Exposition of Colossians, Sermons · Chapter 4 · Verse 13
VER. 13 For I beare him record that he hath a great zeale for you, and for them of Laodicea, and them of Hierapolis.
In this verſe, as we hauehave ſhewed, our Apoſtle doth diſcouer the efficient cauſe of Epaphras his earneſt ſtriuing in prayer for the Coloſſians, that it proceeded and came from his zeale for them, and this verſe hath reſpect to the former, as an argument or reaſon proouing that Epaphras did ſtriue in prayer for them, taken from the efficient cauſe of it, namely, his zeale towards them, and that zeale of his, is further ſet out by the meaſure of it, by the extent of it, and by the Apoſtles owne teſtimonie, For I beare him record (ſaith the Apoſtle) that he hath a great zeale for you, the words of this verſe need no long expoſition, For I beare him record, or I witneſſe with him,Interpretation. I yeeld him my teſtimony, that he hath a great zeale, the word (zeale) in Scripture, hath many ſignifications, but hauing heere relation to the Coloſſians and others, it ſignifieth a feruent affection of louelove, a burning louelove, a louelove that cannot lie hid, but is like to a fire that is hot, and often breakes out into flame, for you Coloſſians, and for your neighbours them of Laodicea, and them of Hierapolis, for Laodicea and Hierapolis were neighbour townes or cities not farre from Coloſſe.
This then is briefely the meaning of the Apoſtle in the words of this verſe.
For I witneſſe with Epaphras, that he hath a burning louelove, euen a louelove that often times, like fire flames out, and ſhewes it ſelfe, both towards you, and towards your neighbors, them of Laodicea, and them of Hierapolis.
Conſider wee the Apoſtles argument in this place, in that the Apoſtle prooues Epaphras his ſtriuing in prayers for the Coloſſians, by laying foorth his zeale towards them, as the efficient cauſe, and root of it.
He plainely teacheth vsus thus much.
That out of zeale towards others, euer comes feruent Doct. 1 prayers for them, yea, the poynt is, & may be generall out of zeale, out of burning louelove towards others, euer comes a carefull performance & practiſe of all good duties towards them,Zeale & burning louelove towards others, …uer brings foorth a carefull performance and practiſe of all good duties towards them. as occaſion is offered, and according to the meaſure of zeale, ſo is the practiſe of good duties, a great zeale brings foorth feruent prayers, and carefull performance of eueryevery good duty, and where zeale and burning louelove is wanting, there is either a neglect of good duties altogether, or a dooing of them for faſhion, or for by-reſpects.
And for further proofe of this, the example of Paul, is moſt pregnant: he, in many of his Epiſtles, makes knowne his zeale, and his feruent louelove towards thoſe, to whome he wrote.
And therevpon, his carefull performance of good duties, iſhuing out from thence, euen his carefull inſtructing, admoniſhing, reproouing, comforting, and praying for them, as occaſion was offered. 2. Cor. 7.3. Hee ſaith the Corinthians were in his heart, to dye and liue together; and from that louelove of his, it was that hee made them ſorry with a letter, verſe 8. and hee ſaith, verſe 12. That hee wrote that letter vntounto them, to manifeſt, and make knowne his care towards them, in the ſight of God. From his louelove, and from his care towards them, came his carefull reproofe, of that which was amiſſe in them by his letter. 1. Theſſ. in the 2. and 3. chapter, hee doth notably cleare the truth of this poynt, in his owne example. Chap. 2. he ſaith, he was affected towards the Theſſalonians, as a Nurſe, and as a Father to his children: and being thus affectioned (ſaith he) verſe 8. Our good will was to hauehave dealt vntounto you, not the Goſpel of God onelyonly, but alſo our owne ſoules, becauſe ye weare deere vntounto vsus. And then verſe 11. that from that louelove it was, that he exhorted them, and comforted them, and beſought euerie one of them, as a father his children. And chapter 3.1. he ſaith, wherefore ſince wee could no longer forbeare, as if hee had ſaide, my louelove towardes you was ſuch, and ſo ſtrong within me, it was like a fire in my breaſt, I could no longer keepe it in, and from thence it was, that I ſent Tymotheus our brother to eſtabliſh, and to comfort you touching your faith, a plaine euidence and proofe of this.
That out of zeale and burning louelove towards others, euer comes a carefull performance of all good duties, and the reaſon of this is very plaine, Reaſon namely this.
True louelove is euer induſtrious, and painfull for the good of thoſe that are beloued: and according to the meaſure of it, ſo is it more or leſſe induſtrious and painefull.
And therefore certainely, out of zeale, and burninge louelove, euer comes carefull performance of eueryevery good duty. Hence then wee may eaſilie conceiue, Vſe. whence it is that men are not carefull,Whence it îs that men alltogether neglect the doing of good duties to their brethren, or elſe do them coldly in by-reſpects. and conſcionable in performance of good duties, towardes their bretheren; euen from hence, they hauehave noe heate in them, they hauehave no burning affection of true louelove in their hearts towardes their brethren; their hearts are either taken vp, with ſelfe louelove, or with doting & corrupt partial louelove, and thence it is that they either altogither neglect the doing of good duties to their brethren, or they do them coldlie, & faintly, or in ſiniſter and by reſpects. We muſt therefore labour to hauehave our hearts ſeized & poſſeſſed with a zeale, & with a burning affection of louelove to our brethren, and that we erre not touching this point, but may both rightly conceaue this zeale, and be perſwaded to the imbracing of it, being rightly conceiued, I will ſtand a while to ſhew.
Firſt, what this zeale is.
Secondly, the ſorts of it.
Thirdly, how it is to be manifeſted.
Fourthly, in whome it ought to be found.
And then after ſome examination of our ſelues touching the ſame, I will vſe ſome motiues to ſtirre vsus vp, to put on and to expreſſe this holy affection.
Firſt, therefore knowe wee,What zeale is that zeale or burning louelove towards our brethren, is a feruency of ſpirit, ariſing of a mixture of louelove and anger, for zeale, is a mixt affection, cauſing men to ſeeke the good of their brethren, and moouing them to indignation and griefe, when any thinge is done to the hurt of their brethren, or that may hinder their good: And this feruencie of ſpirit, cauſing men thus to doo, is twofould, either according to knowledge, and guided by the word of God, or it is blinde,2. ſorts of zeale. and not according to knowledge, as was that of Paul before his conuerſion; Phill. 3.6. concerning zeale, I perſecuted the church.
Now thirdly, touching the manifeſtation of this feruencie of ſpirit, cauſing men to do as hath beene ſaid, it is to be manifeſted two waies.Zeale is to be manifeſted two waies.
Firſt, by doing good according to the abilitie and the meanes we are able to vſe, to the ſoules of our brethren, by inſtructing, by councelling, and by comforting them, or by praying for them, thus did Epaphras in this place he had a zeale toward the Coloſſians, and he made it knowne by ſtriuing in praiers for them, thus did Paul as wee hauehave ſeene in the places before cited.
Secondly, by remouing or turning away, or at leaſt endeauouring to turne away euill, as wee are able from the ſoules of our brethren, by ſhewing our holy anger and indignation againſt their ſinnes, by admonition, by reprofe, or by correction, as iuſt occaſion is offered. Thus did Moſes after the children of Iſraell had committed that foule ſinne in worſhipping the golden calfe, manifeſt his zeale, both in reſpect of Gods glory, and towards the people, by his holy anger, and indignation againſt them for that ſinne, He (as we finde Exod. 32.20.) tooke the calfe which they had made, and burned it in the fire, & ground it vntounto powder, and ſtrawed it vponupon the water, and made the children of Iſraell drinke of it,Zeale ought to be found in all, but eſpecially in publike perſons and ſuch as hauehave the gouernment of others. And hee ſharpely reproued Aaron verſe 21. what did this people vntounto thee that thou haſt brought ſo great a ſinne vponupon them? Now in the fourth place for the perſons in whom this zeale to our brethren ought to be found; We muſt know, that it ought to be found in all, but eſpecially in magiſtrates, in miniſters, and ſuch as hauehave any way the gouernment of others, as heere we ſee it was in Epaphras a miniſter, and ſo in Moſes, in Paul and ſuch like publique perſons, ſo then the ſumme of all that hath beene ſaid touching zeale to our brethren is this.
All men, but eſpecially magiſtrates, miniſters, and ſuch as hauehave the gouernment of others, are to hauehave their hearts ſeized with a feruency of ſpirit, ariſing of a mixture of louelove, and anger, cauſing them according to the direction of the word of God, to ſeeke the good of their brethren, and moouing them to indignation and griefe, when any thing is done to the hurt of their brethren, and they are to manifeſt that feruencie of ſpirit by doing what good they are able to the ſoules of their brethren, by inſtruction, by counſell, by comfort, and by praiers, and (as they are able) to remoue and turne away, or at leaſt endeauour to turne away euill from their brethren, by ſhewing holy anger againſt their ſinnes, by admonition by reproofe, or by correction, as iuſt occaſion is offered.
This is that zeale and that burning affection of louelove that we are to hauehave our hearts poſſeſſed with all, and eſpecially magiſtrates, and miniſters, and ſuch as hauehave the gouernment of others, and this are they to manifeſt it to their brethren.Reproofe of ſuch as want zeale to their brethren. And now if we do examine our ſelues touching this holy affection of zeale to our brethren, where, almoſt, is it to be found, where, almoſt is that man that hath the gouernment of others in any kinde, that magiſtrate, that maſter of a familie, or the like, that hath in him a feruency of ſpirit, cauſing him to ſeeke the good of the ſoules of thoſe that are vnderunder him, ſhewing it foorth by inſtruction, by good counſell, by comfort, by feruent praier, and moouing him to indignation and griefe for their ſinnes, manifeſting that by holy anger, by admonition, by reproofe, by correction as iuſt occaſion is offered? do not many maſters and gouernors, not onelyonly neglect theſe good duties, to thoſe that be vnderunder them, but many times euen countenance them in their ſinnes? doe they not many times ſtand by their children, and ſeruants, and heare them raile, curſe, and ſweare, and many waies miſdemeane themſelues, and yet ſhew foorth no manner of griefe, and indignation, nor diſlike for the ſame. Do they not ſuffer them to breake the ſabboth without controlement? yea ſometimes ſuch as hauehave the gouernment of others ſtand by them in the open ſtreetes, when they are at their ſports, and vanities, and looke on them, and neuer open their mouthes to reprooue them. This is for want of zeale to our brethren, wee hauehave not our hearts poſſeſſed with that burning louelove towards them that ought to be in vsus, and therefore in a word, or two, to ſtirre vsus vp to labour after this zeale, and this burning louelove towards our brethren,Two mot…ues to ſtirre vsus vp to labour after zeale, and burning louelove towards our brethren. and eſpecially ſuch as are vnderunder our gouernment, conſider firſt of all that if thou hauehave not a zeale in thine heart towards thy brethren thou ſhalt neuer doe good duties to them carefully, and conſcionably, and if thou doe them not carefully, and conſcionably, the doing of them is not pleaſing to the Lord, for it is not the good dutie done, that is pleaſing to him, vnleſſe it bee done in truth, and ſinceritie of heart, and affection; And in all good duties done, he lookes rather to the affection of the doer then to the deede done.
Againe conſider this, if thou hauehave not in thee a zeale towards thy brethren, and eſpecially towards ſuch as bee vnderunder thy charge, thou haſt not any true zeale to Gods glory; his glory is not deare vntounto thee, for certainely as many as hauehave zeale to the glory of God, they hauehave alſo a zeale, and burning louelove to their brethren, and they deſire that God may be glorified by others, as well as by themſelues, and they are grieued when God is diſhonored, when they heare or ſee him diſhonored by any and eſpecially by thoſe that be vnderunder their charge.
If then thou wouldeſt do good duties to thy brethren, and eſpecially to thoſe that are vnderunder thy charge carefully, and conſcionably, and ſo as they may bee pleaſing to God.
And if thou wouldeſt make it cleare, that thou haſt a zeale to Gods glory, and that his glory is deare vntounto thee, (which indeed ought to be more precious and deare vntounto thee, then thine owne ſaluation.)
Then labour thou to put on zeale and burning louelove to thy brethren, and eſpecially to thoſe that bee vnderunder thy charge, neuer reſt till thou finde in thee a feruencie of ſpirit, euen a mixture of louelove and anger, cauſing thee (according to knowledge) to ſeeke the good of their ſoules, by all good meanes, and moouing thee to an holy indignation and griefe, when any thing is done, that may be to the hurt of their ſoules.
In the next place, we are to marke the Apoſtles amplification of Epaphras his zeale, by the meaſure and extent of it, that it was a great zeale, extended to the Coloſſians, and to them of Laodicea, and them of Hierapolis. Hence note we (in a word.)
That ſometimes the children of God hauehave in them Doct. 2 (though not a perfect) yet a great meaſure of zeale,Gods children hauehave ſomtimes in them a great meaſure of zeale and burning louelove to their brethren. and burning louelove to their brethren, and that extended to many of their brethren, for (as the Apoſtle Peter ſaith, 1 Pet: 1.22.) The children of God hauehave their ſoules purified in obeying the truth through the Spirit, to louelove brotherly without faining, ſo as ſometimes they come to louelove one another with a pure heart feruently.
They hauehave not onelyonly that grace of true louelove to the brethren begun in them, but they many times feele it feruent, and hot within them.
Now then, this being ſo, that the children of God, many Vſe. 1 time hauehave in them, a great meaſure of louelove, euen a zeale, and burning louelove to their brethren, that opinion of the Papiſts muſt needs fall to the ground, that men cannot know whether they hauehave grace in them or no,That popiſh opinion confuted, that men cannot know whether they hauehave grace or no. for ſo they hold, when they are preſſed with it, that a beleeuer may bee aſſured of his ſaluation by the teſtimonie of the Spirit, and by grace wrought in him: they anſwer, that a man cannot know whether he hauehave faith and grace in him or no. This opinion of theirs cannot ſtand with the truth now deliuered, that the children of God hauehave many times that grace of true louelove to their brethren in a great meaſure, and a burning louelove vntounto them: for can a liuing man hauehave fire in his naked boſome, and not feele it warme? no more can a man hauehave a zeale, and burning louelove to his brethren in his heart, and not feele the heat of it, it is not poſſible, and therefore it is but a fancie, that a man may hauehave grace in his heart, and not feele it.
Vſe. 2 Againe, is it ſo, that the children of God hauehave many times euen a zeale and burning louelove to their brethren? let this then lead vsus to a conſideration of the greatneſſe of Gods louelove to his children:The great zeale that is found in Gods children ought to lead vsus to a conſideration of Gods great louelove to his children. for why is there ſometimes in men, that are compaſſed with many infirmities, and hauehave in them ſuch dregs of corruption, ſo long as they are in this life, ſuch a meaſure of louelove to their brethren, as their louelove is a zealous and burning louelove; how exceeding great then is the louelove of God to his children, who is the perfection of louelove, euen louelove it ſelfe, 1 Ioh. 4.5. his louelove to his children far exceeds the louelove of the beſt men in the world, euen as farre as God himſelfe excelleth duſt, and earth, ſin, and corruption.
A ſweet comfort, and let it bee laid vp in the hearts of all Gods children: haſt thou an aſſurance of Gods louelove ſhed abroad in thine heart?Note. then comfort thy ſelfe, his zeale, his burning louelove to his children, is like to himſelfe, infinite, and vnchangeable: it was the ground of ſending Chriſt, as the Prophet ſaith, Iſai: 9.7. the zeale of the Lord of hoſtes will performe this. And the Lord hauing once loued thee, his louelove will neuer faile thee, but vndoubtedly bring thee to eternall happineſſe and bliſſe.
One thing further wee are to marke, the Apoſtle doth not barely affirme it, that Epaphras had a great zeale to the Coloſſians, &c. but he confirmes it by his own teſtimonie: and to the end they might be fully perſwaded of it, hee ſaith, I beare him record, or witneſſe, that he hath a great zeale for you, and for them of Laodicea, and them of Hierapolis. The point hence ariſing is this.
That we are to witneſſe the good things, and the good Doct. 3 graces that are in our brethren, when our witneſſe and teſtimonie may do any good,Wee are to witneſſe the good things and graces that are in our brethren, when our witneſſe may do any good. when our witneſſe may bee to Gods glory, to the praiſe of his gifts, or may winne more credit to their grace and gifts, that they may be more able to do more good by them.
Thus did the Apoſtle in this place; and thus did our Sauiour giuegive teſtimonie to Iohn, Mat: 11.11. Verily I ſay vntounto you, among them which are begotten of women, aroſe there not a greater then Iohn Baptist: thus are we to doe, only remembring this rule.
That wee witneſſe the good things that are in our brethren,When we are to witnes the good things that are in our brethren. and ſpeake of them rather in their abſence, then in their preſence, vnleſſe in caſe of extreame deiection of minde, otherwiſe we are rather to ſpeake of them in their abſence, then in their preſence: for though wee witnes the truth, yet our teſtimonie in the hearing of our brethren themſelues, may ſeeme rather to ſauour of flattery, then of any good liking of thoſe good things, and (thorow the corruption of nature) it may be an occaſion of making the party proud, and highly conceited of himſelfe.
Come we to the 14th verſe.