An Exposition Upon Colossians, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 1 · Verse 7
Verse 7.
As yee also learned of Epaphras our fellow-seruant, who is for you a faithfull Minister of God.
Verse 8.
Who hath also declared vntounto vsus your louelove, which you hauehave in the spirit.
HEe hath giuen thankes for the Ministery:Diuision. now hee giues thankes for the Minister: who is here described by his name (Epaphras) by the adiunct LoueLove of others to him (beloued) and by his Office (a Seruant,) by his willingnes to ioyne with others foreign, a fellow-seruant) by his faithfulnes in the execution of his Office (which is for you a faithfull Minister of Christ:) lastly, by his louelove to his people, which hee shewes by the good report hee thankefully giues of them. Vers. 8.
Doct. 1. What a Minister should be.From the generall consideration of all the words I obserue:
First, it much matters to the efficacie of the doctrine what the Ministers be: he that would profit his hearers must be: First, able to teach. Secondly, hee should be beloued, not a man against whom the hearts of the people had conceiued vncurable preiudice, or such a one as was scandalous. Thirdly, hee had neede to be a fellow-seruant, one that will draw vvith others. Fourthly, hee must consecrate his seruice to God and the Church. Fiftly, hee must be faithfull. And lastly, one that will louelove his people.
Doct. 2.Secondly, Ministers of greater gifts, or places, or learning, may here learne how to carry themselues towards their fellow-Ministers: Paul commends Epaphras, confirmes and countenances his doctrine, and giues him the right hand of fellowship. Which example much condemnes the haughty pride and arrogancy of many great Cleargy-men, in whose eyes their brethren are despised; sometime swelling against them with enuy, sometimes openly pursuing them with censures, especially if God blesse their labours with any good successe; easily setting out with the formost to detract from their iust prayses for gifts, sinceritie, or paines: woe and a fall will be to the great pride of Cleargy-men.
Thirdly, the Apostle striues to winne a greater estimation to the Minister that so hee might the better fasten their respects to his Ministery, to note that where the Messenger is not in credit, the Message is easily neglected or contemned. And therefore as men would desire good successe in the Ministery of the Word, they should labour to get and retaine an honourable opinion of the Ministers. And to this end consider that they are called Gods Coadiutors o1 Cor. 3., Ministers of the Spirit p2 Cor. 3.6., Gods Stewards q1 Cor. 4.1. Tit. 1.2. 1 Tim. 3.4., Candlestickes rReuel. 11.4., the mouth of Christ sReuel. 1.16., Starres, Angels tReuel. 1.20.; and many other titles of dignitie.
From these words (as yee also hauehave learned of Epaphras,) I obserue: First that if men would be effectually wrought vponupon by the word, they must plant themselues vnderunder some setled Ministery: they that heare now one, and then another, at one end of the quarter heare a sermon of this man, and at the other end of that man, hauehave their knowledge much like their paines.
Secondly, he is a true member of the Church that can shew sound grace and knowledge learned of the Teachers of the Church. It is neyther the account of the world, nor profession of true Religion, nor comming to Church, demonstrates necessarily a true member of the Church, but the effectuall subiection of the soule to be formed and wrought vponupon by the Ministerie of the Word.
Thirdly, it is an ordinary infirmity in the better sort of hearers that in many poynts they receiue Doctrine vponupon the credit of the teachers, yeelding no other reason, but Epaphras taught so; which should awaken affection and conscience in Ministers, out of the feare of God, and sound and infallible knowledge and premeditation to deliuer what they doe deliuer, and to vtter nothing for certaine but the word of God.
From these words (the beloued, our fellow-seruant,) I obserue, first, that common affliction for the cause of God, workes in men tendernesse of louelove. The Prison makes a great Apostle imbrace with singular louelove a poore and meane Minister; the smell of the prison, and sight of the stake, (if such times should euer come againe) would frame a better amity amongst our Churchmen; ambitious men might then lay downe their personall and guilefull eagernesse of hast and hate; and humerous men would then be ashamed to deuise how to inlarge the dissention, by coyning new exceptions, and vrging of peremptory new scruples: mode stand humble men on both sides that hauehave sought the peace of Sion, would then hauehave double honour.
Secondly, that hee that is faithfull is beloued; beloued I say of God and Gods houshold. It is an ill signe in a Minister that hee is not sound, when hee findes no tokens of Gods louelove in his heart, nor signes of respect with Gods Seruants in this life.
Thirdly, that to be Gods Seruant is an high dignitie: it is here the speciall glory of an Apostle, and was acknowledged and proclaymed to be the best part of a Kings title, Psal. 36. the title of it. Which may serue for comfort to poore Christians: they can get no Wealth, offices, nor Honours in the world; but here is their ioy, they may get to be Gods seruants, which is better and more worth than all Honour, Besides, it condemnes the aspiring of the Cleargie: yet when they hauehave done all they can to make themselues great men, hee is a better man in Gods bookes, that by faithfull seruice can winne soules to God, then he that by his money or paines can onelyonly purchase many liuings and great dignities to himselfe.
Which is for you a faithfull Minister, or Deacon.] Concerning the word foreign, rendred Minister, it is expressely a Deacon: and it is a title of Office, Seruice, or Administration, giuen sometimes to Christ, hee is called, The Deacon of Circumcision uRom. 14.8.; sometimes to Magistrates xR…m. 13.4.; yea, sometimes to Women yRom. 16.1.; sometimes to a speciall calling or sort of Church-officers zPhil. 1.1. 1 Tim. 3.8.12.; sometimes, to the Ministers of the Gospell both ordinary and extraordinary: so Timothy is a Deacon, 1 Tim. 4.6. so Iudas, Acts 1.17.15. But the Doctrine I obserue is:
That eueryevery faithfull Minister is Christs Deacon: and this may comfort painfull Ministers; for to be Christs Deacon is no base office; or to be called so, a title of disgrace: for it is a title giuen to Christ, and the greatest Magistrates. And concerning them is that promise that he that receiueth one of them in Christs name, shall not be without his reward *Marke 9.35. with 37.. Besides, Christ saith of them, that where hee is, there shall his Deacon or Seruant be, and his father will honour him, though the world doe not aIohn. 12.26.. Further, it may refresh them that they are said to be Deacons, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3.6.7.8. Lastly, we may see what power these Deacons hauehave, Mat. 22. They call, they perswade, they are heard of the great King, if they complaine and informe; and they binde men hand and foote and cast them into vtter darkenesse. OnelyOnly, if Ministers would hauehave the priuiledges of Christs Deacons, they must put on and practise their properties. First, they must become as little Children: for humblenesse of minde and confidence in Gods fatherly care and prouidence, and for freedome from malice bMarke 9.35.36. Secondly, they must follow their Master Christ, in doctrine, in life, and in sufferings cIohn 12.26.. Thirdly, seeing they hauehave this Deaconship, as they hauehave receiued mercy, they should not faint, but cast from them the cloakes of shame, and not walke in craftinesse, nor handle the word of God deceitfully; but in declaration of the truth should approue themselues to eueryevery mans conscience in the sight of God d2 Cor. 4.1.2.. So as for the daily expressing of their doctrine vponupon the hearts and liues of the people, their people might be their Epistlee2 Cor. 3.2.3..
Thus of the 7. Verse. Out of the 8. Verse I obserue diuers things.
First, from the word [declared,] as it is here vsed and applyed to reports, I note, that those things are to be reported and spoken, that may giuegive light to the hearers. A good mans report tends to cleare things in the mindes of them that heare him: there should be light and a Lantherne in our words fProu. 6.23.. To this end wee should vse wisedome, and truth, and meeknesse, when wee speake: Wisedome, by preparing our selues to speake: Truth, to report things as they are: and Meekenesse, to auoid passion; for anger is a great darkener. Wee should also take heede of diuers sinnes in both Tables, that greatly corrupt the hearers, not onelyonly in the generall, but in this, that they greatly darken and make muddy the vnderstanding of man. As in the first Table, discourses or disputes of Atheisme against the Word, Religion, or Ordinances of God; Apologies for Idolaters or Idolatrous Religion, in whole or in part; the very naming of vices or Idols without disgracing or hating of them; Impatiencie or murmuring against God, and such like: And in the second Table, flattery, tale-bearing, false accusing, rash iudgement, answering of matters before they be heard, are great darkeners of the vnderstanding.
Secondly, in that Epaphras intending to complaine of them for their corruptions in opinion and worship, doth here first declare their prayses and graces of Gods Spirit. It shewes that it is a worthy grace to be apt to expresse others iust prayses, especially when wee are to speake of their faults; for that will shew that wee are free from enuie, ostentation or disdaine, and that wee seeke not our owne things, that wee are not suspitious, nor thinke euill, nor reioyce in euill.
LoueLove in the spirit.] LoueLove is eyther in God or in man: in God there is the personall louelove of Christ, the louelove of the Creature, the louelove of man, and the louelove of goodnesse or good men:foreign. In man there is both the louelove by which hee loues God, and the louelove by which hee loues man. I take it, here it is meant of whatsoeuer louelove the Spirit worketh in man. Of LoueLove I hauehave spoken at large before, here onelyonly I note briefely two things in generall. First, the necessitie of LoueLove: secondly, the tryall of it; both in the negatiue. For the first. If the true louelove of God, and Gods children, be not in vsus, we hauehave not faith gGal. 5.6., nor the Spirit of God; for LoueLove is the fruit of the Spirit hGal. 5.22. 2 Tim. 1.7.: nor the Seale of our Election iEphes. 1.4.: nor a pure heart or good conscience k1 Tim. 1.5., nor strength to hold out against errours l2 Thes. 2.20.. And for tryall: first, of our louelove to God. Wee must know, that hee loues not God that will not come to Christ for life mIohn 5.42.; that keepes not his Commandements nIohn 15.10.; that is ashamed of the crosse and profession of Christ oRom 5.5.; that loues not the word, so as to hide (as precious treasure in his heart) the instructions and comforts of the Word p1 Iohn 2.6.; that is not inflamed and inwardly constrayned to an ardent desire of holy duties in that place God hath set him in q2 Cor. 5.13.14; that serues the lust or louelove of his profit, sports and carnall delights r1 Iohn 2.15.. And for tryall of our louelove to men, hee loues not his neighbour; first, that cannot doe it in the Spirit, that is, in spirituall things, and from his heart, according to the direction and motions of Gods Spirit: secondly, that doth or worketh euill to his neighbour sRom. 13.10.: thirdly, that wilfully will offend his brother in a thing indifferent tRom. 14.15.: fourthly, that will not pray for his neighbour uRom. 15.30.: fiftly, that is not prone to shew mercy x1 Cor. 8.8..
Quest. But how must I louelove my Neighbour. Ans. As Christ loued vsus; and that hath foure things in it. For, Christ loued vsus first, and though wee were his inferiours, and for our profit, and with an euerlasting louelove: so should wee, first, wee must louelove with a preuenting louelove; secondly, wee must louelove, though they be meaner persons in place or gifts then we; thirdly, wee must louelove them for their profit and good, not for our owne; and lastly, we must louelove continually and feruently.