AN EXPOSICIon in Englishe vpon the Epistle of S. Paule to the Colossians wherin the letter is purely declared with many good exhortacions to flee vice and to take vertue as shall appere clerely to the faithfull reader throughout all this Epistle written by Lancelot Ridley of Cantorbury Anno salutis humanae M.D.XLVIII CVM PRIVILEGIO AD IMPRIMENDVM SOLVM ¶ The preface to the Reader GRace mercie and peace from GOD oure father of heauē bee vnto all thē that loueth GOD and his worde and bee true setters furth promoters of Gods holy Gospell Amen Because the worde of God is the spirituall foode of our soule Matth. iiii and as necessary for the soule to feede it as corporall food is to fede the body ye more necessarie because it feedeth the soule a more plenteous thyng then is the body and geueth life eternall with GOD the father whereas the foode of the body feedeth the body for a short time and bryngeth not eternall life with God the father And this spirituall foode for the mooste part lieth hid in the letter of holy scripture vnknowen to many that readeth scripture because thei dooe not vnderstande that thyng thei reade although thei doo vnderstande Englishe and the scripture in many plain places yet there bee in the holy scriptures many darke places and hard sentences to be vnderstād whiche requireth more help then the bare texte in Englishe either by diligente searchyng oute the true trāslacion of that place out of that toungue that it was first written in that is out of the Hebrew or the Greke tongue in the whiche the holy scriptures was first written either by cōparyng of one place of holy Scripture with another and expoundyng one place by another or by diligent obseruyng the circumstances and sentences goyng before and commyng after or by helpe of some learned aucthor or godly learned man in holy scriptures to whom more knowlege was geuen of GOD bothe by great studie and also by humble praier made in faith for the same to God the aucthor of all wisedome and diuine knowlege by whiche meanes the misteries of holy scripture bee knowen and shewed to man of God That the spirituall foode of this Epistle to the Collossians should not be hid but parte of it made more opē and plain to the simple not learned in the Latin toungue I as one of the least in learnyng quid em̄ musca cum Elephantis haue sette furthe this rude exposiciō in this Epistle of sainct Paule to the Collossians as it hath pleased God to geue me grace and knowledge as I did before in the Epistle of sācte Paule to the Ephesians and to the Philippiās studiyng alway to profite all menne if I could and to hurt no man as knoweth God the iudge of consciēce and of all secrete thoughtes And to excite other better learned then I and of more health of body then I haue to applie their studie wit to set furth in English some part of holy scripture that the symple people might be moued more to read the holy scriptures and take more profite of theim then thei doo now by readyng onely of the letter and not vnderstāding the true meanyng of that thei read but rather ready to take it amisse then after the true sence of the holy ghost so by taking the scriptures amisse commeth greate error and heresies euil and preposterous iudgemētes false trustes and vain hopes and all for lacke of true knowlege of holy scriptures as Christe saied to the Sadduces Mat. xxii Erratis ignorantes scripturas you erre not knowyng the scriptures So ignoraunce hath been and yet is the cause of many errors and heresies and that men runne into dampnaciō iudgyng euill good and good euil swete soure and soure swete lighte darkenes and darkenes light to whō the Prophete Esai did threate woo euerlastyng saiyng Esaie .v. Woo bee to theim that call good euil euill good lighte darkenes and darkenes lighte c. So ignoraunce is yet the cause of these euils although the Bible bee in Englishe suffered to euery man and woman to reade at their pleasures to honor GOD to edifie theimselfes and other with all ye commaūded to bee reade euery daie at Matins Masse and Euensong yet there remaineth great ignoraunce corrupt iudgementes blindzeales not after the knowlege of God and will remayne still excepte I bee deceiued and excepte the holy scriptures bee made more plainer to the lay people vnlearned by some commentarie exposicion or annotacion that the laie people maie vnderstande the holy scriptures better and knowe the wil and pleasure of GOD by theim opened and plainly declared Therefore let ignoraunce the mother of al errors and heresies supersticion and Idolatrie bee clerely putte a waie by knoweledge of Gods holy sacred word truely opened and declared by some exposicion made by sobre sadde and discrete learned men that of holy scriptures truly expounded nothyng maie bee gathered but spirituall foode to feede the soule or elles I feare greatly that many will gather poyson for meate and errors for truth interpretyng the holy scriptures after their awne mynde and affecciō and not accordyng to the mynde of the holy ghoste by whom it was written But now I truste that all ignoraūce Idolatrie and supersticion and blynde zeale shall fall awaie by litle and litle the causes of them take awaie and the true knowlege of Gods woorde had and such Godly Homilies shewyng so muche Godly wisedome and true knowlege of necessary verities for our saluacion as was neuer shewed before our daies to the people of this realme for the whiche glory is to be geuen to GOD laude and praise to the kynges Maiestie and to his mooste prudent and honorable counsaill that so tendereth the health and the saluacion of the people of this realme that thei would haue al Idolatrie supersticion and feined religion takē awaie and Christes true honor and glory set furthe and grounded that all men mighte honor and worshippe God truly with that honor that he would be honored appoynted not of manne but of God in his holy scriptures geuen to vs to knowe God to loue God and to feare God to know our duetie to God and to our neighbor and to do it in deede the better accordyng to the will and pleasure of God to whom with the sonne and the holy ghoste be all honor and glory nowe and euer AMEN ¶ The argument of the Epistle THE Apostle after his Christiā salutaciō geueth GOD thankes for these Colossians that thei were come to the true knowlege of Christ by the word of God preached to them by Epaphras and had receiued faith hope and charitie as their workes declared he praieth to God for their increacemēt in spiritual knowlege and Godly liuing shewyng the benefites of Christ the hed of the Churche to theim and to all men willyng theim to stand sure groūded vpon Christ the sure foundaciō and that thei would not shrynke from Christ and his doctryne
as our redempcion reconciliacion remission of sinnes iustice righteousnes before GOD eternall life and felicitie all other giftes of God we receiue by Christ onely of Gods mere mercie and grace and not of our merites or deseruynges or of our workes merites or peticions of sainctes Al fulnes of the father is called to dwel in Christ not the Christ now hath receiued that thyng that he had not before for all goodnes of the father he had before as Ihon .v. saieth As the father hath life in hymself so he hath geuen to the sonne to haue life in hymself as the father raised ded men to life so doth the sonne And. Iho. xviii Christ said to his father glorify me with thy selfe with the same glory that I had before the world was created but all fulnes of the father is called to dwell in Christ that all men should knowe all the goodnes thei haue to come of God by Christe to thē that all that beleueth in Christ shuld not perishe but bee saued and should haue life euerlastyng by Christ with the father 4 And by hym to reconsile all thynges He goeth forwardes describyng what benefites wee haue receiued by Christ he saith that al thynges whiche wer out of Gods fauor to bee reconciled again to Gods fauor and loue as all mē whiche either for their originall sinne or for their actuall synne were out of Gods fauor and had offended GOD should by Christe onely bee reconciled to Gods fauour and haue remission of their synnes and be made partakers of euerlastyng life and that onely by Christe So by Christ alone all thinges in yearth or in heauē be brought again to Gods fauor And you whiche was farre of and enemies in mynde and in euill workes now he hath reconciled you again in the body of his fleshe by death that he should make you without fault without all spottes in his sight Before the Apostle shewed in parte what Christe was now he turneth his sermon to these Colossiās and sheweth what benefite thei haue receiued by Christ and that thei should loue Christ the better bee more thankefull and geue more thankes to God for their health life and saluacion he sheweth what thei wer before thei receiued Christes benefite then thei were farre from life and saluacion from God alienated by many vices and sinnes bothe originall and actuall in harte mynde will iudgement and in many euill workes as in Idolatrie supersticion fornicacion adultery errors and heresies for lacke of knowlege and of Goddes grace and by their naughtie liuyng in the whiche thei wer brought vp in and accustomed from their young age that thei committyng great and abhominable sinnes in the sight of God thei thought themselfes not to synne for thei knewe not what was synne nor the daungier of synne nor yet God their creator and maker Suche ther be many in the worlde brought vp in ignoraunce and blindnes supersticiō and Idolatrie thynketh supersticion and Idolatrie to please GOD well the cause whereof is euill bringyng vp of their parentes without knowelege of God and of his will and not taught to knowe God and his pleasure to bee dooen of vs his creatures and seruauntes as we haue promised in our baptisme by our Godfathers promisyng for vs. And here he sheweth some parte of their states Firste that thei were farre from God from life healthe and saluacion by reason of their ignoraūce and euill bryngyng vp in vice and synne from their yong age vnto that daie thei harde the worde of God preached vnto thē And here wee maie learne not to sticke much to those thinges wherein wee haue been brought vp from our yong age whiche parauenture haue been coumpted vertue and worshippyng of God yet the truth knowen thei haue been supersticion and Idolatrie as was Pilgrimage deckyng giltyng of Images settyng vp of candelles before images also again thei wer farre from GOD and from the house of Israel hauyng no title to claime or chalenge any parte of life or saluacion ye nothyng knowyng or myndyng life and health to perteine to theim that wer Gentiles as is more declared at large Ephe. ii But these that were farre of Christe hath made theim partakers of life and of heauenly ioye blisse and eternall felicitie with God Secondly thei wer enemies to God to their awne saluacion bothe in mynde and in euill woorkes thei had their myndes infected and poysoned with euill opinions errors and heresies euill and wicked iudgementes and full of euill woorkes Seruyng not the liuyng GOD true and iuste but many false Idolles ded Images stockes and blockes and ofte tymes thynkyng themselfes to serue the true and liuyng GOD when thei liued in al supersticion and Idolatry but these enemies Christe hath reconciled again to the fauor of GOD the father in the body of his flesh by death that by death of the Crosse whiche he suffered in his humain body for the redempcion of al bothe Iewe and Gentile that will beleue in him And thus Christes death was a full and sufficient satisfacciō for the synnes of the whole world for all theim that shal be sanctified and saued Hebre. x. 2 That he should make vs holy and blameles and without spottes in his sight Here is shewed for what ende and purpose Christe reconciled vs to the fauor of the father that we should returne again to vice synne and to our old naughtie liuing No no. But that wee should be holy and liue Godly and verteously knowe Gods will kepe it And that we should bee fautles that no notable faute crime or synne might be iustely imputed to vs of menne and that we should so beare behaue our selfes in all oure affaires that wee might be without reprofe that our faith should be so pure and stedfast garnished with all maner of good workes that we ded frō synne should liue to iustice as sainct Peter saieth i. Peter .ii. Here wee maie learne how pure holy a life all men should liue not onely the Bishoppe Pastor and prieste but also all laie men that desireth to bee felowes of saluacion and glory by Christ If you remain in faith groūded and stable and will not bee remoued frō the hope of the Gospell whiche you haue harde that was preached to all creatures vnder heauen of the whiche I Paule am made a minister Nowe he sheweth howe thei shal bee blameles without faute and spott in the sight God that is if thei shal abide in true faith and by no affliccion persecucion prosperitie or aduersitie decline or shrynke from true faith but bee constaunt and stable in it founded vpon Christ the true foundaciō and corner stone cleuyng vnto Christe and to his doctryne And here the Apostle reproueth al vnfaithfull that be doubtfull inconstaunt and waueryng in faith moued and tossed hether and thether with euery wynde and blast and tempest of wether of threatenynges of men or hope of fauor or pleasures of men And specially here is
fountain of liuely water of the word of God And he exhorteth thē to abide and sticke sure to that faithe thei had receiued by Gods woorde and that in no wise thei should turne from it to Iewishnes or to the lawe to the sacrifices or Ceremonies of the lawe as to thinke thei cannot be saued without theim when by Christ thei haue all thynges necessarie for saluacion nor yet it is not necessary to ioyne with Christ any other thyng as learnyng of Philosophie workes of the lawe Ceremonies Tradicions of men as without them no man can be saued For Christ is a sufficient sauior without all these thynges nor it is not nedefull to saluacion to ioyne any other thyng with Christe as necessary for saluaciō without the which saluacion cannot be had This place doth reproue theim that saith menne cannot vnderstāde holy scripture truly without humain Philosophie and therefore thei say that Philosophie is necessarie and that yong men brought vp in the Vniuersities must nedes learne Philosophie thei will not suffre theim to studie diuinitie before thei haue spente three or foure yeres in Philosophy in Aristotle or in Platoes woorkes that by Philosophie thei maie bee hable to iudge of diuinitie and so it ofte tymes commeth to passe that diuinitie is iudged by Philosophie and as the Heathen Philosophier hath thought and iudged of diuinitie so many young mennes iudgementes be and so the studious youth in Vniuersities bee poysoned by humain Philosophie in their firste studies for as it is ofte tymes sene that the vessell will kepe lōg the smell of that liquor that was firste putte in it so the studious youth first brought vp in Gentile learnyng kepe long the Gētiles iudgementes and maners of these Gentile aucthors thei haue red in their youth and it is a greate grace if euer thei bee brought from theim and that is a greate cause why so many brought vp in Gētile aucthors haue more swetenes and pleasure in Gentile learning then in the learnyng of Christe and of Goddes worde whiche thei contempne and despise for Gentile learnyng Therefore I thinke it moste expedient for Gods glory to be sprede abrode for the saluaciō of many and for true iudgement to be had that all youth should bee verteously broughte vp after the knowlege of Gods word that thei might haue their iudgementes truly formed and directed after the knowlege of holy scripture that thei should be taught by sobre discrete and learned men the true science of scripture and howe thei should take it and come to the knowlege of it with what humblenes and mekenes oft times geuyng themselfes too faithful praier desiryng the knowlege of holy scriptures of GOD to the glory of GOD to their saluacion and to the commoditie of other 2 Although I am absente in fleshe yet I am present with you in the spirite Note what affeccion Paule had to these Colossians he was present with them in spirite although he was absent in his body from theim he exhorted thē to continue in faith hope and in Charitie and not to shrynke from thē one here brede so he studied to profite them and to teache them the way to saluacion and that is to bee present with them in spirite 3 Ioiyng and seyng your ordre and surenes of your faithe in Christe He commendeth theim for twoo thinges and was glad to se in them stedfastnes the one was that he reioysed to see the good semely ordre vsed emonges theim a good ordre in dooyng of thynges emonges Christians is to be commended and where is no ordre there is confusion sainct Paule i. Cori. xiiii Would all thynges should bee dooen after a semely ordre and after a decent fassiō and here he commendeth a good ordre and reproueth those that kepe no ordre nor comelines He commendeth theim also for their surenes of their faithe in Christ that by no craft or intisyng perswasion thei shrynked from Christ or frō true beleue in Christe He reproueth here inconstaunt men and suche as will bee moued with euery blast or doctryne He commēdeth thē not that thei should bee proude but that thei should more and more go forwardes in vertue for vertue commended increaseth muche more As you haue receiued Christ Iesus our Lorde so walke in him that you maie bee rooted in hym and buylded in hym and made strōg by faith and as you haue learned aboundyng in hym with geuyng of thankes The Apostle exhorteth theim to go forwardes and increase euery daie more more in knowlege in faithe in hope in charitie as thei haue receiued Christ and faithe in hym and all treasures of perfeccion and saluaciō to be had in Christ by the preaching of the Gospel so he would haue them increase in knowlege and in all vertue euery daye more and more and not to ceasse from wel doyng good workes appoynted of God to be doen. 2 So that you might be rooted in hym and buylded and made strōg by faith The Apostle requireth constancie and surenes in them that thei should not bee moueable with euery wynde of doctryne but that thei should haue sure faithe constaunt hope and bee perfite in charitie in the knowlege of God and of Christ and as a tre surely rooted in the ground cannot well be plucked vp so sure he would haue theim rooted in faithe and that thei should buylde vpon Christe the sure foundacion and not vpon menne mennes phantasies and dreames tradicions religions of menne or vpon mennes good intentes without Gods worde Christe is the true foundacion that will not bee moued by no winde nor wether i. Cor. iii. Vpō Christe we should buylde suche workes as bee mete for Christe the foundacion and thei bee the woorkes commaunded in holy scripture by gold siluer and precious stones signified i. Cor. iii. And not voluntary woorkes signified by woode haye stobble whiche tried by the fire will not stande but either smodder as haye or els burne as woode and stobble but yet thei that hath doen these workes shal be saued if thei repent and amēde and cal to GOD for mercie and grace and do the workes of the spirit 3 As you haue been taught abundyng in knowlege with geuyng of thankes He moueth men to increase in knowlege of Christe and in true faithe and Charitie and in these to excell but alwaie with geuyng thankes to God whiche hath geuen thē power to do good that none should ascribe the good workes he dooeth to hym to his mighte and power but to God the aucthor of all goodnes Iames .i. Learne that it is not enough to haue knowlege of Christ and of his benefites but all men muste increase in the knowlege of god whiche knowlege commeth by Gods worde This place reproueth thē that loueth not to rede the holy scriptures that wil not suffre theim to bee red ye scarse will suffre the Bible to bee in their Parishe Churches muche lesse in their houses Take hede that no mā deceiue
Charitie all members are made perfite 2 And the peace of God maie triumphe and haue vyctory in youre bodies That is the peace of God maie ouercome in you al ire enuie hatred or malice iniury or wronges and let hym thynke he hath victorie that is in peace with his enemies and aduersaries that hath doen him iniurie or wrong not desiryng any vengeaūce of him but praiyng to God that he maie repent and amend his naughtie life remittyng all iniuries frely from his harte and this is the peace not of this world nor of the flesh but it is the peace of God whiche God worketh in peaceable men whiche shal be called the childrē of GOD. Math. v. And to this peace we bee called of God that we should thinke al one thing that after Iesus Christe that wee should bee one thankefull kynde and louyng to another The worde of GOD maie dwell in you abundauntly with al wisedō Teache and monish one another with sōges and praisynges and spiritual Psalmes with thankes syngyng in youre hartes to the Lorde And what soeuer you shall dooe in worde or in deede do all thynges in the name of our Lorde Iesu geuyng thankes to God and the father by hym The Apostle moueth theim that thei should receiue the doctrine of God and that it should not onely of theim bee learned but also that it should dwell in them abundauntly and be surely fixed in harte and memorie that one of thē should teach another And here Lyra saieth that it is required of vs that we should haue all vnderstandyng of holy scriptures Glosa interlinia But how or when will thei haue the vnderstandyng of holy scriptures that will not rede holy scriptures nor yet here them red or skarse can suffre that other rede holy scriptures This place reproueth theim that would not haue laye men to rede holy scriptures that thei might vnderstande them If it be not lawfull for laye menne to rede the holy scriptures nor yet to study them when shall the worde of GOD dwel in them abundauntly For the true knowlege of scripture is gotten by readyng studiyng hearyng thē rede and declared and here he speaketh aswell to laye menne as to priestes for he would haue all menne perfite in the knowlege of the truthe that thei might liue after the truth 2 In all wisedō teachyng and monishyng thēselfes and other in all wisedom necessary for saluacion Here note what diligēce the Apostle requireth that one should teach another in the true wisedome and euery one accordyng to his vocaciō with great reuerēce honor and Godly feare The worde of God is to bee intreated handeled with greate wisedome and sobernes and not rashly foolishly boldly or vndiscretly and therfore he addeth with all wisedom bothe of God and of man the woorde of God seyng it is holy and sheweth vnto vs the eternall will of GOD it requireth a man all dedicated to God whiche maie vse ofte tymes feruent praier to God and the whiche hath the feare of god before his iyes alwaie willyng at no time to do that thyng that should displease God in woorde or in deede Twoo thynges the apostle requireth of vs doctrine and monicion but there be some that bee called and appoynted and thei openly maie teache and monishe exhorte in publique cōgregacions of men Other there bee that bee not openly called to be preachers or teachers thei priuatly may teache and admonishe and opēly in their priuate houses to their wife childrē and seruauntes 3 Teache and admonishe one another Those thynges saieth S. Ambrose should be taught whiche sounde Christe whiche smell Christe and setteth furthe his glory and doctryne and this not onely sung or said by mouth but also in the harte with a feruent zeale to GOD and that in songes praisynges and in spirituall hymnes with thankes geuyng to God for his benefites But how should laye men syng spirituall songes laudes Psalmes and Hymnes to GOD in their hartes excepte thei should learne them or rede the holy scriptures theimselfes This place sheweth that it is lawful for lay men to rede holy scriptures and to learne that thei might reherse spiritual songes whē thei worke vpon their handie labors and it condēpneth all them that thynketh it is not lawfull for laye men and laie women to rede holy scriptures and haue theim by hart that thei might syng laude praise and thankes to God 4 What soeuer you do in word or in deede do all thynges in the name of our lorde Iesus Now is declared for what end should all our woordes and deedes bee dooen that thei muste be for the glory of God that the name of God might bee glorified in all men and thankes geuen to God for his benefites This place reproueth all hypocrytes and dissemblers that seketh their awne glorye more then the glorye of God that study to please menne more then God You wiues obeye your awne husbandes as it is mete in the Lorde You mē loue your wifes and be not bitter again to thē Of the mutuall duetie betwene man and his wife I haue spokē at large Ephe. v. What bee the causes of Godly Matrimonie and what is the duetie of either of them to the other Now sainct Paule saieth it is the office or duetie of the wife what estate or degree so euer she bee to be obedient to her husband in al lawfull and honest causes and that willyngly and gladly studiyng alwaie to please hym in the lord withoute all murmuryng or grudging against him and that for the ordinaunce of God whiche hath ordeined that wifes should be obedient to their husbādes whatsoeuer thei be poore or riche noble or vnnoble If any would thynke to be Master ouer their husbandes by reason of their noble stocke and kynred of their riches landes or possessiōs let them knowe that Gods lawe and ordinaunces byndeth theim to obedience to their husbandes and he that resisteth the ordinaunce of God taketh vnto hymself iudgement Roma xiii Therefore let euery one beware that thei breake not Goddes ordinaūce for thei that breake his ordinaunce thei shall not escape vnpunished if thei here in this worlde do not repent and cal to God for mercie and forgeuenes of their synnes in true faithe 2 You menne loue your wifes and bee not bitter in ire against thē The duetie of the husband is to loue his wife as his awne body and as Christ hath loued vs then no man should hate his wife for he hateth not his awne body not to hastie angry or checke or bitter in woordes or deedes or dooe that thyng that should iustly anger or displease her and to ouer se and wynke at many fautes in his wife study with gentlenes to reforme that he proueth to be amisse for so he would his wife should dooe to hym and so to beare the infirmities of the weaker vessels not to be churlishe frowarde ouerthwarte or with bitter woordes soundyng to the dishonestie