were sometimes darkenesse, but now are yee light in the Lord: walke as children of light, (for the fruite of the spirit is in all goodnesse and right