Commentary Upon Colossians, Sermon 1
The firſt Sermon.
COLOS. CHAP. 1. VER. 1.
Paul an Apoſtle of Ieſus Chriſt, by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother.
IT will make much for the vnderſtanding of the place in hand and of this Epiſtle, to know the occaſion of the Apoſtles writing; for thereby we ſhall more eaſily come to the vnderſtanding of the things deliuered by the Apoſtle.
The occaſion is drawne from the text it ſelfe: for whoſoeuer will know the drift of the Scripture, muſt take it from the place of Scripture it ſelfe, being ſometimes ſet in the beginning, as in the booke of the Prouerbes: ſometimes in the later end, as in the generall Epiſtle of Peter: Sometimes in the middeſt, as 1. Tim. in one verſe the drift is deliuered. Sometimes of the whole body of the Scripture, that is handled, whether Pſalme, Prophecy, Epiſtle, &c.
The point in hand is ſet forth in the 6. 7. 8. verſes. In the 8. verſe the occaſion, which was this, that whereas the Coloſſians had receaued the Goſpell well and ſoundly preached vntounto them, firſt they ſuffered themſelues to go a ſide and to follow vaine conceits, or reaſons drawne from Philoſophie; in the ſixth and ſeuenth the ſecond cauſe is ſhewed: which is, that they ſuffered themſelues to be lead away to follow the ceremonies of the Law: which before had been the ordinances of God, but beeing ceaſed are become the traditions of men, as the Apoſtle calleth them.
For the better vnderſtanding of this Epiſtle, we are to know the conueyance of the matter of it. And as in all Paules Epiſtles he vſeth to ſet downe firſt the principall grounds of religion: Secondly, the exhortations. And as he vſeth in other, ſo doth he in this Epiſtle. It therefore contayneth-two poyntes: firſt, the deliuery of the body and of the ſubſtantiall poyntes in religion of our Sauiour.
The ſecond parte (beginning at the 3. chapter) is a declaration of the godly conuerſation, wherein all true profeſſors of the Goſpell, which profeſſe CHRIST, muſt liue.
The firſt and ſecond Chapters are of doctrine, the other of manners. In the firſt is deliuered the truth, and ſincere and plaine doctrine (in briefe) of the Goſpell ſet forth. In the ſecond are rooted vp and throwne downe all thoſe wretched opinions, which were by the falſe Apoſtles ſowne in the hearts of the Coloſſians.
That, which he ſpeaketh of manners, beginneth at the third Chapter, where firſt the Apoſtle exhorteth generally to all good, holy & righteous workes: Secondly from the generall, he falleth to the particular declaration of thoſe duties, he would hauehave them practize. As of maſters to ſeruants, parents to children, and children to parents, of husbands to wiues, and wiues to husbands &c. And then returneth againe to generall exhortations; and this is, as it were, the generall conueyance of the matter of the Epiſtle.
In this text to the 14. verſe he doth labour to draw the Coloſſians to the knowledge of his louelove to them: which he doth firſt by his preface, which is vſuall in all his Epiſtle, is n his ſalutations, wherein he wiſheth good things vntounto them from God. The 2. thing to perſwade them of his louelove is a teſtification that he did pray for them in both kindes; both by prayſing and thanking God for thinges they had receaued, and by petition, where he prayed to God, and deſired the increaſe of the graces of God in them. And hereby he inſinuateth himſelfe and ſtampeth, as it were, in their mindes his louelove and affection to them, to the end his doctrine might be the better receaued by them.
1 As if he ſhould ſay, I Paule vnderſtanding that there are ſome, that go about to ſpoyle you, and to make a prey of you, partly by ſhew of wiſdome and Phyloſophy, and partely by the beggerly elements or ceremonies of the Iewes, thought it needfull to write vntounto you, that according as you hauehave receaued IESVS CHRIST at the firſt, euen ſo that you would both abide and proceed further in him, that you may be rooted and further built in the faith.
And that I write vntounto you, know, that I doe it with warrant for I am an Apoſtle of IESVS CHRIST no… tyed … one perticular congregation, or to one prouince, yea or to one kingdome, but am an Embaſſador, and hauehave commiſſion vntounto all the world. Neither doe I come to this charge of mine one will, … the will of any other man: but by the will of God, and the ſame his reuealed will. And albeit my authoritie her in be ſufficient to conuince all men of the truth I write of: yet for further and ſtronger perſwaſion thereof I hauehave ioyned Timothy, my beloued brother, to beare record with me, that in the mouth of two witneſſes the truth may be more ſurely eſtabliſhed? And conſidering that the bleſſing of all labours dependeth vponupon the Lord, our beginning is with harty prayer vntounto God, for the grace and fauour of God to be freely giuen, together with all the bleſſings both of this life, & of the life to come, from God the father, & from our Lord IESVS CHRIST to you Coloſſians: yet not all that dwell in that Cittie, but vntounto thoſe alone, which by faith are Saintes, and brethren, not in the fleſh, but in IESVS CHRIST.
And that you may hauehave further teſtimony of our louelove towards you, know that we doe continually both pray and giuegive thanks for you vntounto God, whom to ſeperate from all falſe Gods, I doe call the father of our Lotd IESVS CHRIST.
For the report of your profeſſion of godlineſſe in CHRIST IESVS, and of your louelove towards all Saintes is come vntounto vsus.
Which both, profeſſion and louelove, we know to be ſincere, in that they are vphoulden in you through the hope and expectation of a treaſure layd vp, not vponupon earth, but in heauen: which hope you hauehave conceyued, not of your owne phantaſy, nor of the word of any man, but by the word of truth, that is to ſay the Goſpell.
And if you aske which is that truth, or Goſpell, verily noe other, then that, which is preached among you now, which is not amongſt you alone▪ but is preached in all the world, a certaine note of the truth thereof, there hauing beene neuer, nor neuer ſhall be, any doctrine, which hath leuened ſo great a lumpe of dough as is the world, but onelyonly the doctrine of the Goſpell. And for further aſſurance that it is the onelyonly truth of God, I offer this to your conſideration, that as in other places of the world, ſo amongſt you it hath brought forth fruite euen ſithence the firſt time you hauehave truly and ſincerely acknowledged this grace of God. Where if you will ſay, we know not what doctrine is preached in all the world, nor what fruite it hath brought forth, although it be no other thing, then the common and conſtant report that many may bring vntounto you: yet to come nearer you, and rid you of all doubt which is the true Goſpell of CHRIST, it is euen the very ſame that you hauehave learned of Epaphras, whom if you louelove me, you muſt louelove him, as being my beloued fellow-ſeruant in Chriſt; yea if you louelove your ſelues, you muſt reſpect him, as being a faithful miniſter of CHRIST for you.
Who made manifeſt vntounto vsus your true louelove, not only naturall, but that eſpecially which is ſpirituall, whereof the Spirit is the Author.
And as we giuegive thanks for your good: ſo, and euen for the ſame cauſe you hauehave well begun, both becauſe you ſhould not goe backe againe, and for that you hauehave not yet attained to perfection▪ euen from the firſt day we heard of you we neuer giuegive ouer praying for you, making this ſute that yee may be filled with the acknowledgement of his will, and all wiſedom and vnderſtanding, whereof the holy Spirit is the Author.
Not that you ſhould content your ſelues with a bare knowledge and contemplation of heauenly thinges, but that yee may walke worthy of thoſe, whom the Lord hath called to ſuch honour, to a full and whole pleaſing of him, both by bringing forth fruite in eueryevery good worke, and by being increaſed in the knowledge of God.
Wherein becauſe there are many difficulties & hinderances layd in your way, our ſute alſo is, that you may be ſtrenghtned with all manner of ſtrength, according to that glorious power, which being in God he is able to furniſh you of; that euen with ioy you may be able to beare all troubles, how grieuous, and how continuall ſoeuer they be.
The ſum is, a declaration that the Apoſtle maketh of the ſingular affection and louelove that he hath to the Coloſſians, which is firſt conſidered in the ſaluation, as it were the indorſement of the letter.
Secondly in the profeſſion which he maketh of his, and Timotheis, thankſ-giuing, & prayer for them to the Lord.
from the 9: verſe vntill the 12. is contained.
Cauſe of the prayer for the Coloſſians
Prayer it ſelfe wherein is contayned
A requeſt for perfect
Knowledge.
Obedience.
Firſt the Apoſtle ſets ſorth himſelfe by his name Paul, He had two names giuen him, one at his Circumciſion viz. Saul, his father being a Gentile, hee had another name vid. Paul, in regard that they would keepe a note of his priuiledge in Rome.
The reaſon why hee would rather keepe the prophane, then the old name Saul, taken from Gods people▪ ſignifying one begged of God, is this, that becauſe that holy name was not ſo pleaſant to the Gentiles, of whom eſpecially he was Miniſter, he is content to take the worſe name, which hee tooke not ſo much pleaſure in.
Doctrine 1 Heatheniſh names may be vſed of Chriſtians, ſo there bee no hinderance of the Churches edification.Whereby we learne that in matter of name we do not alwaies pleaſe our ſelues ſo much, as others, viz: the Church, it being a matter of indifferency.
Secondly, for the Apoſtles calling. If one had aſked him, what calling hauehave you to deale with vsus? hee anſweres, that he was an Apoſtle, which had a generall charge ouer the whole world. Indeed there is great difference betweene the Miniſters now, which may not roue about, but hauehave their charge, and place limited them, as if they had but one plough-land to till: Whereas the Apoſtles Miniſtery was generall, they had the field of the whole world to Till by their meſſage, and by their miracles, for the publication & confirmation of the word. As in time of warres, it is neceſſary that there ſhould be a Generall and Lord Marſhall, but when that warres are ceaſed and there is peace there needeth onelyonly to bee a Garriſon and Captaine made for them. So when as the great conqueſt of the Goſpell was to be made ouer the world, it was neceſſary there ſhould bee Apoſtles as Generals, afterward it was ſufficient to hauehave the Paſtors, Doctors, and Elders, as a Garriſon in the Church of God to keepe and gouerne it. Therefore wee ſee after Iames was killed none was elected into his roome, as at the firſt in ſteed of Iud…s. So likewiſe we ſee in the building of the houſe, the chiefe Maiſter …lder is onelyonly for the plat-forme, the other bui… afterward are ſufficient. Indeed the fruite of the Apoſtles Miniſtery remaineth ſtill vntounto the Church.
Doct. 2 If wee will doe any good in the Church or Common-wealth, wee muſt not ſo much as attempt it without lawfull calling, and warrant thereunto, no not ſo much as in an houſhold.
It followeth how the Apoſtle proues himſelfe to bee a true Apoſtle, and not a falſe, as there were many then, which vnderunder the name of Apoſtles did ſow the tares of errour and ſedition.
By the will of God) viz. not by the ſecret will, by the which are wicked and vnlawfull Apoſtles, Magiſtrates, and Miniſters; but he was by the reuealed will of God, it being manifeſted vntounto him, in the way; as he was going to Damaſcus, and alſo reuealed to theAct. 9. Diſciples afterward.
Doct. 3 Here then wee are to examine whether wee bee Learning, pietie, and a lawfull ordination make a cō pleat Miniſter, one pleaſing vntounto Cod. 2. Tim. 3. 2. 3.the Minſters of God indeed, and that we are to doe by the reueiled will of God, wherein the Lord doth note forth who are thoſe that are called to the Miniſtery by him, viz. ſuch as are indued with fit gifts, and enter as he requireth. Saint Paul to Timothy deſcribes a Miniſter, firſt, by his learning, able to teach, and confute: Secondly, by his good manners, as a neceſſary thing in all Chriſtians, yet more eſpecially in a Miniſter; and therefore he maketh mention of thoſe ſpeciall things, which are neceſſary for all Chriſtians, ſo principally are required in the Miniſters, whichMath. 5. 14. Tit. 2. 7. are to bee lights, and good examples to their flockes.
In that the Apoſtle ioyneth Timothy with him, wePauls humility. obſerue. Firſt, his humility, that would ioine his ſcholler with himſelfe in the honour, which had no part of the labour, which hee had taken in admoniſhing and inſtructing the Colloſians. This hee doth to the end the truth might be further credited.
Doct. 4 He teacheth that though others bee farre vnderneath vsus, as Timothy was to Paul: yet for the furtherance of the truth, wee are not to thinke much to ioyne them as equall with vsus.
Secondly, we obſerue his wiſedome herein, thatPauls diſcretion. howſoeuer his teſtimony had bene ſufficient againſt all the world, yet becauſe two witneſſes were of more force and aſſurance, he taketh vntounto him Timothy. And therefore it was that CHRIST ſent the Diſciples two by two, one to ſpeake and another to beare record. So when Paul andLuke 10. 2. Acts 14. 12. Barnabas went together, Paul ſpake, and therefore they called him Mercury.
The end of the firſt Sermon.