Chapter V
1 Be ye therefore followers - Imitators. Of God - In forgiving
and loving. O how much more honourable and more happy, to be an imitator
of God, than of Homer, Virgil, or Alexander the Great!
3 But let not any impure love be even named or heard of among
you - Keep at the utmost distance from it, as becometh saints.
4 Nor foolish talking - Tittle tattle, talking of nothing, the
weather, fashions, meat and drink. Or jesting - The word properly means,
wittiness, facetiousness, esteemed by the heathens an half - virtue. But
how frequently even this quenches the Spirit, those who are tender of conscience
know. Which are not convenient - For a Christian; as neither increasing
his faith nor holiness.
6 Because of these things - As innocent as the heathens esteem
them, and as those dealers in vain words would persuade you to think them.
8 Ye were once darkness - Total blindness and ignorance. Walk
as children of light - Suitably to your present knowledge.
9 The fruit of the light - Opposite to " the unfruitful works
of darkness," Eph 4:11. Is in - That is, consists in. Goodness and righteousness
and truth - Opposite to the sins spoken of, Eph 4:25,&c.
11 Reprove them - To avoid them is not enough.
12 In secret - As flying the light.
13 But all things which are reproved, are thereby dragged out
into the light, and made manifest - Shown in their proper colours, by the
light. For whatsoever doth make manifest is light - That is, for nothing
but light, yea, light from heaven, can make anything manifest.
14 Wherefore he - God. Saith - In the general tenor of his word,
to all who are still in darkness. Awake thou that steepest - In ignorance
of God and thyself; in stupid insensibility. And arise from the dead -
From the death of sin. And Christ shall give thee light - Knowledge, holiness,
happiness.
