Ephesians

While Paul was prisoner at Rome, there entered in among the Ephesians false teachers, who corrupted the true doctrine which he had taught them, by reason whereof he wrote this Epistle to confirm them in that thing, which they had learned of him. And first after his salutation, he assureth them of salvation, because they were thereunto predestinate by the free election of God, before they were born, and sealed up to this eternal life by the holy Ghost, given unto them by the Gospel, the knowledge of the which mystery he prayeth God to confirm toward them. And to the intent they should not glory in themselves, he sheweth them their extreme misery, wherein they were plunged before they knew Christ, as people without God, Gentiles to whom the promises were not made, and yet by the free mercy of God in Christ Jesus, they were saved, and he appointed to be their Apostle, as of all other Gentiles: therefore he desireth God to lighten the Ephesians' hearts with the perfect understanding of his Son, and exhorteth them likewise to be mindful of so great benefits, neither to be moved with the false apostles, which sought to overthrow their faith, and tread under foot the Gospel, which was not preached to them, as by chance or fortune, but according to the eternal counsel of God: who by this means preserveth only his Church. Therefore the Apostle commendeth his ministry, forasmuch as God thereby reigneth among men, and causeth it to bring forth most plentiful fruits, in innocency, holiness, with all such offices appertaining to godliness. Last of all, he declareth not only in general what ought to be the life of the Christians, but also sheweth particularly, what things concern every man's vocation.