An Exposition Upon Colossians, Metaphrase 4 – Biblical commentary 4
THE METAPHRASE vponupon the fourth CHAPTER.
VERSE 1. YE masters do that which is iust and equall vntounto your seruants, knowing that ye hauehave also a Master in heauen.MAsters also must doe that which is iust vntounto their seruants, both for their soules, and for their bodies also, in diet, wages, or correction. And that which is equall both while they stay with them, in alowance of recreation, and respect of their weaknesse and sicknesse, and when they go from them, not to let them go away emptie. Knowing that they themselues are Seruants vntounto GOD who is in heauen, and will call them to accounts.
Verse 2. Continue in pra…er, and watch in the same with thanksgiuing.To conclude I returne againe to all sorts of Christians and exhort them to three things principally: the first is about praier, the second is about their carriage, the third about their speeches. For their praiers there are three things exceeding necessarie: perseuerance, and christian watchfulnes, and thanksgiuing for the graces and blessings they do receiue.
Verse 3. Praying also for vsus, that GOD may open vntounto vsus the doore of vtterance, to speake the misterie of CHRIST: wherefore I am also in bonds.Remembring vsus also in their praiers, that GOD would open vntounto vsus a doore of vtterance with libertie, courage, power and good successe to breake open the mysterie of the Gospell of CHRIST, for which I am now in prison.
That I may so speake of those dreadfull secrets, that I no way derogate from the maiestie of them,Verse 4. That I may vtter it as it becommeth me to speake. or that trust that is committed to me, or expected from me. Thus of what I would specially commend to you about praier.
Now for your carriage;Verse 5. Walke wisely towards them that are without and redeeme the time. I would hauehave you especially looke to your selues in respect of your behauiour before or amongst the wicked, who are not of GODS familie and Strangers from the life of GOD: it were an admirable thing, to carry your selues in a wise and discreete manner towards them. Hence and by all other waies shewing your selues to be skilfull Marchants in redeeming the time which hath been lost.Verse 6. Let your speech be gracious alwaies, and poudred with salt, that yee may know how to answer eueryevery man. Verse 7. All my state shall Tichicus declare vntounto you, who is a beloued brother and faithfull Minister and fellow seruant in the LORD. Verse 8. Whom I hauehave sent vntounto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts. Verse 9. With On… simus a faithfull and beloued brother, who is one of you, they shall make knowne vntounto you all things which are done heere. Verse 10. Aristarchus my prison-fellow saluteth you, and Marcus, Barnabas sisters sonne, touching whom ye receiued cōmandements. If hee come vntounto you, receiue him. Verse 11. And Iesus which is called Iustus, which are of the circumcision. These onelyonly are my worke-fellowes vntounto the kingdome of GOD, which hauehave been vntounto my consolation. Verse 12. Epaphras the seruant of CHRIST which is one of you, saluteth you, and alwaies striueth for you in praiers, that ye may stand perfect and full in all the will of GOD.
And for your communication, let it be of good and holy things, not offensiue or slanderous or filthy: and powdred with the salt of discretion and mortification, and thus let it be alwaies and in all companies, that ye may speake fitlie vntounto eueryevery man and to his place and the occasion.
I hauehave sent ouer Tychicus to declare vntounto you my whole estate, who is both a godly man well respected and a painefull Minister, that ioynes with vsus in GODS workes.
And withall I send him to know how you doe, and to comfort you by all meanes, with heartie consolations.
And with him I hauehave sent Onesimus, who is now a godlie man truly sincere and well respected, euen he that was borne or brought vp amongst you. These two will relate all things to you.
I hauehave also diuers commendations to deliuer to you, some from some Iewes, others from Gentiles. Of the first sort are Aristarchus, and Marcus, and Iesus. Aristarchus is my prison fellow. Marcus is Barnabas sisters sonné, and it is he concerning whom heretofore you receiued some aduertisements not to admit him, but now if he come vntounto you, receiue him.
Iesus by his good carriage hath gotten himselfe the surname of Iust. These three are Iewes. And indeed the only men that constantly hold out to help forward the kingdome of GOD: they are men in whom I am much comforted.
Those of the Gentiles that desire to be remembred to you, are Epaphras, Luke, and Demas. Epaphras is a worthy Seruant of CHRIST, and the dearer ought he to be to you, because he is one of you: he striueth mightily for you in all sorts of praiers being importunate with God, that you might hold out without declining, and be more and more compleat and full in the knowledge and practise of the whole will of GOD.
Verse 13. For I beare him record that hee hath a great zeale for you and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Verse 14. Luke the beloued Phisician & Demas greet you. Verse 15. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the Church which is in his house. Verse 16. And when this Epistle is read amongst you, cause it to be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the Epistle from Laodicea. Verse 17. And I say to Archippus take heede to the ministry which thou hast receiued in the LORD that thou fulfill it. Verse 18. The salutation by the hand of me Paul, remember my bonds, grace be with you, Amen.For I beare him witnesse, that he is inflamed with great affection both for you and them of Laodicea and Hierapolis
Luke also a Phisitian both godly and greatly respected saluteth you, and Demas.
I pray you also to remember my salutations to the brethren of Laodicea: especially to Nymphas and that religious familie, who for their pietie and good order, are as it were a little Church.
And when this Epistle hath been publickly red of you, send it to the Church of Laodicea to be red there also, together with that letter which was sent to me from Laodicea.
Commend me also to Archippus your Preacher, and charge him to take heed he do not his worke by halues, but as he hath receiued his commission from the LORD, so let him fulfill it, both by constancie and painfulnesse, and powerfulnesse of preaching. I ioyne also my owne salutation, which is written with mine own hand, and not by my scribe. I pray forget me not in this restraint. The grace of GOD as the onelyonly faire portion, be now and alwaies with you. And my confident hope is, so it will.
CERTAINE OF THE choisest and chiefest points handled in the fourth CHAPTER.
HOw Masters doe that which is iust.
fol. 157.
Masters doe vnequally fiue waies.
158.
Of continuance in prayer, and of such as fall away from the affections and practise of prayer, with the inconueniences of it.
159.
Obiections about prayer answered.
160.
Of watching in prayer.
160.
The doore of vtterance hath fiue things in it.
162.
Fiue things stops the mouthes of Gods Ministers.
163.
Christ is a misterie to six sorts of men.
163.
Christ a mysterie fiue waies.
164.
The Gospell hidden fiue waies.
164.
How Ministers must preach.
165.
How the people must heare.
165.
What it is to walke wisely.
166.
He walkes surely that obserues fiue rules.
166.
Who are without.
167.
The rules of answering in respect of wicked men.
167.
Six things obserued concerning redeeming the time.
168.
Foure consideration, of the oportunitie of time.
168.
What time is lost: and how time may be bought againe: and how time must be vsed when it is bought.
169.
Motiues to redeeme time.
170.
Obseruations concerning gratious speech.
171.
The reasons why some men cannot leaue their euil words.
172.
What they should doe to get victorie.
172.
Perseuerance in good words as well as good workes.
173.
Six things concerning answering vnbeleeuers.
173.
Seuen things required in answering well.
173.
Foure things concerning answering beleeuers.
173.
Six rules about receiuing one another.
178.
Whether the name of Iesus may be giuen to any man.
179
Eight things to winne the reputation of iust men.
179.
What hearers are like to fall away.
180.
A threefold kingdom of God.
180.
The priuiledges of the kingdome of grace.
181.
Six signes to know the subiects of Christs kingdome.
181.
How men may get into the kingdome of God.
182.
Why many hearers hauehave no more comfort in hearing.
183.
Who are Christs seruants.
184.
The force of prayer.
185.
Sorts of prayer.
185
What striuing in prayer imports.
186.
Eight things we must fight against in prayer.
186.
Rules for prayer.
187.
The miserie of such as fall away.
188.
The causes of falling away.
188.
How many waies Christians may be said to be perfect.
189.
What we must doe to be perfect.
189.
The araignment of the ciuill honest man.
190.191.192.
Twelue sorts of wrong zeale.
194.
Sixe things in true zeale.
194.
Foure sorts of men reproued about Physicke.
195.
Three rules for our practise concerning such as we suspect in profession.
196.
A religious familie is a little Church.
197.
Foure orders in the familie.
197.
Of reading the Scriptures.
198.
The profit of reading Scripture. and the causes why many profit not.
198.
Painefull Preachers many times grow idle.
199.
How many waies men remember the bonds of others.
202.
Of the authoritie of the Postscript.
202.