Exposition of Colossians, Sermons · Chapter 1 · Verse 8
VER. 8. Who hath alſo declared vntounto vsus your louelove, which ye hauehave by the Spirit.
Come we to the eight verſe, where the Apoſtle proues that Epaphras was faithfull for the good of the Coloſſians, becauſe he gaue teſtimony of their louelove. To omit other acceptions, the words are thus to be vnderſtood that Epaphras made knowne to Paul and Timothie what louelove the Coloſſians bare vntounto them (for he ſpake of all their louelove to al the Saints before, vers. 4.) and the words carry this ſence; which ye hauehave being far from vsus in body, that you doe inwardly affect vsus in ſoule and ſpirit, though you be far diſtant from vsus in body and that the word (ſpirit) is ſomtimes thus taken, appeares cap. 2. of this Epiſtle ver. 5. though I be abſent in the fleſh, yet am I with you in the ſpirit.
Here firſt we are to marke that the Apoſtle commends Epaphras for reporting vntounto him how the Coloſſians loued him and Timothie, which may miniſter this inſtruction: that it is an excellent vertue for ſuch as hauehave intercourſe and paſſe betweene partie and partie, to relate and ſpeake of things that may engender, and encreaſe true mutuall louelove and Chriſtian affection betweene them, thus did Epaphras, he no doubt made knowen to the Coloſſians, what an excellent Apoſtle Paul was, againe hee declared to him, what louelove the Coloſſians bare vntounto him, to ſtirre him vp in affection towards them, hence it is that we finde it among the vertues of ſpeciall note,Phil. 4.8. to thinke and ſpeake of things that pertaine to louelove: will we ſee a reaſon of this it is ſoone giuen, any man may eaſily conceiue it, if he do but conſider as he ought the excellency of true Chriſtian louelove amongſt men, it being that which is driuen at in all commandements of the ſecond table, and that which makes all good duties profitable and good to our brethren,1. Cor. 13. as the Apoſtle prooues at large, and louelove being thus excellent, ſurely the ſpeaking of ſuch things, as tend to the furtherance and encreaſe of it, mutually amongſt men muſt needs bee a ſpeciall vertue and a worthy grace of a good Chriſtian. Ʋſe. This being ſo, that to report ſuch things. as may engender,Carrying of tales between parties is a notable vice. Pro. 26.20. and encreaſe louelove, is an excellent vertue. Then the contrary to this to carry ſuch tales and reports betweene parties which are as wood to the fire, to ſtirre vp ſtrife, to ſet men at ods and difference, cannot chooſe but be a notable vice, and the very character and badge of a lewd perſon, and a fault too common in the world, ſome there be who make tale telling ſo common a practiſe, as there is not an honeſt man or woman that hath not ſome time or other beene wounded by the ſtroake of the ranging tongue of the tale-bearer; but let ſuch as are guiltie of this ſinne, conſider the vglineſſe of it, let them conſider beſide this, that it is the property of a vile nature, to ſeeke by tales to make others vile, that it is the very bane and poyſon of friendſhip, and the cut-throat of amity, a degree of murder,Ezech. 22.9. ſo ſayth the Lord that in Ieruſalem were men that carried tales to ſhed bloud. Let them I ſay further conſider thē reach of this ſinne, it reacheth not onelyonly to the killing of the bodies, but of the ſoule of many at one blow; wee ſay, it is a ſhrewd blow that killes three at once. Now the tale-teller (without Gods merciemercy) killes his owne ſoule, and peraduenture the ſoules of twenty more,Pſal. 12.3. who raſhly vponupon the hearing of a falſe tale condemne the innocent, the Lord therefore ſtirred vp the ſpirit of Dauid, to pray that God would root out all deceitfull lippes. If theſe things bee thought on, they are ſufficient to breede in a heart not giuen ouer to it ſelfe, a deteſtation of this ſinne, and let vsus take heed, the Diuell deceiues vsus not in this caſe, for hee will force this vppon vsus vnderunder many faire pretences, as that wee are ſorrie that our neighbours hath done ſo, that we ſpeake not of malice, nor all wee could ſpeake.
Let vsus beware of this ſubtilty, and learne to auoyd this ſinne.
From the laſt words (which ye hauehave by the ſpirit) the Doct. 2 poynt briefly is this,True beleeuers louelove one another though they ſee not the face one of another. that true beleeuers louelove one another though they neuer ſee the face one of another, which argues true louelove not riſing from any outward thing, either pleaſure or profit, the ground of this, is their vnion with Chriſt, for they that are one with Chriſt, cannot but bee one in heart among themſelues, how farre diſtant ſoeuer they bee one from another in bodie: and let vsus heereby trie our louelove to the Saints of God, Vſe. if wee bee affected towards them,We are hereby to trie our louelove to the Saints of God. 1. Ioh. 3.14. of whom wee heare well and yet neuer ſaw them, if wee louelove them as heartily as our owne ſonne or brother, then our louelove is true ſpirituall louelove, and a teſtimony of our adoption. Wee know that wee are tranſlated from death to life, becauſe wee louelove the brethren.