Exposition of Colossians, Sermons · Chapter 2 · Verse 3
VER. 3 In whom are hid all the treaſures of wiſedome and knowledge.
In this verſe for the matter of it, is laid downe the firſt generall propoſition that is handled in this chapter, namely that propoſition which the Apoſtle doth labour to ſtrengthen and perſwade the Coloſians, to imbrace and to hold faſt, and it is this.
The firſt generall propoſition handled in this chapter.That in Chriſt full and perfect knowledge of all things needfull to ſaluation is to be found.
Now this propoſition is not plainly in theſe termes deliuered, but it lies vnderunder a ſimilitude, wherein Chriſt is likened to a treaſury, or an houſe of ſtore, and this knowledge to a treaſure, and the Apoſtle ſaith in him are laide vp faſt and cloſe all the treaſures of this knowledge.
For the better clearing of the text let vsus enter into a more ſpeciall examination of the words.
Interpretation.(In whome) the originall worde may bee rendred (in whom or in which) for they may be referred either to the word (myſtery) or to Chriſt, all is one in the ſence & meaning of the Apoſtle, for the matter and ſubſtance of the Goſpell is Chriſt, and wee are to acknowledge no other Chriſt but hee that is ſet before vsus in the Goſpell, but the moſt receaued tranſlation is (in whom) with relation to Chriſt, (all the treaſures of wiſedome and knowledge, (i) the moſt excellent and precious things of wiſedome and knowlege, & we are to vnderſtand by the word (wiſedom) the knowledge of things to be knowne and beleeued; and by the worde knowledge the knowledge of things to bee practiſed (are hid) (i) are not knowne in reſpect of naturall men and naturall reaſon. Thus then conceiue the words of the Apoſtle, as if he had ſaid, in which Chriſt ar… the moſt excellent and pretious things needfull: To bee knowne either concerning faith, or good life to bee found, though hid from naturall men, and naturall reaſon.
Now firſt of all, the matter and ſubſtance of this verſe, that in Chriſt all things needfull to bee knowne to ſaluation are to be found beeing conſidered together with the ſimilitude vnderunder which it is deliuered, doth affoord this concluſion.
That Chriſt is the ſtore-houſe of all ſauing and comfortable knowledge, in him is all ſauing knowledge laid vp, as in an houſe of ſtore,Chriſt is the ſtorehouſe of all ſauing and comfortable knowledge and from him onelyonly it muſt bee deriued, from him onelyonly muſt we fetch all ſauing knowledge, for why? in Chriſt is treaſured vp the knowledge of the diuine eſſence and nature, he being very God, 1. Iohn 5.20. the knowledge of the maieſty and power of God manifeſted by his miracles, and reſurrection, the knowledge of the iuſtice, goodnes, louelove and mercy of God made known by his comming into the world, and ſuffering of death, 1. Tim. 1.15. Chriſt Ieſus came into the worlde to ſaue ſinners, the knowledge of the work of creation,Coloſ. 1.16. gouernment and preſeruation of the world, Heb. 1.3. he doth ſuſtaine or beare vp all things by his mighty word, &c. In a word, the knowledge of the reconciliation, redemption, and ſaluation of Gods choſen, and of eternall life and glory reſerued in heauen for them, all theſe are poynts of ſauing knowledge to which all others may be reduced, and theſe are all to be found in Chriſt, and onelyonly in him with comfort, he is the volume in which all theſe, and all other poynts of ſauing knowledge are written, reuealed & made knowne to vsus. Hence then of neceſſity it followeth, that the knowledge Vſe. 1 of any thing out of Chriſt is not a comfortable knowledge,The knowledge of any thing out of Chriſt is not a comfortable knowledge. a knowledge tending to ſaluation, but rather to deſtruction and damnation for example (houlding our ſelues to the Apoſtles ſimilitude) a knowledge of any merit, any ſatisfaction to God, and of any treaſure of the Church out of Chriſt. The Papiſts would beare vsus in hand that they know a treaſure belonging to the infinit treaſure of the ſatisfaction purchaſed by the paſſion of Chriſt out of Chriſt, and what is that? forſooth the paſſions of the bleſſed Virgine Mary, and of all other Saints, who ſuffered more as they blaſphemouſly ſpeake) then their ſinnes required, this is no ſauing and comfortable knowledge, but an accurſed and damnable knowledge, indeede a fancy and dreame of their owne, it is at iarre and diſcord within it ſelfe, for how can that which is infinite admitte any thing to be adioyned and added vntounto it, they acknowledge an infinite treaſure of ſatisfaction in Chriſt, and yet they ſay there belongs to it other ſatisfactions, what is this but with one & the ſame breath to contradict themſelues? I leaue them therefore to vaniſh in their gaine ſayings, & come to our ſelues vponupon this ground.
Vſe. 2 That all ſauing knowledge is to be deriued from Chriſt conſider wee thus much,There is no comfort in the knowledge of God out of Chriſt, & much leſſe in the knowledge of any other thing. that for vsus to know any thing out of Chriſt, though the thing it ſelfe be good, yea euen goodneſſe it ſelfe, yea God himſelfe, yet there is no comfort in ſuch knowledge out of Chriſt, wee know him but as an angry iudge, and as a God clothed with iuſtice and iudgement againſt vsus, yea to deſcend lower to things familiar, and of daily vſe with vsus, to know things giuen vntounto vsus of God, either ſpirituall or temporall, either concerning the good of our ſoules as the worde and Sacraments, &c. or the good of our bodies, as meate, drinke, apparell, houſe or land, &c. to know theſe things to bee bleſſings of God, is not ſufficient, that is no comfortable knowledge, yet many reſt in that knowledge, & think it … nough if they can ſay, God hath bleſſed them with ſuch … ſuch things, the heathens were able to ſay ſo, there i… … comfort in ſuch knowledge, our knowledge of things … vsus of God muſt goe a ſtep further, it muſt be ground…d … Chriſt that it may be comfortable: we muſt labor to know good things giuen vsus, not onelyonly to be bleſſings of God in themſelues, but bleſſings to vsus, in and by Ieſus Chriſt, … muſt endeuor to vſe the Apoſtles form of praiſe & thank… giuing; bleſſed be God who hath bleſſed vsus with ſpirit… yea & with the temporall bleſſings we do enioy, in Chriſt. Some may ſay how is that to be done? Queſt. Labor to hauehave part in the merit of Chriſt, to apprehend and apply the merit of his death to thy ſelfe, Anſw. then thou ſhalt know with comfort, that the good things vouchſafed vntounto thee, are giuen as pledges of Gods louelove, and are bleſſings to thee, in and by his merit, and if thy knowledge bee not thus grounded in Chriſt, it is ſo far from being comfortable, as it doth let thee vnderſtand to thy diſcomfort, that the good things giuen vntounto thee are but giuen thee to leaue thee without execuſe, & for further encreaſe of thy condemnation. Let this bee thought on, & let it ſtir vsus vp to labour to hauehave our knowledge of al things we enioy in this life, grounded in the merit of Chriſt, the ſtorehouſe and fountaine of all ſauing knowledge. The next thing wee are to marke is, that the knowledge of things needfull to be knowne to ſaluation, laid vp in Chriſt, is deliuered, not in plaine termes, but vnderunder this compariſon, (the treaſure of wiſedome & knowledge) hence we may take vp this concluſion.
That ſauing knowledge, or knowledge & wiſedom vntounto Doct. 2 ſaluation, which is to be found only in Chriſt, is a thing of great price,Sauing knowledge found only in Chriſt is a thing moſt precious. it is a treaſure of ineſtimable worth and excellency, the Apoſtle ſets it downe as a thing whereof he was fully reſolued that nothing in the world was able to come neere the worth and excellency of this, other things compared with this, he held them as loſſe & dung, yea doubtleſſe (ſaith hee) I think all things but loſſe for the excellent knowledge ſake of Chriſt Ieſus my Lord, for whom I hauehave counted all things loſſe, and doe iudge them to bee dung, that I might win Chriſt, he ſaith he eſteemed not, he made no account of knowing any thing ſaue Ieſus Chriſt & him crucified, ioyne to this that of the wiſeman, where he ſaith the marchandize of this is better then the marchandize of ſiluer, and the gaine thereof is better then gold,Prou. 3.14.15.16.17.18. it is more precious then pearles, and all things that thou canſt deſire, are not to be compared vntounto her, &c.
The reaſon of this is plaine. Reaſon. Sauing knowledge is a thing of greater worth then any thing in the worlde, becauſe it concernes our euerlaſting good, the good of our bodies and ſoules for euer, other things concerne but our temporary good onelyonly in the time of this life, what ſhall it profite a man ſaith our Sauiour though hee winne the whole worlde, if hee looſe his owne ſoule,Mat. 16.26. where hee giues vsus to vnderſtand, that if a man ſhould gaine the whole world, it would doe him no good, and all in reſpect of his euerlaſting good, that gaine may ſtand with the loſſe of heauen and euerlaſting happineſſe, therefore ſauing knoweledge found in Chriſt, is a thing of farre greater woorth then any thing in the world.
Ʋſe. Now this beeing ſo, that ſauing knowledge in Chriſt is ſo excellent a treaſure wee muſt labour to bee perſwaded of the excellency of it,We muſt labour to be perſwaded of the excellency of ſauing knowledge, & to affect it according to the excellency of it. and to bee affected towardes it accordingly, wee muſt hauehave our affections enlarged, and hauehave euen a couetous deſire after this ſame heauenly treaſure (this is an holy couetouſneſſe) yea, with the wiſe Merchant, Mat. 13.45. that ſeeketh good pearles, and hauing found this pearle of great price, wee are to ſell all wee hauehave, wee are to renounce all that nature hath endued vsus withall and to deſpiſe and ſet light by all the profits, pleaſures, honours and preferments of this life that wee may purchaſe this pearle of ſuch excellent woorth; and this exhortation was neuer more needefull then now in theſe dayes wherein moſt men and women hauehave their hearts ſet vppon the world, and though they hauehave liberty and opportunity, yea, perſwaſion and encouragement, to ſtore vp the treaſures found in Ieſus Chriſt, yet they through greedy deſire of the corruptible and caſuall treaſures of the world, are wholly withheld from ſeeking this one thing onelie neceſſary, what is the cauſe of this, let vsus conſider the cauſe of it, that finding that, wee may labour to remooue it, that ſo the effect may fall to the ground, ſurely, the cauſe of it is this, men are poſſeſſed with that conc…t, of the Laodiceans, Reuel. 3.17. that they are rich, and neede not the riches of Chriſt, to make them truely rich, they finde not themſelues to ſtand in neede of the precious treaſures found in Chriſt to enrich them, they goe on in a fearefull dulneſſe and deadneſſe of heart, and doe neyther ſee nor feele their owne pouerty, and wretchednes.
Happily ſome will ſay we confeſſe our ſelues to bee ſinners, therefore wee cannot thinke ſuch a wicked thought,Ob. that we hauehave no need of Chriſt.
I anſwere to them that plead thus for themſelues, Anſ. it may be they confeſſe themſelues to be ſinners, and yet withall, they thinke not that they ſtand in ſuch neede of Chriſt as they do, (for conſider it) do they not many times confeſſe themſelues to be ſinners only in generall manner; that all men are ſinners, and they among the reſt? but come we to the tryall with them in particulars, doe they not then goe about to extenuate, and to excuſe their ſins, accounting great ſinnes, little ſinnes, as breaking of the Sabbaoth, cuſtomary ſwearing and the like, I appeale to themſelues, whether it bee not ſo with many, now where theſe things are, though the mouth ſay I am a ſinner, yet the heart ſaith no, I ſtand not in ſuch need of Ieſus Chriſt, and this is that which makes men not to value the riches of Ieſus Chriſt as they ought, we muſt therefore labour to find our ſelues ſtand in neede of the rich treaſure found in Chriſt, yea that wee ſtand in need of his precious bloud to waſh away the leaſt of our ſinnes, and that without the rich grace and mercy of God in Ieſus Chriſt, the leaſt of our ſinnes makes vsus liable to the curſe and euerlaſting perdition, and then we ſhall account the treaſure of ſauing knowledge found in Ieſus Chriſt more precious then all the riches in the world.
Conſider wee further but this one thing ſauing knowledge in Chriſt will ſtand by vsus and comfort vsus when all things in the worlde forſake vsus,Note. doe not wee ſee riches taken away from men, or elſemen taken ſuddenly away from their riches, neither their ſiluer nor their golde is able to deliuer them in the daie of the Lords wrath, &c. Zephan. 1.18. but ſauing knowledge in Chriſt is durable riches, Pro. 8.18. it is a treaſure that will continue for euer and miniſter comfort in the greateſt extremity. Let vsus then in wiſedome affect this treaſure and ſeeke after it and euen deſpiſe all things in the world in reſpect of it, that ſo we may lay vp in ſtore a good foundation againſt the time to come.
One thing more obſerue we, the Apoſtle ſaith the excellent and precious knowledge of things needfull to bee knowne to ſaluation are hid in Chriſt.
This conſidered, together with the relatiue to whom i… is hid (namely) to naturall men, doth offer this knowne concluſion.
Doct. 3 That ſauing knowledge found in Chriſt though it h… a thing of great price,The excellency and worth of ſauing knowledge is not known to eueryevery man. yet it is not apparant to … mans eye, eueryevery man ſeeth not the luſtre and beauty …f this pretious knowledge, eueryevery mans minde is not … to comprehend the worth of it, no not any mans mind but onelyonly their minds that are opened and enlightned by the Spirit of God, Math. 16.17. our Sauiour ſaith to Pet…, vponupon his confeſſion that he was the Chriſt, fleſh & bloud had not reuealed that vntounto him, but his Father which it i… heauen 1. Cor. 2.14. the naturall man perceiueth not th… things of the ſpirit of God: for they are fooliſhneſſe vn… him, neither can hee know them, hee hath neither pow… nor poſſibility in himſelfe to know them, let him labo… and ſtriue neuer ſo much, why? becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned.
The reaſon Reaſon. is, (as I hauehave heeretofore ſhewed.) Becauſe there is no ſeed of ſauing knowledge in nature, it is abo…e the reach of nature created in the ſtate of innocency; much more of nature in the ſtate of ſinne and corruption. Now then is it ſo, that ſauing knowledge found in Chriſt, being a moſt excellent treaſure is not knowne, much leſſe eſt…emed ſo to be, but onelyonly of them, to whom it pleaſeth God to diſcouer it, is it a treaſure hidden & kept cloſe from the ſight of many in the world?
Let then as many as hauehave it reuealed vntounto them b…e thankfull to God; it is eſteemed a great fauor if a rich king ſhew to any the houſe of his Treaſure. Vſe. Wee read Iſai. 39.2. that Hezekiah to gratifie the King of Babels Ambaſſadour that brought him letters and a preſent,They that hauehave the excellency of ſauing knowledge reuealed vntounto them are to be thankful to God for the ſame. ſhewed them the houſe of the treaſures, the ſiluer and the gold, and the ſpices, and the pretious oyntment, and all the houſe of his armour, &c. how great a fauour then is it for the Lord, the King of heauen and earth, to ſhew to vsus, yea to giuegive vsus eies to ſee with comfort, the riches and treaſures found in his treaſury euen in Ieſus Chriſt better then all the riches and treaſures of the world, how much are wee in this regard bound to magnifie the Lords mercy, hee hath not ſo dealt with eueryevery one, we may ſee thouſands left in this blindnes not able to ſee the things wee ſee, yea wee may ſee in them our owne image, what wee were before the Lord put a difference betweene them and vsus. Let it therefore ſtir vp as many as hauehave their eyes opened to ſee with comfort the rich treaſures found in Chriſt, to magnifie and praiſe the Lord for ſo great a mercy; yea let our hearts be enlarged, and mouthes opened to praiſe the Lord for the comfortable ſight of this excellent treaſure when it pleaſeth him to ſtrip vsus of earthly riches which happely we had in great aboundance. Let vsus in ſuch a caſe and time with Dauid Pſal. 42.11.Pſal. 42.11. rouſe vp our fainting ſoules and ſay, why art thou caſt downe my ſoule? and why art thou diſquieted within me? Waite on God, for I will yet notwithſtanding all this giuegive thanks to the Lord. It is the councell of the preacher,Eccleſ. 7.16. In the day of wealth bee of good comfort, and in the day of affliction conſider, and what is a man, that is the childe of God, then conſider? ſurely among other things this, that God hath opened to him the dore of his Iewell houſe, and let him ſee to his great comfort the treſures that are found in Chriſt; this a child of God ought to conſider in time of the loſſe of outward riches, the conſideration of this will ſwallow vp all greefe for the loſſe of thoſe things, & make him ſtill lift vp his heart and open his mouth to bleſſe the Lord and to ſay with Dauid, I will yet giuegive him thanks, for notwithſtanding I hauehave ſuffered great loſſe in outward things, yet I ſtill ſee to my comfort the Treaſures that are found in Chriſt, and I hauehave ſtill my part in them which are better then all the treaſures in the world.