An Exposition Upon Colossians, Biblical commentary 4 · Chapter 4 · Verse 13,14
Vers. 13 14
For I beare him record that he hath a great zeale for you and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
14
Luke the beloued Phisition and Demas greet you.
In the 13 Verse the zeale of Epaphras (which is the fourth thing) is described; First by the testimony of Paul, I beare him record. Secondly by the quantitie of it a great zeale. Thirdly by the persons for whom for you &c.
The Apostle vseth all these words to set out his zeale, because he was desirous to hauehave him in great respect, with his hearers, for hee knew if he were once contemned or suspected, his doctrine would be vnfruitfull, and his hearers made a prey to false Teachers. Besides perhappes he found the people inclyning to grow to hauehave ynough of him, or to suspect him, or to lessen their regard of him.
I beare him Record] Note.
1 That the witnesse of one Apostle is a sufficient testimony and infallible which should incourage vsus to studie their writings, seeing we are sure to finde nothing but truth there.
2 That the best testimony is not our owne record of our selues, let thy neighbour not thine owne mouth praise thee aPro. 29..
3 Godly ministers should be readie and forward to preserue the same of their brethren, and in particular willing to giuegive record for them, but if wee would hauehave record from others, we must not beidle, or ignorant, or corrupt, or scandalous, Oh the miserie of these times, how are insufficient or wicked Ministers, written for to the Patron, to the Bishop, to the congregation, concerning whom there can be no sufficient testimonie in the day of Christ, and happie were it if no Church men had their hands in such records, the Lord pardon and purge the sinnes of the sonnes of Leuie.
Zeale] D. Zeale is needfull in a Minister, now his zeale is two fold, either for God, or for Gods people, a Minister should shew his zeale, for his people, by praying for them. 2 Painfull preaching to them, in season and out of season. 3 By protecting them against the reproches and scornes of the world, striuing by doctrine not only to comfort them, but to wipe away the aspersions cast vponupon them. 4 By earnest rebukes and admonitions: he must crie aloude, and not spare, not suffering them to sinne. 5 By suffering either with them, or for them.
The Vse is to excite zeale in Ministers, and to awake them out of that coldnesse or deadnesse, especially in teaching, it is a wonderfull scourge to the people, and a dishonor to the glorious doctrine of God, where the teacher is without life or spirit, in the enforcing of his doctrine.
And is zeale good for a Minister, then sure it is good for the people too: indeed it is of exceeding praise in all sorts of men of what degree soeuer, neither will it be a misse heere a little to consider more seriously of zeale, seeing there is much neede of it, in the world, and there is much mistaking about it.
Now if men will be rightly ordered in their zeale let them looke to these things.12 Sorts of wrong zeale.
1 Let it not be a pretended zeale as in Ioash. 2 Nor a superstitious zeale as in Paule bGal. 1.14.. 3 Nor a passionate zeale, only for a fit, as in Iohn at his first entrance. 4 Nor a malitious zeale as in persecutors, that thinke they doe God good seruice in vexing men wrongfully cAct. 7.9. Gal. 4.17.. 5 Nor a wrong intended zeale, such as is the zeale of merit-mongers. dRom. 10.2.6 Nor a contentious zeale, such as theirs that make needlesse rents in the Church eRom. 13.13. 1. Cor. 3.3.. 7 Nor a secure zeale that is a zeale not raised by godly sorrow f1. Cor. 7.10., or that is carried without care or feare of falling away. 8 Nor an idle zeale that is all words without workes: the word is rendred labour sometimes, and it is certaine true zeale is spent about good workes gTit. 2.14.. 9 Nor an ouercurious zeale, shewed either by sticking too much to the letter of scripture hAct. 21.20 21., or by prying into or harsh censureing of the lesser faults of others iMath. 7., 10 Or a bitter zeale kIam. 3.13.14., that spends it selfe in rayling and fiery reproches, railers seldome stand long. 11 Or an ignorant bold zeale such as was in the Iewes lRom. 10.2.. Or lastly a selfe conceited zeale, when men trust too much to themselues, and their owne iudgements.
True zeale hath in it 6 things.
True zeale hath in it six things.1 The affections of worship and spirituall compassion, it will not rest in the bare worke done, either of pietie to God, or spirituall mercy to men, it cannot bee cold or lukewarme, in praying, hearing, preaching, admonishing, &c.
2 An ardent louelove to such as feare God shewed by desire, mourning and seruencie of minde, towards them m2. Cor. 7.7..
3 An vtter hatred of the wickednesse and profanenesse, of the world, with a willingnesse to shew and maintaine, according to a mans calling a spirituall oposition against it.
4 An affectionate desire after Gods house, and the puritie of it, thus the zeale of Gods house should eate vsus vp.
5 A great wrestling within a man, against the corruptions of his owne nature, expressed by indignation, sorrow, confession, strong cries to God, and reuenge vponupon the flesh.
6 The couetting of all spirituall things as the best things in the world.
Lastly obserue that he saith much zeale or great zeale, which sheweth that men ought to thriue in zeale, aswell as in other graces, howsoeuer the world iudge of it, only let men looke to themselues according to the former rules, that they deceiue not themselues nor the world.
For you and for them of Laodicea and Hierapolis] I will not trouble the Reader with the topographie of these townes, it is out of question they were neere bordering cities. Only obserue here 3 things.
1 That the care of faithfull teachers, and their desire to do good extends to other Churches, also hence they are compared fitly to starres that giuegive light not only to the orbe in which they are, but to places further of, and this good Ministers may do by praier, example of faithfulnesse and diligence, or by counsell or writing, or confirmation of doctrine, by preaching as there is occasion. And this shewes the worth of painfull and sincere Teachers: they are a great benefit, to the whole countrie, where they liue, and therefore they should be protected, and incouraged, by all them that would be accounted louers of their countrie.
2 That Ministers owe a speciall louelove and care to the neighbour Churches, for as neerenesse of habitation, increaseth the strength of ciuill bonds, so should it much more in spirituall.
3 That the care of other Churches should not cause men to neglect the stocke that depends vponupon them, it is not sufficient that men preach somewhere God calls for an account of their stewardship in their owne charge, they must tend their owne heards, he were a strange Husbandman that would plow his neighbours field, and let his owne lie vntilled, it is vile corruption, to be intent when we labour for others, and remisse when we labour for our owne people.
Luke the beloued Phisition] There is some adoe amongst Interpreters who this Luke should be, but I incline to them that thinke it was Luke the Euangelist, but whosoeuer it was three things may be heere obserued.
1 That the Church of God hath alwaies consisted of men of diuers callings: so as no lawfull calling is excluded, nor yet any only taken.
2 That Phisicke hath beene of ancient honor and vse in the Church, wee see it here in the Apostles time, and it was long before also for there were Phisitions in Iosephs time nGen. 50.2..
4 Sorts of men may be reproued concerning Phisicke, or Phisitions.
1 Such as totallie neglect them, though they hauehave neede to vse them,4 Sorts of men reproued about Phisicke. yet our Sauiour Christ saith the sicke neede a Phisition o. 2 Such as are wayward and will not be cured, that is such as through impatiencie will not be ordered by this meanes, in the manner they should be. 3 Such as put their whole trust in Phisicke, as Asa did, neglecting to seeke vntounto God for helpe: yea it is to be noted in Asa, that his disease being but ordinarie yet to neglect the Lord in it was a great sinne, for though God hath allowed Phisicke as an helpe, yet it was neuer his meaning to robbe himselfe of his owne glory. 4 Such as will out of pride and nicenesse, be tampering with their bodies in phisicke, when there is no need, contrarie to that of our Sauiour Christ, the whole neede not the Phisitian.
Now in as much as many times it is manifest, phisicke doth no good to the diseased we are to vnderstand three things, first that this may be the fault of carelesse and ignorant Phisitians. 2 That as we grow monsters in the world by sinning, ouerpassing the deedes of the wicked so the Lord sometimes by bringing in strong and new diseases doth ouerpasse the skill of the Phisitians.
3 God for sinnes or triall may restraine the blessing vponupon the meanes, which else would be auaileable.
The third thing I note, is that the holy Ghost giues this praise to a godly Phisitian, importing that a Phisitian should be a man sound in religion, and zealous for the truth, and knowne and beloued in the Church, for as it is certaine, godly and religious Phisitians may do much good, in the dangers of their patients, so miserable experience shewes that popish and superstitious Phisitians, do exceeding much hurt, by working vponupon those opportunities to seduce and peruert men.
And Demas] This is that Demas that afterward forsooke Paul, and imbraced this present world, from the consideration of whose estate wee may obserue three things.
1 That the vices of men by the profession of the truth may be restrained when they are not cured. This mans louelove of the world was in him, when he was at the best, but it was curbed and held downe, and so it is with many hypocrites, and therefore men should be warned and looke to themselues, that they be not deceiued, by taking the restraint of the outward practice of some euill, for the true mortification of them.
It is many times a great hand of God vponupon vnsound hearted men, that at their best they are seene into, and not greatly esteemed, it seemes it was so with this man, for if we marke it the Apostle not only reckons him in the last place, but he names him also without any manner of praise, as if he would import that hee durst not commend him to the Churches. We should here learne what to doe towards such from the example of the Apostle.
Now if any would know more fully what is to bee done, and how they should carry themselues towards such as they iustly doubt and feare not to be right, though they make profession: there are three rules to be obserued.
1 Pitty them, pray for them, and admonish them. 2 Commit not thy selfe vntounto them,3 Rules for our practise concerning such as we suspect in their profession. but bee well aduised before thou converse inwardly with them. It is true that the practise of this rule is strangely censured, when those kinde of people, perceiue themselues, not to be regarded so much as they would bee, for vsually if in discretion, men prooue before they trust, they are taxed of pride and haughtinesse: yet considering the vile hypocrisie that is in many, it is better to be so censured without cause, then to be beguiled by men that make their religion but a cloake to their owne ends.
The third rule is that while they stand and fall not into open sinne, thou maiest not traduce them, but conceale thy dislikes, till God lay them open, vnlesse greater danger might ensue by the concealment, for the Lord may make him sound, and giuegive him repentance, Paul doth not dispraise Demas here, as he doth not commend him.
Thirdly, we may in this man note the propertie of many hypocrites, they will not be discountenanced, they are vsually impudent, this man thrusts himselfe into the Apostles company, and will be commended to the Churches: he will hauehave a place though it be the last place.