An Exposition Upon Colossians, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 1 · Verse 25
Verse 25.
Whereof I am made a Minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is giuen to mee, for you, to fulfill the word of God.
IN this Verse is contayned the third generall Reason: and it is taken from the testimonie of God. Wherein hee shewes, that they ought to continue in the Doctrine they had receiued; because God by a speciall dispensation, had ordayned him, and the rest of the faithfull teachers, by their ministeries, to serue to the good of the members of Christ, by fulfilling and accomplishing thereby whatsoeuer concernes the saluation eyther of Iew or Gentile.
In this dispensation I consider fiue things: First, who is the Author of it;foreign. GOD: Secondly, vvhat kinde of dispensation it is, viz. a household Administration, for so the word importeth: Thirdly, what he dispenseth; viz. the seruice of his Ministers: Fourthly, how hee dispenseth; viz. by graunting out a Commission to them in particular, vntounto me is giuen: Fiftly, to what end; viz. To fulfill the word of God.
From the Coherence with the 23. Verse, I note, that if men would be established in Faith and Hope they must be subiect to the power of the ministerie of Gods Seruants. From the Coherence with the former Verse, I note that if the Ministers of CHRIST doe finde that their seruice is auaileable and powerfull to profit the soules of the people, they must not thinke it strange, that they fall into many tribulations.
From the generall consideration of the whole Verse, I obserue, both the dignitie and the restraint of the Ministery. The dignitie of a Minister stands in three things: first, that hee is Gods Ambassadour: Secondly, that by his Commission hee is sent vntounto Gods people, who are the onelyonly Worthies of the world: thirdly, that a great part of the efficacie of the word, rests by Gods appointment vponupon him and his Office. The restraint is likewise in three things: first, hee is a Minister or Seruant; not a Lord or Sauiour: secondly, he receiues his commandement from God: he must not runne of his owne head, nor hold his office by meere humane ordination: thirdly, the word of God must be his ground and rule, for all his dealing, in dispensing the things of God.
Of God.] God is the dispenser of all good things to the Church, but in speciall of the Ministry of his Seruants, both in respect of the Embassage, and the calling of the Embassadour; and in respect of the efficacie of the Embassage; both in the preparation and power of the Teacher, and in the hearts of the hearers.
Vses.Which should teach vsus especially two things: First, in the Churches want of able Ministers, to seeke to GOD, the great Lord of the Haruest, to send forth more Labourers. And secondly, wee should reuerence Gods Ministers, in as much as they are the Dispensers of Gods Secrets a1 Cor. 4.1.. Ministers also may hence learne, to execute their Commission with all diligence b2 Tim. 4.1.2.: In the declaration of the truth, approuing themselues to mens Consciences, in the sight of God c2 Cor. 4.2. & 2.17.: with discretion dMat. 24.45. & 13.52., as becomes Seruants of God eTit. 1.7. &c., rebuking sinne with all zeale and power fMich. 3.8. Lastly, hence ariseth the wofull estate of such Ministers as preach not the Gospell g1 Cor. 9.16., and of such People as heare not Gods Ministers h1 Iohn 4.6., eyther for want of meanes iProu. 26.18., or through vvilfull vnbeliefe kLuke 16.31..
Thus of the Person dispensing.
This kinde of dispensation is foreign: God gouerneth his Church with a houshould gouernment, as a Father gouerneth his familie, not as a Tyrant, that rules what by right he ownes not; nor as a Monarch, that knowes not the thousand part of what he rules; nor as a Captaine, that traines his Souldiers onelyonly to labour and danger while their treasures are at home; nor as a Schoole-master, that rules children that are not his owne: but as a most prouident and louing Father, that keepes none but hee ownes them, and knowes them particularly, and prouides for them, and all at home lMat. 20.1. Gal. 6.10. Ephes. 3.16. & 2.19. Mat. 13 27. & …1.33..
Vses.The vse is: first, for Instruction; if wee would hauehave God to rule vsus, with this most familiar and fatherly prouidence,How wee may know whether we be of Gods houshold. we must then be sure, that wee be of his Houshould. And that wee may try, first, by the manner of Gods taking possession of vsus: for before he comes thus to rule vsus, there is a strong combate betweene Christ and the Diuell, that strong man. And if sinne and Sathan rule still in our hearts, the Lord is not there, neyther can wee serue two Maisters mMat. 12.29. Luke 16.13.. Secondly, by our affection to Gods glory and his people: if wee be right, the zeale of Gods house will eate vsus vp. Thirdly, by the gifts of Gods Spirit: as namely, by the spirit of prayer; for Gods house is a House of Prayer, and all his houshould can and doe pray. Fourthly, by the priuiledge of the house; for if we be admitted of God, the Sonne doth make vsus free nIohn 8.35.. Fiftly by the soueraignty of Christ, for as many as hauehave this honour, they doe submit themselues to be ruled, by the word, and spirit of Christ oLuke 1.33.. If the Sonne cannot rule vsus, the Father will not owne vsus. And further, if we finde our selues to be of this houshould, we should liue in the houshould of God; shewing all faithfullnesse, in vsing our tallents, and carefulnesse, in dispensing those earthly things that God hath trusted vsus withall: And also obseruing the orders of Gods house; and not receiuing appointment from the example, will, custome, or traditions of men pGal. 4.8.9..
The third thing is,What good men get by their ministers. what hee dispenseth, viz. The ministry of his seruants, whereof I am a minister.] The Church hath great neede of Ministers.
Quest. But what good doe they to vsus? Ans. They are Gods Embassadours, to reconcile vsus to God q2 Cor. 5.20.: they are the arme of the Lord, to collect vsus out of the world r2 Thes. 2.14. Esay 53.1.: they are the light of the world sMat. 5.15., and the Salt of the earth tMat. 5.13.: they are our spirituall Fathers to beget vsus to God u1 Cor. 4.15. 1 Pet. 1.23., and Nurses after wee are begotten x1 Thes 2 7.: they are our Intercessors to God, being our mouth in publike and in priuate, rising vp in the gap, praying to stay Gods anger: they are Stewards ouer Gods house yLuke 12.42., and the Keyes of heauen are deliuered to them zMat. 16. Iohn 20.23. Mat. 18.18.. All which should stir vsus vp to honour and louelove them, with a singular louelove for their workes sake.
Which is giuen to mee.] Ministers must be called by speciall commission from God, as well as by outward calling from man.
To fulfill the word of God. Diuers things may be hence obserued. First, the Word is that speciall treasure, and the chiefe portion that God hath left, both to Ministers and People. Secondly, whatsoeuer the word seemeth to to be vntounto carnall men, yet it is certaine, God will see to it, that all that is in it shall be fulfilled. Thirdly, the Preachers of the Gospell, are the meanes to set the word a working. And therefore no wonder, though troupes of people that are not subiect to the ministery of the word, finde little power in it. Besides, it euidently confutes those that thinke by reading at home, to get enough both for knowledge and saluation: for it is preaching that by Gods blessing and ordination doth put life into the word, and brings it into accomplishment.How the Ministers fulfill the Word. Fourthly, Quest. How may we conceiue of it, that Gods Ministers doe fulfill the word? Ans. The word is said by them to be fulfilled foure wayes: 1. if we respect preaching it selfe: 2. if we respect the manner of preaching: 3. if we respect the suffering that followes preaching: 4. if we respect the efficacie of preaching.
For the first: Paul may be said to fulfill the word, in that he doth preach, as he was by his commission appointed: he was charged by God to preach and in obedience to Gods word or will, hee did preach it. It is not enough for Ministers to receiue commission to preach, but they must fulfill it: and therefore woe to those Loyterers, and Non-residents, that care more to fill their barnes, then to fulfill their ministration.
For the second: Ministers are said to fulfill the word, when they execute their Commission in a due manner: and this they doe; first, when they preach with all diligence: secondly, when they hold out to the end, not taking paines for a Sermon or two, or a yeere or two, till they can get preferment, but with all constancie, perseuering in the labour and worke of their Ministry, till their course be ended, and the fight finished *2 Tim. 4.8.: thirdly, when they reueale all the counsell of God, that is needfull for their hearers: thus Paul fulfilled the word. Acts 20.18.
Thirdly, Ministers fulfill the Word by afflictions, for thereby they confirme the hearts of their hearers: as also, thereby is fulfilled vponupon them that which is in Scripture so oft fore-told, should befall the faithfull dispensers of the word aIohn 15. & 16 & 17..
Quest. Can all Ministers shew their bonds for the Gospell? Ans. Nay, some can shew the liuings they hauehave lewdly gotten, their ease, their dignities, their resisting of the word, faithfully taught by others, the disgraces they hauehave cast vponupon their Brethren; but alas, their paynes or sufferings may easily be reckoned. But woe vntounto them; for, for all the euill they hauehave done, they hauehave brought euill vponupon their owne soules: the Lord Iesus shall consume them with the breath of his comming.
Lastly, in respect of the efficacie of the word, it is fulfilled by them; for many great things, threatned or promised in the word, were to be accomplished by them, some extraordinary, some ordinary. The extraordinary, were bound to certaine times, such as were heretofore, the calling of the Gentiles, and the induration or obstinacie of the Iewes; and such as are now in doing, or to be done, as the reclayming of the world, by the euerlasting Gospell, the downefall of Antichrist, and the gathering of the Iewes: These things hauehave beene promised in the word, and hauehave, are, and shall be, wonderfully fulfilled by the ministry of preachers. The Ordinary are fulfilled in the Church at all times: and thus the Word is fulfilled in the elect, and in the reprobate. In the elect, Ministers fulfill the Word; 1. In conuerting those by the word, which were fore-ordained of God bRom. 1.16. & 15.19.. 2. In conueying Christ to their soules: so as the word is not a bare history of the merit, and grace of Christ, but is fulfilled in the application of Christ cRom. 8.4. 2 Cor. 2.14. 1 Cor. 1.17. Gal. 3.1.3.5.. Rom. 8.4. 3. By diuiding the word amongst them, as the food of their soules, to preserue them. 4. The application of the Promises, which are effectually in the Minister fulfilled in the hearts of the hearers dLuke 4.21.. Lastly, in causing the Elect to fulfill the word, both in obeying the Word eRom. 15.18., and in perseuering in the doctrine to the end. In the Reprobate they fulfill the word: 1. In hardening them, 2 Cor. 2.15. 2. By making them inexcusable by illumination: 3. In occasioning many sinnes through their owne wilfull corruption, Rom. 7.8. 4. In slaying them, or by sentence cutting them off, Esay 11.3. Mat. 16.16. 2 Cor. 10.6.
The Vse of all this is: 1. To shew the necessitie of continuall preaching, seeing by it, the word must be fulfilled: many are still to be conuerted, and all to be com…orted, directed, strengthened, reproued, &c. 2. To iustifie the continuall trauaile of faithfull Ministers, that will neuer giuegive ouer to exhort, reproue, conuince, &c. They are enioyned to see the word of God fulfilled, and therefore no wonder though they will not let men rest in their sinne and securitie. 3. To teach vsus in all temptations or afflictions, to run to the word preached, for thereby God will certainly performe all needfull consolation, or direction, or humiliation. 4. To informe Ministers, that they must adde indefatigable paines, since so much is to be fulfilled by them. 5. To admonish stubborne sinners, to take heed of prouoking God, for if the word may not be fulfilled in their saluation, it shall be fulfilled in their induration.