Commentary Upon Colossians 1 and 2, Chapter 1 · Verse 5
VERSE 5. For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the Word of truth, the Goſpell.
FOr the hope.] Hope is put for the quality of hope, or the thing hoped for; we are to take it here in the latter ſenſe. Obſerve hence: Obſ. 1 What is a ſpurre quickning us to all duty, the recompence which our GOD hath in ſtore for us. Heb. 11.25, 26.Moſes choſe rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of GOD, then to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon; eſteeming the reproach of CHRIST greater riches then the treaſures of Aegypt: for he had reſpect unto the recompence of reward. We faint not, knowing that our labour is not in vaine in the Lord. If the Lord kept nothing in ſtore for us, we might thinke, as good play for nothing as worke for nothing: but no office of love, no not a Cup of cold water ſhall goe unrequited. How doth this provoke to obedience? but we muſt not hence thinke wee merit, and grow mercenary minded, ſerving for our Penny, not of love to our Father; for we looke not at theſe hopes, this recompence of reward, as at a thing wee are able to deſerve by our working, but as at a free gift of inheritance which GOD will give us out of his Fatherly mercy: to looke at it as deſerved wages maketh a mercenary ſervant; to eye it as a Patrimony given of grace, maketh a Child-like and free obedience. Though therefore we have not the thought of merit, yet we have this benefit by our heavenly inheritance, that it is a motive to us inviting to all duty.
We ſee hence what maketh ſuch cold working and cold devotion amongſt men, even this, Vſe 1 we ſee not the rich recompence which GOD will give, thoſe things of Grace: did wee ſee that GOD will for earthly things give us heavenly, wee would part with them, and count that dearely ſold, that were ſo given: did we ſee the harveſt of Glory, how would we willingly abide the ſweate all the day long? No, men thinke, though they will not ſay ſo, that it is in vaine to ſerve the Almighty, what profit is there?
We ſee how we may provoke our ſelves to ſuffer and doe the Lords pleaſure, Vſe 2 looke at this gracious reward; It is not a dead work to ſerve God: we are al for what wil you give me, as Peter, ſaid Lord what ſhall we have that have left all to follow thee? If thou beeſt all for what ſhalt thou have, ſee theſe hopes of eternall Glory which GOD will give thee. None payeth better wages, none like to thy GOD. I know worldly men thinke a bird in hand better then many in the wood; that they may have in hand, they onelyonly care for like prophane Eſau, eſteeming a meſſe of pottage forth with better then a Birthright; but the wiſe hearted will looke at the time to come, and eſteeme a good thing, though in reverſion, better then of a preſent trifle.
Layd up for you in heaven] Obſer. Where our riches of glory are kept for us, in the heavens. Obſ. 2 Not in the region of the ayre where birds fly, called the heaven ſometimes, nor in the ſtarry firmament, but in a place above all theſe aſpectable heavens called the higheſt heavens,Epheſ. 4. Hebt. 11. whither CHRIST aſcended. Our ſubſtance, our beſt and moſt enduring wealth, is in heaven:1 Pet. 1.4. Our inheritance, we hope for, is reſt in the heavens for us and that fitly; for where ſhould our houſe and land and treaſure, our whole patrimony be, but where our Country is, where our Father dwelleth? now GOD is our Father, and he dwelleth in heaven which is our owne Country, who are here but Pilgrims for a ſeaſon. Againe what is this hope, but the glorious life we looke for? Now where ſhould the life of the branches of a Tree be kept but where the roote is? So where ſhould our glorious life be hidde, but where CHRIST the roote of us all is with him: yea this is moſt meet and behoofefull for us: If an Engliſh man ſhould ſojourne in France a while and had great treaſure to receive, would he not chooſe rather to have it payd him at the Exchange in his owne Country then to have it there, farre from his home, and ſtand to the hazard of tranſporting of it. So it fareth with us; it is ſafer that our wealth ſhould be paid us in heaven our own Country, then here where we are but ſtrangers wayfaring for a ſeaſon.
To make us ſee how ſafe our heavenly treaſure is: Vſe 1 it is where the Divell cannot come, as you have it in the parable of Dives and Lazarus: if we have worldly wealth, we count it a great benefit to have ſure cuſtody for it, where the ruſt cannot eate it, nor thiefe digge through and ſteale it; now there is no feare of that being ſafe which is kept in heaven.
This muſt make us heauenly minded: Vſe 2 rich mens mindes are all on their Coffers and Counting houſes; where the treaſure is, there will the heart be alſo: So if we have wealth in heaven, let us Converſe in heaven; Our converſation is in heaven.
This is a comfort againſt all preſent neceſſities which the Saints know: Vſe 3 though an heire know much hardſhip, yet this doth ſtay him up; well thinkes he, I ſhall come to my lands one day: Children will weare homely cloathes more contentedly, when they thinke they have better layed up in their Mothers Cheſts.
Whereof you have heard] Obſer. What bringeth us to be poſſeſſed of thoſe hopes, Obſ. 3 hearing of them by the Goſpell, that is by the glad tydings of them, which GOD doth ſend us by his meſſengers: our Saviour Ieſus Chriſt hath brought life and immortality by the Goſpell. 2 Tim. 1.10.For looke as we cannot know what is done in France till ſome come over thence and tell us the newes there: So, we cannot know what is done in heaven, till GOD ſend down the newes of it unto us; for the Goſpell is nothing but newes from heaven, touching righteouſneſſe and life eternall through faith in Chriſt Ieſus: And as when things are loſt, we cannot come by them till we have word from the Crier or others that they are found: So our life which we have all quite loſt by nature, we cannot get it againe,foreign. till GOD by his * Cryers Preachers, ſend us word of it.
To ſtirre up our attention to this word which diſcovereth ſuch wealth; Vſe 1 if one can tell us of ſome rich purchaſe at a cheape rate, of ſome gainefull bargaine, how readily will we heare on that ſide? The Goſpell telleth us of all bleſſedneſſe in this life and that to come through faith; the unſearchable riches of Chriſt, to which all the wealth in India is but droſſe and dunge:Eph. 3.8. all this is reveiled in the Goſpell.
It ſheweth us how we ſhould love the Goſpell: if a man tell us tydings of a horſe ſtrayed, we thinke our ſelves beholding to him: But this telleth us newes of ſuch heavenly things as never eye ſaw, nor eart hath heard, nor never entred into the heart of man to conceive.
In the word of truth] Obſer. laſtly from this verſe, Obſ. 4 How infallible and certaine, all the promiſes of the Goſpell are, they are a true word. The Goſpell is called ſometimes by generall names, as Law, Teſtimony, Doctrine, &c. Sometimes from the efficient, the Goſpell of GOD: Sometime from the property, a wholeſome word, a word of truth: The thinges we ſpeake of are not yea and nay, but Amen, conſtant and true: This is a true ſaying and worthy of all acceptation. 1 Tim. 1For the Goſpell is His Word who cannot lie: whoſe Knowledge, Workes, and Words are all true. Qu. But why is this called the Word of truth, when all the Word of God is true, purer then ſilver ſeven times refined? Anſw. Becauſe this is the moſt principall part of Gods Word, and therefore the common property of the Word is given it by a kinde of excellency, as we call the plague, the ſickneſſe, not that a headache is not a ſickneſſe; but it hath by a kinde of excellency the common name of all other given it, becauſe it is the chiefe of other. 2. This Goſpell was publiſhed by Ieſus Chriſt Himſelfe immediately, in His owne Perſon, who is truth it ſelfe, I am the truth. 3. It is ſo called to prevent our unbeliefe, who do with this as with other good newes; we ſay it is too good to bee true, who by nature count it to be fooliſhneſſe: the Holy Ghoſt therefore to take us by the hand, doth ſtyle it a Word of truth.
This ſerveth to ſtrengthen our faith in the particular promiſes, Vſe 1 that God aſſureth us they are truth it ſelfe: if an honeſt man as he is telling me any thing that is ſomwhat ſtrange, ſhall interlace this aſſeveration, I aſſure you that it is very true, I ſpeake no more then I know, we doe the better beleeve him in it; much more when GOD ſhall binde Himſelfe by His Word and oath and ſeale to it.
It ſheweth us the power of this Goſpell, Vſe 2 it ſhall prevaile againſt all Popery and Hereſies; Mighty is Truth, we can doe nothing againſt it but for it.
It doth convince the unbeliefe of GODS Children and the prophane ſcorne of the wicked, Vſe 3 who thinke that theſe things are but golden phancies to make fooles fond with.