Exposition of Colossians, Sermons · Chapter 4 · Verse 4
VER. 4. That I may vtter it, as it becommeth mee to ſpeake.
In this verſe the Apoſtle requires the praiers of the Coloſſians for himſelfe, more particularly, that they would lift vp their prayers to God for him more ſpecially, that he being now in priſon, and ſuffering for the Goſpell, might with boldneſſe, and all corrupt feare ſet apart, be able to vtter forth the ſecrets of the Goſpell (that I may vtter) and withall, he ſets downe in what manner he deſired that he might vtter it, namely, in ſuch manner as was meete and fit for him to ſpeake.
That I may vtter it the word (it) hath relation to that which went before (namely) the myſtery of the doctrine of the Goſpell,Interpretation. and the word heere rendred (vtter) ſignifies to manifeſt, and to make plaine, and cleare, that I may diſcouer and lay open the ſecrets of it, that I may make manifeſt, plaine and cleere, that deepe and hidden doctrine of the Goſpell as it becommeth me to ſpeake, or as I ought to ſpeake, for ſo the words are tranſlated, Eph. 6.20. which wordes are not to bee taken as ſome hauehave taught as a reaſon of that which goeth before drawen from the neceſſitie of dutie, as if the Apoſtles meaning were that I may vtter the doctrine of the Goſpell, becauſe I ought to ſpeake it, and becauſe I am bound by neceſſitie of dutie: but as expreſſing the manner, in what manner, he deſired that he might vtter it, as if hee had ſayd; that I may vtter it in ſuch manner as I ought, and as it becommeth mee, and this Decorum and manner of ſpeaking muſt bee vnderſtood as hauing a double relation, both to the excellency of the doctrine of the Goſpell it ſelfe, and to the office and calling of the Apoſtle.
The Apoſtle heere meant ſuch a manner of ſpeaking as was meet and fit, both in regard of the excellency of the Goſpell, and of that truſt or Apoſtleſhip that was repoſed in him, thus then wee are to conceiue the wordes of this verſe, as if the Apoſtle had ſayd.
I entreat you to pray for mee more ſpecially beeing a priſoner, that I may bee able by ſpeech to manifeſt and make plaine that deepe and hidden doctrine of the Goſpell, in ſuch manner of ſpeaking, as is meete and fit, both in regard of the excellencie of the Goſpell it ſelfe, and of that trust of Apoſtleſhippe that is repoſed in mee.
Now here it is not to be paſſed by without obſeruation, that the Apoſtle entreated the praiers of the Coloſſians for himſelfe more ſpeciallie, that hee being now in trouble for the Goſpell, in priſon and in bonds, for the preaching of it, they would he mindfull of him, and recommend him to God in their praiers, eſpecially and aboue others, that now in time of his triall hee might bee ſtrengthened, and not ſhrinke backe for feare, nor by any ſiniſter and corrupt affection, bee diuerted, and turned aſide from a ſound and ſincere vtterance and manifeſtation of the truth of the Goſpell, but that he might vtter it, and deliuer it as it ought to be deliuered; Hence wee may note briefely.
That howſoeuer we are to recommend all, both Miniſters and other profeſſors of the Goſpell to God by praier, yet eſpecially thoſe that are in trouble, thoſe that ſuffer impriſonment Doct. 1 or in any other kinde, for the truth of the Goſpel;We are eſpecially to remember in our prayers, thoſe that ſuffer for the truth of the Goſpel. we are to remember them in our prayers eſpecially, yea as the Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 15.30. to ſtriue and to be moſt ea… neſt and inſtant in prayer to God for them: and there is great reaſon for it.
Becauſe indeed in time of ſuffering, and tryall, the Diuell will be moſt buſie, both by inward ſuggeſtions, Reaſon. and by outward aſſaults, both of terrours, and flatteryes; and that corruption of nature that is leaſt in the deareſt Saints of God; will then bee workinge, and howſoeuer in time of calme: many men hold on a conſtant courſe in the profeſſion of the Goſpel, and liue vnblameably in the ſight of men, yet many times their weakenes, and ſometimes their hipocryſie, ſhewes it ſelfe when the ſtorme of perſecution is riſen, and they are toſſed with the winde of trouble; and therefore our part is in praying for others, to remember them in our prayers eſpecially, that are vnderunder the tryall, and ſuffer impriſonment, or in any kinde for the truth of the Goſpel. We are to pray to the Lord, that hee would vouchſafe to them ſuch wiſdome, Chriſtian carriage, and boldneſſe, meekenes, patience, conſtancie, and eueryevery needfull grace, and ſuch a meaſure of needfull grace, as they may be able both to ſpeake, doe, and ſuffer, in ſuch ſort as God may be gloryfied,How we are to practiſe this duty. the truth of the Goſpel maintained without impeachment, and their owne ſoules comforted: and on the former ground, ſuch as are in trouble muſt learne not to be ſecure,Men that are in trouble muſt not be ſecure, but muſt be earneſt with God themſelues & intreate others alſo to pray for them that they may bee ſtrengthned. in time of tryall vponupon confidence of their owne gifts. Admit a mans gifts were not inferiour to the holy Apoſtle Paul; yet ſuch a man being in trouble for the Goſpels ſake, ought in feare and humillity to call on God for ſtrength, and to intreate others likewiſe, to do the ſame, in his behalfe: but let it ſuffice to hauehave poynted at theſe things offered to vsus from the circumſtance of the perſon of the Apoſtle, his & condition at that time being a priſoner. Now touching the matter of this verſe, we are in the next place to marke, that the Apoſtle doth heere deſire to bee helped by the prayers of the Coloſſians, that they would pray for him in particular, that he might vtter foorth and make manifeſt the myſtery of Chriſt. He heere changeth the terme, in the verſe before hee vſed the word (ſpeake) but heere he ſaith, that I may vtter it, that I may manifeſt and make plaine. Whence wee are giuen to vnderſtand thu… much.
That the ſpeaking of the myſtery of Chriſt, the preaching Doct. 2 of the Goſpell, ought to bee a manifeſtation of the ſecrets of it, the Miniſter in preaching of the Goſpell, muſt manifeſt & make plaine the doctrin of it, and there ought to be a perſpicuity and plaines in the miniſtrie of the word,There ought to be a perſpicuity and plainen…ſſe in the preachin… of the word. yea, the word ought to be deliuered in ſuch euidence and plaineneſſe, as the meaneſt capacitie may bee able to conceiue and to vnderſtand it, and as if Ieſus Chriſt crucified, were pictured and painted out before the eies of men, as the Apoſtle ſayd by way of reproofe to the Galathians, Gal. 3.1. O fooliſh Galathians, who hath bewitched you, that you ſhould not obey the truth, to whom Ieſus Chriſt before was deſcribed in your ſight, and among you crucified, as if hee had ſayd, to whom hauehave I preached the doctrin of the Goſpell in ſuch euidence and plainneſſe, as if Chriſt had beene painted out before your eyes, and had beene crucified among you, and you had ſeene his bloud diſtilling from his hands and ſide.
And hence it is:
That our Apoſtle calle… his preaching of the Goſpell, a declaration, or a manifeſtation of the trueth, for ſo the word ſignifieth, 2 Cor. 4.2. in declaration of the truth, we approoue our ſelues to eueryevery mans conſcience in the …ight of God.
The reaſon of this truth is plaine, namely this.
Reaſon The end of the preaching of the Goſpell is to bring men to knowledge and faith in Chriſt, that they may come to know Chriſt and him crucified, and may beleeue in him to their comfort and ſaluation.
Now this cannot be effected, this end cannot be attained vnleſſe men rightly conceiue and vnderſtand the doctrin of Chriſt, therefore it muſt be deliuered in ſuch euidence and plaineneſſe as they may conceiue and vnderſtand it.
That manner of preaching therefore cannot bee iuſtified, that is full of obſcuritie, Vſe. wherein the doctrine is wrapped vp in ſuch words and ſentences, as are aboue the reach and vnderſtanding of the hearers,Preaching that is full of obſcu…ity, and aboue the vnderſtanding o… the hearers cannot bee iuiuſtified. wherein there is a mixture of ſpeech, and intermingling of Latine and Greeke with Eng…iſh, before hearers that are vnlearned, and howſoeuer ſome in way of defence of it, ſay, that kind of preaching is learned, indeed and truth, there is no ſuch matter, only that teacher ſhewes learning, that ſhewes men Chriſt, he is the learned preacher that is able rightly to vnfolde the myſterie of Chriſt, and to manifeſt the ſecrets of the Goſpell, and ſo to paint out Chriſt before the people, as they may (as it were) ſee him crucified and glorified, and that life that flowes out of his bloud, and the comforts that are treaſured vp in him;
And againe muſt the doctrine of the Goſpell bee deliuered Vſe. 2 in ſuch plaine termes, as men of the meaneſt capacity may be able to vnderſtand: oh then take heed thou except not againſt the doctrine of the word for the plaineneſſe of deliuerie, if the doctrine bee ſound and true, it is but a cauill of the fleſh, and no iuſt excption to ſay, it is deliuered in plaine, eaſie and familiar termes,We muſt not except againſt the doctrin of the word becauſe it is deliuered in plain, eaſie and familiar termes. and yet manie there be in the world that hauehave no great liking of the truth of the doctrine del…uered, euen becauſe it is tendered vntounto them, in a familiar plaineneſſe and ſimplicitie; they hauehave itch…ng eares. 2. Tim. 4 3. they delight to heare things deliuered in more loftie and glorious termes, ſurely ſuch perſons ſhew the vanitie and weakeneſſe of their vnderſtanding, and the vnſoundnes of their iudgements. Why ſhouldeſt thou except againſt or diſlike the trueth deliuered in plaine and eaſie termes? art thou offended with the Lord, for dealing plainely with thee? whence comes that exception and diſlike? conſider thou whence it comes, and thou ſhall finde it comes from thine owne corruption, helped forward by ſtrong deluſion of the enemy of thy ſaluation, for thou excepteſt againſt that which may bee moſt for thy good, and likeſt that which many times turnes to thy hurt, the Lord (iuſtly puniſhing the vanity of thy mind, & the pride of thine hart) ſuffers thee to ſucke in poiſon and dangerous errours, lying hid vnderunder lofty and goodly words, which thou vnderſtandeſt not, & therefore take thou heed of excepting againſt the doctrin deliuered in plainneſſe of words, if thou heare the truth of the word plainly deliuerd, be ſo far from excepting againſt it, as euen therfore bleſſe God for his mercy, that vouchſafes to diſcouer to thee the truth of his word ſo familiarly remembring that ſpeech of the Apoſtle, 1. Cor. 14.22. ſtrange tongs are for a ſigne, euen a iudegement and puniſhment ſent of God to them that beleeue not, therefore take heed thou neither except againſt, nor diſlike of the doctrine of the word, for the plaineneſſe of it, the plainer and the more familiarly the word is deliuered to thee in the publike miniſtry, the greater token and ſigne is it of Gods louing kindneſſe and fauour towards thee, and yet know we, that this perſpicuity and plainneſſe in preaching Doct. 3 of the word, muſt not be rude, ruſticke and vnſeemly, and therefore the Apoſtle addes in this verſe,The Miniſter of the word muſt lay open the doctrine of the word, in ſuch manner as is ſutable both to the excellency of the matter, and to the dignity alſo of his …wne calling. as it becommeth mee to ſpeake. And ſo the next poynt of doctrine laid downe in this verſe is this.
The Miniſters care and ſtudy muſt be, not only in plain & familiar termes to declare & ſpeak the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt, but alſo ſo to ſpeake it, as it ought to be declared; the Miniſter muſt not only hauehave care to manifeſt, and to lay open the doctrine of the word, but he muſt looke alſo that he do it in ſuch manner as is meet, both according to the excellency of the matter, & dignity of his own calling, & that truſt that is repoſed in him, 1. Pet. 4.11. if any man ſpeak (ſaith the Apoſtle) that is, in the publike Miniſtrie of the word, let him ſpeak, not only the words of God, but as the wordes of God, as it becomes him to ſpeake, ſuch words, we finde that the Miniſter of the Goſpell is graced with many excellent titles, hee is called the meſſenger and ambaſſador of Chriſt, he is ſtiled with the name of Angel, Reuel. 2. & Cap. 3. Hee is ſaid to bee the Lords Steward put in truſt by him, 1. Cor. 4.1. all which teach him that he muſt deliuer the meſſage of his Lord and Maſter, with due regard of the dignity of his meſſage, and anſwerable to that truſt that is repoſed in him.2. particulars required in the right handling of the word of God.
Not to ſtand on the generall: the particulars of this duty, are many, but eſpecially theſe two.
Firſt, the Miniſter muſt looke, that he vtter foorth and declare the doctine of the word purely, and powerfully; for the word of God is pure, and muſt be purely thought on, and purely deliuered, without mixture of mens deuiſes, or mens authorities.
Secondly, it muſt alſo be deliuered as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1. Cor. 2.4. In plaine euidence and demonſtration of the Spirit, (that is) in ſuch ſort as ſinne may thereby be rebuked, the conſcience rifled, and iudged, and the ſecret corruption of the heart made manifeſt, and that it may bee a meanes) by Gods bleſſing vponupon it) to inſtill the grace of faith, and repentance, and holy obedience into the hearts of the hearers, yea the word muſt bee deliuered with ſuch euidence of the ſpirit, as the hearers may diſcerne the power, the preſence, and the maieſty of God in the preaching of it, and be forced to ſay in plain termes without queſtion God is in the Preacher, 1 Cor. 14 25. that is the right maner of handling the word of God, when the preachers of it ſhew not words but power, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1. Cor. 4.20.
Now this doctrine might be applied to reproue ſundry ſorts of teachers,Sundrie ſorts of teachers, briefly taxed. as (namely) ſuch as deliuer the word of God in the intiſing words of mans wiſdome, ſpirituall things in a carnal manner.
Secondly, ſuch as mingle the word with their own, and other mens deuiſes, to make their doctrine hauehave the more applauſe, then which, what can bee more vnworthy? as the Lord ſaith by his Prophet Ier. 23.28. What is chaffe to the wheate?
Thirdly, ſuch as for want of paines, or ſtudy, deliuer the word, either in termes vnfit to teach, or perſwade, or without order, and ſo not eaſie to bee learned, and remembred, and ſo wi…hout power, as it hath no point to pearce the hearts of the hearers, theſe, and many other, come within the compaſſe of iuſt reproofe by the doctine deliuered.
But let vsus thinke on it to this purpoſe; Is it ſo that the Miniſter muſt not only manifeſt the doctrine of the word, but he muſt deliuer it purely, and powerfully; yea, with ſuch euidence and demonſtration of the Spirit, as the word ſpoken by him may iudge the conſcience, and ſearch the ſecret corners of the heart; and as the Holy Ghoſt ſaith, Heb. 4.12. Enter thorow, euen the deuiding aſunder of the ſoule and the ſpirit, and of the ioints and the marrow, and diſcouer the thoughts of the heart, and be a meanes to worke grace in the hearers?
Ʋſe. Oh then, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 2. Cor. 2.16. Who is ſufficient for theſe things?It is a very hard matter to preach the word of God aright. It is no eaſie matter to preach the word; Men thinke the Miniſters of the worde of God ſpeake whatſoeuer comes into their mindes; it is not ſo, if they ſpeake the word as it ought to be ſpoken, no, no, Preaching of the word of God requires great labour, ſtudie, meditation, and praier, and the Miniſter muſt not onelyonly bee earneſt in praier himſelfe, but after the example of the Apoſtle in this place, he muſt requeſt others to pray for him, that he may vtter the Doctrine of the Goſpell as it becommeth him to vtter it; did Paul who was guided by the Spirit of God, and had the infallible aſſiſtance of the Spirit (being an Apoſtle) deſire to be praied for, that hee might vtter the doctrine of the Goſpell as it became him to ſpeake?
How g…eat cauſe then hauehave wee that are but ordinarie Miniſters to deſire the praiers of the Church, we are much more to craue the praiers of Gods people, and they are to helpe vsus with their praiers; One ſaith well, conſider that it is the eaſieſt thing to heare, and it is the painefulleſt thing to preach the Goſpel▪ aright; therefore pray thou that the Miniſter may vtter the doctrine of the word, as it becommeth him to ſpeake, that he may deliuer it in ſuch euidence, and plaineneſſe, and with a…l ſuch purity and powerfulneſſe, as it ought to bee deliuered, and then doubtleſſe, through Gods bleſſing vponupon it, thou ſhalt find it a meanes diſcouering the ſecret corruption of thine heart, and working ſauing knowledge in thee. Yea, thou ſhalt find the doctrine of the word ſo deliuered, or meanes confirming and ſtrengthning grace in thee, and making thee certaine of Gods grace in Chriſt; yea, making thee reioice in Gods preſence in this life, and at the day of iudgement to ſtand before him with ioy, therefore be mindefull of this duty.