An Exposition Upon Colossians, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 1 · Verse 29
Verse 29.
Whereunto I also labour and striue, according to his working that worketh in me mightily.
IN this Verse is contayned the seauenth reason to inforce the Exhortation, and it is taken from the great paynes and strife of the Apostle, and the great successe the Lord was pleased to giuegive to his paines.
Whereunto.] Some reade [in whom,] viz. in which Christ, that is, by whose assistance, and blessing, and protection, &c. But I take it as it is here, Whereunto: and so it may be referred eyther to the Exhortation in the three and twentieth Verse, or to perfection in the Verse before. It is sure that the perfection of Ministers labours should be the perfection of their hearers. It is not enough to know how to preach Sermons, but it must tend not onelyonly to beget men vntounto Christ, but also to build them vp, which is a wonderfull hard worke, and few Ministers are well skilled herein; and therefore Ministers should much consult with God, and the people should pray constantly, and earnestly for their Teachers.
Labour.] An effectuall Ministery is a painfull Ministery: the Lords worke must not be done negligently a2 Tim. 4.1.2.3. 1 Thes. 5.12.; which may iustifie continuall and daily preaching.
Quest. Answer.Quest. But what needes all this preaching. Ans. It is exceeding needfull; for it is the ordinary meanes to saue mens soules, and to beget Faith: and in as much as there are daily still to be added to the Church,The need of daily preaching. therefore still the meanes is to be vsed, besides the secret iudgement of God in the indu…ation of the wicked, and leauing them without excuse. And as there needes daily food for the body, so doth there for the soule: and the Lord by his word doth heale the daily infirmities of his people bPsal. 107.. Men thinke it needfull the Exchequer should be open all the yeere, that their Law-cases may be determined: and more neede it is, the Lords spirituall Exchequer should stand open for the daily determining of the Cases of Conscience, which arise in the soules of Gods people: and we need a daily light for our paths, and Lanthorne for our feete cPsal. 119.. What shall I say? our very Calling needes direction out of the word, and our crosses and temptations cause vsus to feele a daily neede of the comforts of the word to be applyed to vsus: the godly are to be incouraged in well-doing, and that continually; and wee all neede to be called vponupon daily, for reformation and preuention of sinne. Grace will not hold out without meanes, and Knowledge must be encreased; and a daily Ministerie is of singular vse to prepare vsus for death, and weyne vsus from the world. These and many other be the reasons of daily preaching, which should greatly reproue such Ministers as labour not, eyther for want of gifts, or pluralitie of places, or distraction of businesse, or for very idlenesse, or vnwillingnesse to take paines. Woe vntounto them, for as they prouide euill for peoples soules, so they reward euill to their owne soules.
Note the Apostles …ffection in obseruing Gods prouidence in the successe of his labours.According to his working that worketh in mee mightily.] Before I consider particularly of these words, I note how feelingly the Apostle speakes of Gods Prouidence, and with what affection hee sets out the obseruation he made of it: which greatly shames the most of vsus, that are so excessiuely dull in apprehending, and so affectionlesse▪ in the thought of things. Now if any would know what should be the reason wee are so dull, and the Apostle so tenderly sensible of Gods power and prouidence: I may answere, that a number of vsus are not throughly perswaded of Gods particular prouidence: besides, hee was excellently acquainted with the word of God, and thereby, hee saw liuely, how eueryevery promise or threatning came into execution: there could hardly any thing fall out, but hee remembred some Scripture that fore-told or fore-shewed it. And no question he knew how vnable the meanes was to worke without Gods blessing, he knew what vnfitnesse was in man: now wee giuegive too much to the meanes. Further, it is certaine, that such holy men as hee, sought Gods blessing by prayer, and therefore now they were affected, when they obserued what followed their prayers. And besides, the Apostle did walke with God in a great measure of sanctitie and holy care in all things to keepe his communion with God, whereas wee are estranged by our corruptions, and for the most part negligent in a daily walking with GOD. Lastly, hee was humble, and not conceited of his owne gifts, and had consecrated himselfe, and deuoted his life to Gods glory, and therefore hee was sensible of the glory of God in his working prouidence.
But the maine particular Doctrine is,It is God that workes in the ministery of the Word. that in the Ministery of the Gospell there is Gods speciall working: for it is Gods worke to raise vp men that will labour in the Gospell, considering the ill successe in many hearers, and the infirmities in themselues, and the strange discouragements from the world: and when the Lord hath gotten him Labourers, it is his working, that they can get fit Meditations and Affections into their hearts in priuate, and fit vtterance in publike: it is not Art and Learning alone that will furnish them with powerfull matter. And thirdly, it is Gods working to extend the power of the word to the hearers, so as the heate of it goe not out before it kindle in the peoples hearts. What shall I say? it is Gods mighty working that the people are preserued and daily built vp by the word in Grace. All which should teach vsus to place our Faith, not in men but in the power of God. And let wicked men be aduised least by resisting the Ministery they be found fighters against God: and it may be a great comfort to a Minister to; for if God worke for vsus and by vsus, it matters not who be against vsus. And lastly, Christians should make much of, and be thankfull for, and greatly admire all Knowledge and Grace gotten from the word, for it was wrought by the very finger of God.
FINIS.