Brief Exposition of Philippians and Colossians, Title page – To the reader
A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF The EPISTLES of PAUL TO THE PHILIPPIANS AND COLOSSIANS.
By JAMES FERGUSSON, Minister at Kilwinning.
1 Tim. 3. 16. And without controversie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of Angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
John 17. 3. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.
EDINBURGH: Printed by Christopher Higgins, in Harts-Close, over against the Trone-Church, 1656.
TO THE READER.
CHRISTIAN READER,
WE do offer unto thy view in the following Exposition, an Essay of a Reverend Brother, the Author of this Piece, toward the opening up of two parcels of the holy Scriptures, in such a way as both the sense and use thereof may be given so briefly as may be. And albeit he did after such entreaty, scarcely permit these first fruits to appear in publick: Yet we are not afraid (being well aequainted with him) to recommend it to thy favour able acceptance: And are confident that thou wilt finde in it, that measure of solidity and sweetnesse, joyned with perspicuity and briefnesse, as may help thee to converse more profitably with God, speaking in his Word to his Church, and excite thee to blesse God for him, and the pains he hath taken for thy good: We hope also that by thy acceptance hereof, he shall be encouraged to give further proof of the Gift and Grace of God in him, by opening more of that precious Treasure; Yea, and that others also may be thereby invited to put their hand to so necessary and usefull a work upon the whole, (or, at least, the most difficult and most profound) Scriptures, That so the Lords People (whose callings and necessary affairs do force them to make most use of this brief way of writing) in their ordinary reading and meditation on the Scriptures, may have an easie help, ready at hand, to furnish them with matter of meditation, and direction for their uptaking and applying of the Scriptures, according as their duty and present case may require: And this, We say, without prejudice to those, whose ability to buy, and leasure to read, shall suffer them to make use of other larger Commentaries of holy and learned men. But howsoever, This way of brief Exposition of Scripture, among other means, We humbly conceive may prove a profitable help to propagate the knowledge of the Gospel, and to vindicate the truth of the Religion professed in this Island, when men, even of an ordinary capacity, shall see that We professe in Our CONFESSION OF FAITH nothing, but what immediately riseth from the text of Scripture, and what is very often confirmed and inculcate therein. As the Lords stirring up of his Servants to lay out their talents, in this and the like way, for the good of his People, is unto us a token for good in these times of so great distemper; So the improving and making use of these means would yet further …onfirm all the lovers of Sion, that notwithstanding all that We have met with, yet there is hope Our provoked Lord will dwell among us, and continue the course of his mercy toward this Island: We say, provoked Lord, because as it is obvious to the observation of all the Godly on the one hand, with what tendernesse and loving kindnesse the Lord doth follow his process and pleading of his controversie with his Church in these Islands, for our slighting of Christ, and of the offer of so rich grace in Him; and how He seasoneth our sad afflictions, by continuing of the Gospel preached, and by stirring up His faithful Servants, specially in ENGLAND, by their godly and learned Writings, to s…rengthen all who are on the way toward Him, and to reclaim others from their wandrings; So it's too too manifest on the other hand how openly He is provoked by the great abuse of these mercies; and that the more we are corrected, we revolt daily more and more: for, by how much more light doth break forth, men love darknesse and follow it so much the more. Whence it is that Atheism, Irreligion and Profanity do every where abound, and that the Lord (justly recompencing men's wantonness of wit, love of their lusts more than of God, and their not receiving the love of the truth) hath let loose so many errors and delusions, and give…up so many to be misled thereby. All which, as …ey ought not to be lightly look'd upon, but as grievous sins, and sad punishments of sin; So they ought to stir up all those, who would approve themselves to be his hidden ones, to mourn in secret, and to stand in the gap, lest these evils come to a greater height, and ripen us for yet sadder plagues, if we do not entertain more heartily, and improve the light, while we have it, more diligently. And for our encouragement, we may be confident, that the Lord, who knows how to be good to such as seek Him, in the worst of times, whatever may befall the Lords People for a season, shall make Truth still at last to triumph; And that the Labours of His Servants shall not be lost, nor their expectation perish for ever. We shall detain thee (Christian Reader) no longer in the entry, but requesting Him from whom every good and perfect gift cometh, that He would fit and incline many moe to put hand to this Work, and would bless this little Piece and the like means, to thy eternal welfare. We remain in Him,
From Edinburgh, June 15. 1656. Thine, to serve thee in the Gospel,
DAVID DICKSON,
GEORGE HUTCHESON.
A BRIEF EXPOSITION Of the Epistle of PAUL to the PHILIPPIANS.
The ARGUMENT.
PAUL having planted a Church at Philippi, a City in Maccdonia, Act. 16. 12. And now understanding by their Minister Epaphrodittis, that they remained constant in the Doctrine of the Gospel, although under some hazard of seduction by false Teachers, he writeth this Epistle unto them; the scope whereof, is, To excite them unto constancy, and further progress in faith and piety (having removed the scandal which might arise from his present sufferings) Chap. 1. And particularly to the study of humility and unity, Chap. 2. And to beware of false teachers, Chap. 3. After which, he exhorteth them, to the practice of some Christian vertues, commending them for their benevolence: And so concludeth the Epistle with some salutations, and his Apostolical benediction, Chap. 4.