Commentary Upon Colossians 1 and 2, Chapter 2 · Verse 22
VERSE 22. (Which all are to periſh with the uſing) after the commandements and doctrines of men:
THe firſt reaſon from the nature of the things: Such things as vaniſh and come to nothing, being of no uſe unto godlineſſe: ſuch you are not to uſe:
But theſe elementary ones are thus:
Ergo.
That which CHRIST ſaid of meats, they defile not a man, for they goe into the ſtomack, and ſo are carried into the draught, ſo paſſing away: Correſpondently to that Saint Paul ſeemeth to ſay; Theſe things periſh in the uſing of them.
Obſerve then firſt; Doct. That theſe bodily obſervations profit nothing. Which muſt not be ſo taken, as if due faſting,1 Tim. 4.8. and ſober uſe of the creatures, were of no uſe to godlineſſe; but to doe thoſe things, not as uſing them in holy wiſedome to ſome end, but as reſting in the things themſelves once performed, as which for themſelves pleaſe GOD, or to uſe outward rites to ſuch ends which GOD hath not ſanctified them unto, all ſuch cuſtomes have no profit to godlineſſe; either to uſe meanes unto godlineſſe, as if they were a part of godlineſſe themſelves, or to uſe ſuch meanes which are not ſanctified of God to any ſuch perſon, is bodily exerciſe, utterly unprofitable.
Let us then learne to ſee the Popiſh religion what it is, Vſe their ſprinkling aſhes on their heads, as on Aſhwedneſday, their carrying Palme branches, Proceſſions, their difference of meats: for though faſting is a meane, yet choice of ſome meats before other; yea, of milke, of wine, junkets, this is no meane of mortification: their ſinging of Maſſe, Pilgrimages, Incenſe, &c. all theſe are bodily things of no profit.
Let us learne hence, leſſe to ſtand on outward obſervances, and more to affect the power of godlineſſe, which is profitable for every thing.
And doctrines of men] Obſerve, Doct. That wee are not to give credence to any thing which is taught without warrant of Gods Word: This is gathered out of the Context; Why are you enjoyned ſuch things as are after mens doctrines? though the manner of our teaching be humane, that is ſuch as is ſubject to errour; yet the matter we teach muſt be out of God's Word, or it is not to be received: yet this is to be underſtood ſo, that we muſt not exclude whatſoever is not in the Word of God from finding any manner of beliefe: for though no humane doctrines muſt come into our Creed, that is our divine faith which reſpecteth God's revelation onelyonly; yet we may have an humane perſwaſion, and opinion of many things which we finde not in the Word expreſſed: this Saint Paul teacheth, when he teacheth us to anathematize or accurſe what is taught beſides the Goſpell.
This ſerveth to confute the Papiſts, whoſe doctrine hath a whole Creed, as it were, of unwritten verities, by ſome of themſelves no leſſe is confeſſed; as Peter à Soto, acknowledging all for Apoſtolicall traditions, whoſe authors cannot be found, reckoneth theſe for examples, the Maſſe, Chryſme, calling on Saints, Prayer for the dead, the Biſhop of Romes Primacie, the conſecrating of the water in Baptiſme, Confirmation, the Sacraments of Orders, Matrimony, Penance, Extreme Vnction, Merits, Satisfactions; Auricular Confeſſion; ſet Faſts, worſhipping Images; beſides ſome above named, the Churches Precepts, with the Communion in one kinde, Conſecration of oyle in Baptiſme, adoration of Bread, or Hoaſt, Private Maſſe, Purgatory, Indulgences: Peraſius addeth, Par. 3. Prieſts ſingle life: but theſe mint-maſters of doctrines ſhall one day beare their judgement.
It muſt teach us to be wiſe Bereans, to examine by the written Word what is taught, to account that with Ierome vaine garrulity, which is taught as matter of faith without the Scriptures authority.