An Exposition Upon Colossians, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 1 · Verse 18
Verse 18.
And hee is the Head of the Body, the Church; hee is the beginning and first borne of the dead, that in all things hee might hauehave the preheminence.
OVr Redeemer is described before, both in his relation to God, and to the World. In this verse, and the rest that follow to the 23. hee is described as hee stands in relation to the Church: and that two wayes. First, in relation to the whole Church, verse 18.19.20. Secondly, in relation to the Church of the Colossians, vers. 21.22.
The praise of Christ in relation to the whole Church, is first briefely propounded, and then more largely opened. It is propounded in these words. And he is the Head of the Body, the Church.] There is great oddes betweene the worlds subiection to Christ, and the Churches: for the faithfull are subiect to Christ as the members are to the Head; but the wicked are subiect as vile things vnderunder his feet aEphes. 1.22..
Great are the benefits which come to the Church from CHRIST, as her Head I instance:The benefits flow from Christ as the head of the Church. in sixe, viz. LoueLove, Simpathie, Audience, Aduocation, Vnion, and Influence. First, Infinite LoueLove: no man so loues his Wife, as Christ loues his Church bEphes. 5.27.. Secondly, Simpathie, by which Christ hath a fellow-feeling of the distresses of all his members, that which is done to them, hee takes it as done to him, whether it be good or euill cMath. 18.5. & 25.40.45. Heb 2.17. & 4.15.. Thirdly, Audience, and willing acceptance of all the desires and prayers of all his members: the Head heares for the Body. Fourthly, Aduocation, no naturall Head can so plead for his members, as doth our misticall Head for vsus. Fiftly, Vnion, wee as members, are honoured with the Vnion of Essence; in that hee hath taken our nature: with the Vnion of Office, so as the members are annoynted Kings, Priests, and Prophets, in their kinde, as well as CHRIST: and also with the Vnion of Vertue, and benefits: by which Vnion wee partake of his Righteousnesse, Holinesse, and Glory. By Vertue of this Vnion with Christ, the faithfull hauehave the euerlasting presence of Christ; to and after, the end of the World dMath. 28.. The last benefit is influence; influence I say, both of Life (for the second Adam is a quickening spirit e1 Cor. 15.) and Light, (for CHRIST is the Fountaine of all true Wisedome f1 Cor. 1.30.: the Head seeth for the Body, and the Body by, and from, the Head) and Grace, (for of his fulnesse wee receiue all grace,) and Motion: for all good desires, feelings, words, and workes, come from the working of the Head in vsus.
Our head is more glorious then all politicall heads.The politicall Head is the glory of the World; and the misticall Head is the glory of the CHVRCH: yet the misticall Head excels the politicall many wayes. For,
1. CHRIST is the Head of such as are not together in the being of Nature or Grace.
2. CHRIST is a perpetuall Head; the other is but for a time.
3. CHRIST is a Head by Influence, the other but by Gouernement.
4. CHRIST is an absolute Head; the other but subordinate to Christ, and his Vice-gerent.
That Christ might become our Head, wee must consider what hee did in fitting himselfe thereunto: and secondly, what he doth in vsus. For himselfe, hee tooke the same Nature with his Church; else had the Church beene like Nabuchadnezzars Image. Yet as hee tooke our Nature, so wee must know that he bettered it. The Head differs in worth from the Body, because therein is seated the minde, which is the noblest part of man: so in the humane Nature of Christ, dwels the Godhead bodily; and by expiation, in his owne person, Christ takes away the sinnes of the Church, which else would hauehave letted all Vnion. And lastly, hee exalted his suffering Nature, and seated himselfe aloft, as meete to hauehave the preheminence, and become Head of all the faithfull: And as the Head is there seated, so are the Members: for, 1. they are collected out of the World, by the sound of the Gospell: Let them lye hidden in the world that meane to perish with the world. 2. They are framed, formed, proportioned, and begotten, by daily hearing. 3. They are ingrafted into an vnspeakeable, and inuisible Vnion; presently in truth, afterwards in sence.
Church.] This word is diuersly accepted: it is taken sometime in euill part, for an assembly of wicked men; and so there is the Church of the malignant gPsal. 26.5. Act. 19.32.40.: sometimes for the faithfull in heauen hEphes. 5.27.: sometimes for Christians on Earth i1 Tim. 3.15. Act. 5.11.: and this not alwayes in one sence: sometimes for the Pastors of the Church, and gouernours, as some thinke, Matth. 18.17. sometimes for the People, and the Flocke k1 Pet. 5.2. Act. 20.28.: sometimes for particular Churches. And lastly, sometimes for all the Elect of God, that hauehave beene, are, or shall be: so Matth. 16.18. Ephes. 1.23. and 5.23. And so here.
lReue. 2.18 12The Church of Christ is glorious in three prayses.
1 She is One.
2 She is Holy.
3 She is Catholique.
She is One, in respect of one Head, and Seruice: in respect of one Spirit and Binder, and in respect of one Faith and Constancy in doctrine. She is Holy, by segregation from the sinnefull world, by the inchoation of the grace of Christ, and by imputation of his righteousnesse. She is Catholique, especially, in the New Testament; in respect of place, the Elect may be in any place: in respect of men, for it is gathered of all sorts of men: and in respect of Time, for it shall continue vntounto all times, euen till time be no more.
Thus of the Doctrine concerning Christ and the Church. The Vses follow.
The first Vse is for Confutation:Vses. and that three wayes.
First, in vaine doe the wicked enemies of the Church pride themselues in the greatnesse of Learning, Power, Meanes, &c. thinking to suppresse the being or glory of Christs Church on Earth; for the stone that the Builders refused, will proue the Head of the corner.
Secondly, in vaine doe the Papists goe about to maintaine their ministeriall Head; for the Church is neither without a Head, nor many-Headed. And it is absurd to excuse it, that the Pope is but a Head vnderunder Christ: for the body were monstrous that had two heads, one aboue, and another vnderunder.
Thirdly, in vaine doe carnall men plead their hopes in Christ, when they can yeeld no sound reason to proue they are Christs members. They are not members of this body vnderunder this Head, that want Faith; that hauehave not the spirit of Christ; that are not quickened with the life of Grace; that are not wrought vponupon by the word of Christ, nor built vponupon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, that feele no influence of graces from CHRIST; that want the knowledge of Prophets, or mortification of Priests, or victory ouer the World, as Kings; that eyther pride themselues in their owne ciuill righteousnesse, or can fall away wholy, and for euer.
The second Vse is for Instruction: and first, as Christ is considered to be our Head, we should
1 Pray, that God would open the eyes of our vnderstanding, that wee might with sence and affection see what the hope of our calling is mEphes. 1.19.22. &c., to become members of such a Body, vnderunder such a Head.
2 Take heed of all pollutions, that might any way tend to the dishonour of our Head, whether it be of Flesh or Spirit n2 Cor. 6..
3 Consider our place in this Body, and vnderunder this Head, and not presume to know aboue what is meet oRom. 12.4.5..
4 Vse all meanes to grow in this Body, and not pull it backe, or shame our Head by spirituall securitie, or vnprofitablenesse: and to this end wee should sticke fast to the words of the Prophets, and not suffer ourselues to be carried about by eueryevery winde of doctrine, and follow the truth in LoueLove pEphes 4.12. to 16., without pride or discord.
5 Obey as the Members doe, in Vnion with the Head by faith; in Communion with the fellow-Members by LoueLove, and with a naturall voluntarie, and not extorted obedience.
Secondly, if the CHVRCH be the Body of CHRIST, and wee Members of this Body, wee should learne to carry our selues one towards another, in all humblenesse of minde, and long-suffering, supporting one another, and keepe the bond of peace in the vnitie of the spirit qEphes. 4.2.3.4.5.. And wee should labour to profit one another with the gifts God hath bestowed vponupon vsus, that our graces, as holy oyntment, may runne downe from member to member: and all our LoueLove should be without dissimalation rRom. 12.6.9.: in giuing honour, going one before another, in as much as what honour one member receiueth, is done in some respect to all. And wee should willingly distribute to the necessities of the Saints, and reioyce with them that reioyce, and weepe with them that weepe sRom. 12.10.13.15.16., out of the Simpathy of Members: by all meanes shunning to giuegive offence in the least thing; especially not censorious, or contentious in matters of indifferencie t1 Cor. 10.24.14..
Lastly, all discontentments with our place or calling, or estimation in the body, and all contempt, or enuy, at the gifts or place of other Christians, should be banished out of our hearts v1 Cor. 12.15 22.23.26..
Thus of the excellency of Christ, in relation to the Church, as it is briefly propounded: the explication followes.
The head hath three Priuiledges, or excels all the Members in Order, Perfection, or Vertue, and Efficacie. The preheminence of Christ is three wayes considered. First, in respect of the dignitie of Order, verse 18. of order I say, toward the Members. Secondly, in respect of perfection in himselfe, in the fulnesse of grace, verse 15. Thirdly, in respect of Vertue, Efficacie, and influence toward the whole body, verse 20.
The primacie of CHRIST in order, or relation to the Members, is twofold. First, in the estate of Grace, He is the beginning. Secondly, in the respect of the state of Glory, Hee is the first begotten of the dead.
Christ is sayd to be the beginning, in three respects.Hee is the beginning.] Christ may be sayd to be the beginning, in three respects. First, as he is the first fruits, for whose sake the rest are accepted, and blessed. Secondly, as hee is the repayrer of the world, decayed by mans sinne. Thirdly, as hee is the beginning of the good things that are in the Church: hee is both the obiect and efficient cause of faith. Mortification flowes from his death, and new Obedience from his Resurrection: Iustification is wrought from his obedience.
Vses.And this shewes the miserie of all carnall men, that are not members of Christ: in respect of the life of Grace they are dead: in respect of Faith they are Infidels: in respect of Iustification they are without GOD: in respect of Repentance they walke in trespasses, and sinnes: in respect of Communion of Saints, they are strangers from the Common-wealth of Israell. There can be a beginning of no true felicitie without CHRIST. Christ is said to be the beginning of the creation of God aReuel. 3.14.: and from thence is inferred a most seuere reproofe of mans lukewarmenesse in matters of Pietie, Repentance, and Grace, vers. 15.16.17. And if Christ be the Authour and beginning of Faith and Grace, it should teach vsus to perseuere in the Faith, and contend for the truth, and keepe that is committed to vsus, with all Patience, Wisedome, and Constancy bHeb. 12.2.. And in as much as hee is Alpha, hee will be Omega: as he is the beginning, so he will be the end; and therefore blessed are they that doe his Commandements. And let him that is righteous be righteous still: and let prophane men, that will not by Faith and Repentance seeke vntounto Christ, be filthy still cReuel. 22.11.13.14..
Th… first begotten of the dead.] Christ, as head of the Church, holds his relation both to the liuing, as their beginning, and to the dead as their first begotten.
There is a threefold primogeniture of Christ: Hee is the first begotten. First, in respect of eternall generation; as he is the Sonne of God. Of this before. Secondly, as hee is borne of the Virgin Mary; for shee is said to bring forth her first begotten Sonne dMat. 1.. Thirdly, when God raised Christ out of the Graue, hee is said to beget his Sonne, for so the words of the second Psalme: Thou art my Sonne, this day hauehave I begotten thee, are applied to the Resurrection of CHRIST eAct. 13.33.. In that Christ is said to be the first begotten of the dead, three things may be noted, as implied heere, concerning the members of Christ: and three things concerning Christ himselfe as Head.
First, concerning the Members, these things may be gathered:
1. That not onelyonly wicked men, but the true members of Christ dye, Heb. 9. Psal. 89. 2 Sam. 14. The consideration of this, that the godly must dye, may serue for many Vses: first, Why doth vaine man dye then without wisedome fIob 4.21.? secondly, how shall wicked men escape gIob 21.32. Esay 28.? their Couenant with Death must needes be disanulled: thirdly, it should cause vsus deepely to digest the vanities of this life hEccles. 2.16.17: fourthly, it should cause vsus to take heede of Eues, Least yee dye; for it is out of all question, dye wee must, and therefore meete it were, wee should prouide for it, without mincing or procrastinating: lastly, we should incourage our selues, and dye like the members of Christ, with all willingnesse, Faith and Patience.
2 The gouernance of Christ reacheth as well to the dead as to the liuing Members. This the faithfull were wont of old to note, when they would say a man were dead, they would say, hee was ioyn'd to his people. This should be a great encouragement vntounto godly men to dye.
3 From Coherence; that if wee would hauehave Christ to be the first begotten to vsus when wee are dead, wee must subiect our selues to his Ordinances, that hee may be the beginning of true Grace to vsus while we liue.
Secondly, concerning the Head, these three things may be noted:
1 That hee was among the dead, and this was good for vsus: for thereby hee dissolued the power the Diuell had to inflict death, or the feare of it, vponupon his Members iHeb. 2.17. Heb. 9.15., and thereby hee finished the expiation of all our sinnes, thereby he ratified Gods Couenant, thereby hee kils the power of sinne in vsus, and thereby he takes away the curse of our naturall death.
2 That he was not onelyonly among the dead, but he was begotten among the dead, that is, raysed from death to life; and this also was profitable for vsus, for hee rose to our Iustification, Rom. 4.23.24. to our viuification, Rom. 6.4. to our deliuerance from wrath to come, 1 Thes. 1.10.
3 That hee is not onelyonly begotten, but the first begotten among the dead; and that in three respects. First; as hee was more excellently raysed then any of the dead are; for he carryed no corruption to the graue; and hee saw no corruption in the graue, and hee was but a short time vnderunder the power of the graue. Secondly, in respect of time; hee was the first that rose from the dead kActs 26.23.. Thirdly, in respect of efficacie; it is hee by whose power all the rest rise l1 Cor. 15.20.22 Iohn 5.21. & 11.28..
This must needes be a great comfort to vsus while wee liue, against the time our bodies must goe into the house of darkenesse, the darkesome lodging in the graue; onelyonly, let vsus seeke the vertue of the Resurrection of Christ in this world, and the experiment of the vigor of it, first vponupon our soules, in plucking vsus vp out of the graue of sinne, to walke before God, in newnesse of life mPhil. 3.9..
That in all things hee might hauehave the preheminence.] These words are added for further amplification or Explanation of the former. They giuegive vntounto Christ a primacie and preheminence in all things: First, ouer both liuing and dead: as hee is the beginning to the liuing, and the first begotten to the dead. Christ then hath the preheminence, he is first in all things, Mat. 28.18. Rom. 4.9. Phil. 2.9. Ephes. 1.23.Hee is first in diuers respects. He is first many wayes: first in Time, as before all things: first in Order, hee hath a primacie of order, hee is the first to be reckoned and admired in the Church: first in the Dignitie of Person, hee excels in both Natures all that is in the Church or euer was: first in Degree nIohn 1.5.: first in Gouernment oMat. 20.27. Luke 19.4. Esay 9.: first in Acceptation with God pMat. 17.5.: lastly, he is first Effectiuely, as the cause of all the respect, order, and excellency in others: hee is the Roote out of which springs all the glory in the Church.
The vse is, first, for Terrour to all those that sinne against Christs preheminence, as they doe in a high degree;Vses. that hauing begunne in the Spirit, will end in the flesh: such as hauing knowne the way of righteousnesse, afterwards turne from the holy course, with the Dogge to the vomit, and with the Swine to the wallowing in the mire q2 Pet. 20.21 Reuel. 2.4.19.. Secondly, the consideration of Christs primacie and preheminence, should learne vsus to take heede of climbing in the Church; it is dangerous to desire to be chiefe; it is almost the sole power of the Head of the Church rMat. 20.27. Marke. 9.35. & 10.44. 3 Iohn 9.10.. Lastly, let it be our care both in heart and life, to yeeld Christ the preheminence; which we shall doe, if we labour to know nothing more then Christ crucified; if wee minde the things of Christs Kingdome, more then the things of this life; if wee make him our chiefe refuge by Faith, for all happinesse and reconciliation; if wee make him our ioy; reioycing more in Christ then carnall men can doe in the World,How wee may in life yeeld Christ the preheminence. (for a discontented life denyes Christ the preheminence;) if the zeale of Gods house can eate vsus vp; if in all our actions wee performe the worship of God first; if we sticke not to confesse and professe Christ; if wee honour the faithfull, and contemne the vile, and ioyne our selues to such as feare God, though they be despised in this world: and lastly, when we can in all things rather chuse to please God then men.