The Right Receiving of Christ, Preface
THE RIGHT RECEIVING OF AND ROOTING IN CHRIST.
COLOS. 2. 6, 7.
As yee have therefore received the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſo walke yee in him, Rooted in him.
IN the former Chapter, v. 23. the Apoſtle entred upon an Exhortation to perſeverance in the faith. In the firſt ſeven verſes of this chapter he continues that exhortation, laying down more reaſons, and removing objections.
1. He layes downe reaſons to preſſe them; And they are ſpecially two.
1. The firſt taken from his owne care that he had for their, and others good, ver. 1, 2.
2. The ſecond taken from the certainty, ſublimity, and perfection of the Goſpel, ver. 2, 3.
2. He removes Objections. What needs all this adoe with us? might the Coloſsians ſay. Anſw. I would have you conſtrue it to be done out of a loving feare and jealouſie, leſt any ſhould ſeduce and wrong you, ver. 4. I, but is not this an unchriſtian ſuſpition in you, thus haſtily to ſurmiſe the worſt by us? might they reply. Anſw. No ſuch matter, for I doe with great joy behold and acknowledge that great good that is in, and amongſt you, ver. 5. Well then, what is it that you would have us doe? Anſw. Since my care is ſo great for you, ſince the Goſpel is ſo certaine, ſublime and perfect, therefore I would have you, That as you have received Chriſt, ſo yee would walke on in him, &c. In which words, he exhorteth them unto two things.
1. To walke in Chriſt.
2. To be rooted in him.
To a going on in the profeſſion of Chriſt, and to a ſtability, and ſtedfaſtneſſe there in.
Hee firſt exhorts to a walking in Chriſt. To this he urges them by that they had already done. As yee have received Chriſt Jeſus the Lord. As if he had ſaid, Yee have begun well, yee have received Chriſt the Lord, and yee profeſſe yee have received him, now then as yee have begun, ſo goe on, and to your receiving of Chriſt, adde your going on, and walking in him; from which argument of the Apoſtle, we may take this leſſon by the way:
That good beginnings are an engagement Doct.to good proceedings. Receiving Chriſt is an engagement and an obligation to walking in him, Pſal. 4. 9. Thoſe things that yee have both learned, and received, and heard, and ſeene in me, doe. Thus you have learned, and received, therefore doe thus. Apoc. 3. 3. Remember therefore how thou haſt received, and heard, and hold faſt and repent. It is this ground that edges thoſe ſharp reproofs, Gal. 3. 3. Are yee ſo fooliſh? Having begun in the Spirit, are yee now made perfect by the fleſh? and Gal. 5. 7. Yee did run well, who did hinder you that you ſhould not obey the truth? And this is the reaſon why they that have begun well, and yet goe not on, ſhall receive a ſmarter puniſhment, then ſuch as never made any ſuch beginning at all, becauſe they had a greater tye and engagement then others to be godly, and religious. Their latter end is worſe then their beginning, 2 Pet. 2. 20. And why ſo? becauſe their beginnings were better then other mens. They began to build, they began to look towards Chriſt and Heaven, theſe beginnings engaged them to a further progreſſe, and becauſe ſuch engagement, notwithſtanding they brake off, therefore have they made their account the heavier.
Let it teach us therefore if once wee have given up our names to Chriſt, to goe on, and hold on. A giving up the name to Chriſt, and a beginning to profeſſe religion, it is a ſubſcribing with the hand to the Lord. Iſa. 44. 5. It is a ſaying, I am the Lords. Now when wee have once ſaid we are the Lords, and have ſubſcribed to it, ſet us alſo have a care to ſay, wee will be the Lords, and to ſtand to, and make good our ſubſcription. But if once wee have ſubſcribed with our hand, and after our ſubſcription be found Revolters, God will bring in our own hands againſt us. The entrance upon profeſſion of Chriſts name is ſubſcription; Subſcription is an obligation to God. An obligation forfeited makes a man liable to the penalty. This by the way. Before I come to the thing preſſed, I will take the words in order as they lye, and begin firſt with that ground upō which he preſſes them to that duty. As yee have received Jeſus Chriſt the Lord. In which words he implyes that they had received Chriſt, they profeſſed that they had received him, and he takes it for granted, as a ground upon which he will work them on further; from what theſe Coloſsians did, learne What is every mans duty to doe, that meanes to be a true Chriſtian indeed.