Exposition of Colossians, Sermons · Chapter 4 · Verse 7
VER. 7. Tychicus our beloued brother, and faithfull Miniſter, and fellow ſeruant in the Lord, ſhall declare vntounto you my whole eſtate.
8. Whom I hauehave ſent vntounto you for the ſame purpoſe, that hee might know your ſtate, and might comfort your hearts.
9 With Oneſimus a faithfull and a beloued brother, who is one of you. They ſhall ſhew you of all things heere.
The Apoſtle hauing finiſhed the firſt generall part of this Chapter (namely) his exhortation to ſome generall duties.
In this ſeuenth verſe he enters on the ſecond generall part of it, containing the concluſion of his whole Epiſtle,The ſecond generall part of this Chapter, and the concluſion of this whole Epiſtle. the particular parts and branches of his concluſion wee hauehave heeretofore laid foorth.
The firſt is laid downe in the 7.8. and 9. verſe and is a declaration of the Apoſtles owne louelove, and care of the Coloſſians, expreſſed by ſending certaine meſſengers vntounto them, to acquaint them with his eſtate, and generally with the eſtate of the Church where he was, and alſo to vnderſtand their eſtate, and to comfort, and confirme their hearts; that is the ſome and ſubſtance of theſe three verſes.
In them, we hauehave more particularly theſe two things offered to our conſideration.
Firſt, the perſons whom the Apoſtle ſent, and emploied in his meſſage.
Secondly, the ends and cauſes wherefore he ſent them.
The perſons he ſent, were Tychichus, and Oneſimus, and both theſe he deſcribes, and commendes to the Coloſſians, to be worthy perſons, by certaine excellent quallities. As firſt, in the 7. verſe, hee commends Tychicus both by that which was common to him with all true beleeuing Chriſtians, that hee was a brother, to which hee addes the adiunct and epithite (beloued) (Tychicus our beloued brother) and then by that which was more proper, and peculiar to him, in reſpect of his calling and function, as that he was,
Firſt, a Miniſter,
Secondly, more ſpecially, a fellow-ſeruant with the Apoſtle in the Lords buſineſſe.
And to both theſe, he addes the adiunct (faithfull) and faithfull Miniſter.
Secondly, he likewiſe commends Oneſimus verſe 9.
Firſt, by the title (brother) to which hee ioines two Epithites (faithfull, and beloued) With Oneſimus a faithfull and beloued brother.
And ſecondly, by the particular relation that was betweene Oneſimus and the Coloſſians, that hee was one of them.
Now the endes and cauſes wherefore the Apoſtle ſends theſe two worthy perſons to the Coloſſians, are two.
Firſt, to let them vnderſtand, both his ſtate particularly, verſe 7. (ſhall declare vntounto you my whole ſtate) and the things done where he was, generally, verſe 9. (They ſhall ſhew you of all things heere.)
And ſecondly, that by them the Apoſtle might bee certified of the eſtate of the Coloſſians, and they be comforted by thoſe hee ſent vntounto them, chieflie by Tychicus, a faithfull Miniſter; therefore he ſaith, verſe 8. Whom I hauehave ſent vntounto you for the ſame purpoſe, that he might know your ſtate and comfort your hearts.
And thus we hauehave the reſolution of theſe three verſes. I take them together, becauſe they make but one context.
In further handling of them, I will firſt ſpeake of the perſons that were ſent, and then of the ends, and cauſes of their ſending.
And fo… the perſons before we come to ſpeake of them ſeueraly we may obſerue thus much in generall.
The Apoſtle ſent not one meſſenger alone, but two together, though Tychicus was a worthy meſſenger, and fit for the diſpatch of the buſineſſe alone, yet with him hee ſent Oneſimus, no doubt in theſe reſpects, both to make the meſſage of more authority, the things that concerned eyther party being confirmed by the teſtimony of two witneſſes, and for the mutuall comfort and aid which they might hauehave of each other, both in their journey, and in their buſineſſe there, and for theſe cauſes (no doubt) it was, that our Sauiour ſent out his twelue Apoſtles two by two Mark. 6.7. and ſo the 70. diſciples, two and two before him, Luke 10.1. Hence we may gather the wiſedome and care that ought to bee vſed in matters and buſineſſes of waight and importance, eſpecially in buſineſſes of the Church, both in regard of the buſines it ſelfe, and of the perſons imployed in the ſame, but on that I will not ſtand, onelyonly obſerue we generally touching the perſons ſent by the Apoſtle thus much.
That the Apoſtle did commend the perſons whom hee ſent on his meſſage, & he ſet them out by ſundry excellent qualities, and titles of honor, he ſaid not barely, I hauehave ſent to you one named Tychicus, & an other whoſe name is Oneſimus, but I hauehave ſent to you Tichicus, a man excellently qualified, a b loued brother and faithfull miniſter with Oneſimus alſo a man worthy commendation, beeing a faithfull …nd a beloued brother, who is one of you: as if the Apoſtle had ſaide, I hauehave ſent vntounto you, men whom you may ſafely credit and beleeue, and the report and meſſage they bring you, is to bee regarded, becauſe I know they are good men, and I dare boldly commend them to you for ſuch as wil ſpeake the trueth, and make conſcience of that they deliuer vntounto you.
This no doubt was the Apoſtles drift and purpoſe, in commending his meſſengers ſent to the Coloſſians, whence we may gather thus much.
That the dignitie and goodneſſe of the perſon or perſons bee it one or more, that are ſent on a meſſage of weight and importance, is of great force to giuegive entertainment to the meſſage that is brought, when the meſſenger is knowne to be an honeſt man, and of good credit, and one fearing God, the meſſage that he brings, is the better credited, the honeſtie, fidelitie and good qualities of the meſſenger commonly makes the meſſage more welcome and better regarded.
As Dauid concluded of Ahimaaz the ſonne of Zadoke, Doct. 1 2. Sam: 18.27. he is a good man, therefore he commeth with good tidings:The honeſtie, fidelitie and good qualities of the meſſenger, commonly makes the meſſage more welcome and better regarded. and ſo many times the good opinion that men hauehave of the honeſtie and goodneſſe of the meſſenger, that brings them any tidings, it ſwayes much with them to beleeue his report, and to giuegive great regard to it: common experience ſhewes this to be true, euen in ciuill buſineſſes and matters of the world: and no doubt thus it is alſo in the heauenly meſſage, and in bringing the glad tidings of the goſpell, if ſuch as are the Lords meſſengers, imployed in bringing the comfortable newes of ſaluation, be knowne to be men well qualified, not onelyonly with knowledge and vtterance, but with ſanctified hearts and liues, oh it ſtrikes a great reſpect of that which they bring, and preuailes much for the entertainment and reuerent regard of the meſſage they deliuer to Gods people: for howſoeuer in that holy buſineſſe, men ought to looke rather to the meſſage then to the meſſenger that brings it: yet indeed the multitude and greateſt part, rather caſt their eye on the meſſenger, than on the meſſage, and according as the meſſenger is, either good or ill, ſo they regard the meſſage it ſelfe. We read Mark: 6.20. Herod did many things that Iohn Baptiſt taught, not becauſe Iohn was an excellent teacher, but becauſe he was a good man, ſo ſaith the text, Herod knowing that Iohn was a iuſt man and holy, he reuerenced him, he did manie thinges, and heard him gladly.
Now heere occaſion is giuen to reprooue ſome, who Vſe 1 beeing ſent on the Lordes embaſſage to the people, yet care not how baſely, and how offenſiuely they carrie themſelues in the ſight of thoſe to whom they are ſent,Reproofe of ſuch miniſters▪ as carry them ſelus baſely & offenſiuely in the ſight of thoſe to whom they are ſent. and to exhort and ſtir them vp that as they would ſee any due regard of the meſſage they bring to Gods people, and any good fruit of it, yea, as they tender the comfort of their owne ſoules in the great day of the Lord, ſo they would bee carefull to ſhewe themſelues not onelyonly able meſſengers, but good and godly meſſengers of the Lord, and that they would make it appeare, that they not onelyonly call others to a fellowſhippe and communion with Chriſt, but that themſelues alſo hauehave true fellowſhippe and communion with him, and that it may be truely ſayd of them as heere of Tychicus, that they are beloued brethren.
Wee for our parts are to pray for this, that ſeeing the Vſe. 2 regard of the Lords heauenly meſſage depends much on the quality of the perſon of the meſſengers, and is commonly greater or leſſe, as the meſſengers that bring it are qualified, and as they are either good or bad, it would pleaſe the Lord, to make all that are ſent about his holy buſineſſe, aſwell godly men as good ſchollers,We are to pray that all that are ſent about the Lords holy buſineſſe may be as well godly men as good ſchollers. and that they may be as well ſanctified in their hearts and liues, as in their doctrine ſound and good, otherwiſe certainly wofull experience will ſhew it, that they ſhall pull downe as much with their liues, as they build vp with their doctrin.
Come now we to ſpeak of the perſons ſeuerally, & firſt of Tychicus & his commendation, in theſe words (Tychicus our beloued brother, and faithfull miniſter, and fellow-ſeruant in the Lord) what Tychicus was by birth, in reſpect of the country, we find Act. 20.4. that he was borne in Aſia, and that hee went with Paul going thither to preach the Goſpell, but for his deſcription, heere Paul cals him.
Firſt (a beloued brother) a brother not by birth or bloud,Interpretation. or in reſpect of country (as the word brother) is often vſed in Scripture, but in reſpect of religion, and profeſſion of the ſame true faith of Chriſt, ſo are all true Chriſtians, all that profeſſe the ſame faith of Chriſt called, Mat. 23.8. one is your Doctor, to wit Chriſt, and all ye are brethren, ſo in many other places of Scripture, and the Apoſtle addes (beloued) thereby ſignifying that hee was worthy to bee beloued of all true Chriſtians, for his piety, religion and godly life.
Secondly, he cals him (faithfull Minister) that is, one who did ſerue Chriſt in the miniſtry, and preaching of the Goſpell, and in that office, he did anſwer that truſt that was repoſed in him.
He addes (and fellow-ſeruant in the Lord) that is, one that ſerues the ſame Lord that I do, euen the Lord Ieſus Chriſt in the holy miniſtry, and laboreth in the miniſtry of the word together with mee: this then is the meaning of the Apoſtle, as if he had ſaid.
Tychicus who is one profeſſing the ſame true faith with vsus, one (no doubt) beloued of God, and one whom I louelove, and worthy to bee beloued of all true Chriſtians, and one that doth faithfully ſerue Chriſt, in the miniſtry and preaching of his Goſpell, yea, and labours together with mee, in the miniſtrie of the word, he ſhall declare vntounto you my whole ſtate.
Note we heere, in the firſt place, that the Apoſtle commending Tychicus, he giues him theſe titles, as titles of honour and dignitie, that hee was a beloued brother, and faithfull Miniſter, and fellow-ſeruant in the Lord, hee thought hee could not better grace him, and ſet him out, then by theſe titles, a brother in Chriſt, a Miniſter of the goſpell, and a fellow-ſeruant in the Lord; hence then it is cleare.
That theſe are indeed ſtiles and titles of great honour, Doct. 2 and it is an excellent priuiledge and preferment to bee a brother in Chriſt, a Miniſter of the goſpell, and to be ſpecially employed in that ſeruice.It is a great honour, to be a brother in Chriſt, a miniſter of the goſpell, and to be ſpecially imployed in that ſeruice.
It is ſaid, Ioh: 1 12. As many as receiued him, to them he gaue power (or rather as the word ſignifies prerogatiue and priuiledge) to be the ſonnes of God, euen to them that beleeue in his name. Where the Euangeliſt teacheth, that as many as receiue Chriſt, as many as truly beleeue in Chriſt, and are true beleeuing members of Chriſt, and ſo brethren one to another in Chriſt, they hauehave this priuiledge and preferment, to bee the ſonnes of God, the excellencie of which honour is vnſpeakable: and if to this bee added, ſome ſpeciall and proper title, as to bee a Miniſter of the goſpell, it muſt needs bee an exceeding great honour; I Ʋſe 1 might ſhew it in particular, that to hauehave the title of a faithfull Miniſter, is a matter of ſpeciall honour and preferment, and therefore it is an audacious and monſtrous impietie, that is found in ſome ſcoffing and prophane wretches, who dare turne that which the Lord hath giuen as an honour, and glory to his ſeruants, into matter of ſcorne and contempt.It is monſtrous impietie to turne the titles of honor, which God hath giuen to his ſeruants into matter of ſcorne and contempt. To ſay in way of ſcoffing, oh he is a brother forſooth, or he is one of the brotherhood, and what is he but a pild Prieſt, or a pelting Miniſter, and ſuch like. Such ſonnes of Beliall, and ſuch prophane ſcoffers there be in the world: well, let it not diſcourage any that is (indeed) Vſe 2 of the brotherhood with the members of Ieſus Chriſt,It is matter of comfort to be of the brotherhood with the members of Ieſus Chriſt. that is a title of honour and glory, that the God of glory hath vouchſafed to ſet on his deareſt children, and this is our reioycing, (euen as many of vsus as are true beleeuers) that the Lord hath vouchſafed to honour vsus not with vaine puffes of worldly honour, but with ſuch honour as ſhall neuer bee taken from vsus, yea, though wee hauehave onelie the common title of Gods children, the title of beloued brethren, truely giuen unto vsus, it is enough to fill our hearts with ioy, and our mouth with laughter for euermore, that beeing a greater dignitie, then to bee ſonnes and heires to the greateſt Monarch in the world, for then we are the ſonnes and heires to the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, and heires of a Kingdome not earthly, but in the higheſt heauens.
Now more ſpecially from the firſt of theſe titles (beloued brother) in that the Apoſtle calles Tychicus a brother, and he adioynes (beloued) a brother in Chriſt, a true Chriſtian, and ſo beloued of God, and beloued of the Apoſtle himſelfe, and worthy to be beloued of al Chriſtians: hence we are taught thus much.
Doct. 3 That if a man be a true beleeuing Chriſtian & ſo our brother in the Lord,Though we are to louelove all men, yet more ſpecially and more entirely are we to louelove the Saints and children of God who are ou… brethren in Chriſt. we are bound euen in that reſpect much more tenderly to embrace him in our hearts, and to louelove him, howſoeuer, Chriſtian louelove muſt reach generally to all men, as they are men and reaſonable creatures, and wee muſt louelove euen the wicked and vnbeleeuing, as partakers of the ſame nature, as they hauehave title to the ſame common redemption, & as they hauehave in them the remainders of Gods image, yet in more ſpeciall manner, and with more entire and hearty affection, are we to louelove the Saints and children of God, who hauehave vnion and coniunction with vsus in Chriſt.
For indeed the order of Chriſtian louelove is this,The order of Chriſtian louelove wee are firſt to louelove God ſimplie for himſelfe, and then all that beare his image for his ſake, and among theſe, thoſe that beare Gods image, more eſpecially, to louelove them that are renued according to Gods image in holineſſe, and excell others in ſpirituall graces, Pſal. 16.3. my well doing (ſaith Dauid) extendeth to the Saints and to them that excell in vertue, Gal. 6 10. let vsus doe good vntounto all men, but eſpecially vntounto them which are of the houſhold of faith, our doing good is a fruit of our louelove, and it muſt bee extended eſpecially to the houſhold of faith, the obiect of our louelove is all men generally, it muſt bee ſet on all, as they beare Gods image, but chiefely on the members of Chriſt, the Saints and children of God, in whom are manifeſt arguments and ſignes of true and vnfained holineſſe and religion.
What then ſhall wee ſay to many in the worlde, who Vſe. 1 are ſo farre from bearing ſpecial louelove to ſuch as hauehave Gods image renued in them, or anie ſparke of grace wrought in their hearts, and appearing in their liues, as that therevpon they hate them, and becauſe they hauehave brother-hood with the members of Chriſt, they cannot abide them, but carrie themſelues ſpitefully towards them, and ſet their chiefe delight and louelove on thoſe who beare the image of Satan,Many iuſtly reproou…d who hate them that are renued according to Gods image, and ſpitefully abuſe them, & louelove and delight in them who beare the image of Satan. and are brethren in euill, and mates and companions in drunkenneſſe, in ſwearing, and the like, ſurely, I may ſay as the Holy Ghoſt hath taught mee, 1. Ioh. 3.12. they are as Kaine was, of that euill one, Satan, they are yet to bee reputed, both in their owne, and other mens iudgments, children of the Diuell, Kaine flew his brother, and why? becauſe as it followeth, his owne workes were euill and his brothers good, the old ſerpent Satan, hath not yet caſt his skin, he ſtill ſowes diſlike among men, and for the ſame cauſe, we finde it too common, where ſome are truely fearing GOD, and religious, they make themſelues a prey, Iſai. 59.15. others that are wicked, euen in that reſpect, hate them, gnaſh their teeth at them, cannot abide them, but let ſuch know, as they are like Kaine in ſinne, ſo it cannot bee, but if they goe on in that ſinne, they ſhall at length bee like him in puniſhment, the hand and curſe of God ſhall ouertake them.
Vſe. 2 Let vsus learne to louelove men bearing Gods image, becauſe they beare his image, a beleeuer, becauſe hee is a beleeuer and a godly man or woman, becauſe they are godly,We are to louelove them that beare Gods image becauſe they beare it, and a godly man or woman becauſe they are godly. and to perſwade vsus to it: knowe wee then thus much.
That this is an infallible note of the true childe of God, 1. Iohn 3.14. wee know that wee are tranſlated from death to life becauſe wee louelove the brethren, and Dauid makes this a ſpeciall note of him that ſhall dwell in the Lords tabernacle,This is a ſpeciall note that we are Gods children. Pſal. 15.4. that hee is one in whoſe eyes a vile perſon is deſpiſed, but hee maketh much of thoſe that feare the LORD; would wee then bee infallibly aſſured that wee are the children of God? eueryevery one (no doubt) would hauehave that aſſurance, & eueryevery one making ſhew of religion,How we may be ſure that our hearts are mooued with a ſanctified motion of louelove. will flatter, himſelfe, that hee is a childe of God, but would wee certainely knowe it, then let vsus louelove them that feare God, and beare Gods image, euen becauſe they beare his image, becauſe they are godly and religious, & that we deceiue not our ſelues in this.
Let vsus louelove with ſpeciail louelove euerie one, in whom wee diſcerne anie meaſure of ſanctifying grace, according to the meaſure of grace, without partiality, and without reſpect of perſons; for (happily) wee may louelove ſome that are renued according to Gods image, ſome that are holy and religious, becauſe they are kind to vsus, and in reſpect of our owne profit, or ſome other by-reſpect, and yet not louelove others, as holy and religious as they, becauſe they are not ſo kinde, and ſo beneficiall vntounto vsus in outward things, that is, to louelove as the Publicanes did, of whom Chriſt ſaith, Mat. 5.47. that they are friendly to their friends; and that louelove may be in them, that are yet in the corruption of nature.
If therefore thou wouldeſt bee ſure that thine heart is mooued with an holy and ſanctified motion of louelove, then louelove them that are holy, and religious, whatſoeuer they be, yea though they hauehave many infirmities in them, and though they bee thine enemies, but yet louelove them ſo farre as they beare the image of GOD euen becauſe they beare his image, louelove euerie brother becauſe hee is a brother in CHRIST, and that will bee to thee an infallible note that thou art a childe of GOD, and it will certainely ſeale it vp to the comfort of thy ſoule, that thou art in the ſtate of grace in this life, and ſhalt be partaker of the glory of Gods children in the life to come.
In the next place we are to obſerue that the Apoſtle commending Tychicus in regard of his calling and function, that he was a Miniſter, and one that did ſerue Chriſt in the miniſtrie of of the Goſpell, and one that labored together with him in that calling, hee giues to theſe titles the adiunct or epithite, faithfull (and faithfull Miniſter) wee ſee he doth not commend Tichicus a Miniſter for his wit, his learning, his eloquence, his grauitie, &c. that hee was a learned, an eloquent, or great Miniſter, (though theſe be good and commendable things in a Miniſter) but hee commends him for his faithfulneſſe, that hee was faithfull in his Miniſtrie and did anſwer that truſt that was repoſed in him in diſcharge of his dutie.
Hence then we may gather.
That the chiefe ornament and that which moſt commends Doct. 4 a Miniſter of Chriſt in regard of the execution of his office,The chiefe ornament of a Miniſter of Chriſt is faith fulnes in the execution of his office. is to be faithfull, it is the beſt epithite of praiſe that can be giuen to a miniſter of the Goſpell, that hee is faithfull, and that he is one that doth vſe the talent and gift beſtowed on him for the beſt aduantage of gaining glorie to Chriſt, his Lord, and of good to his people, and that in the performance of ſuch duties as concerne him, hee doth anſwere that truſt that is repoſed in him.
1. Cor. 4.2. As for the reſt it is required of the diſpoſers that eueryevery man be found faithfull, as if he had ſaid, as for the other things, or howſoeuer hee bee carefull for other things, it is not ſo much materiall, but it is eſpecially required of a Miniſter of the Goſpell, that hee bee faithfull, and (indeed) faithfulneſſe is required of a Miniſter in euerie miniſteriall action, that in teaching, in exhorting, in comforting, in reprehending, and ſuch like, he bee found faithfull, and without faithfulneſſe he can doe no dutie of his calling, pleaſing to God, or profitable to men. I hauehave heeretofore handled this point, Cap. 1.7. and therefore I now touch it in a word.
Now in the laſt place from this commendation of Tychicus, note we, that the Apoſtle, though he was an Apoſtle, and Tychicus (no doubt) but an ordinarie Miniſter, yet he calles him fellow ſeruant (Tychicus our beloued brother, and faithfull Miniſter, and fellow ſeruant.)
Wee ſee then.
Doct. 5 That euen ordinarie Miniſters of the Goſpell, ſuch as are truly called to that office and function, are fellowſeruants with the Apoſtles of Chriſt,Ordinarie Miniſters that are truely called to that office, are fellow-ſeruants with the Apoſtles. though indeed, there is difference in degree betweene an ordinarie Miniſter, and an Apoſtle: an Apoſtle being a miniſter of a higher ſort, and that by the ordinance of God, yet ordinarie Miniſters ſerue the ſame Lord that the Apoſtles did, euen the Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Vſe.
And that is a matter of great comfort to all true Miniſters of the Goſpell, faithfully labouring in their calling,Comfort to all true Mininiſters of the Goſpell, who faithfully labour in their calling. they are thereby aſſured of the aſſiſtance of Gods Spirit in teaching, of his protection ouer them in their Miniſtrie, and that they ſhall be rewarded in the end, with an eternal waight of glorie, as certainly as the Apoſtles that are in heauen, they ſerue the ſame moſt powerful, good, and gracious Lord, the Apoſtles did, and ſeruing him, they cannot be diſappointed of their hope.