and well deserving not respect mens persons but to weigh and consider the merit of their causes There were but few to give such testimony of Epaphras and therefore for the future glory of Epaphras the Apostle doth beare record to make an everlasting record of Epaphras his well deserving What was requisite to a sure testimony is found in the person of Saint Paul First eminency in authority Secondly approbation of fidelity Thirdly exemplary integrity All these were in him for he was conspicuous and eminent in place and authority one of an approved fidelity and his life and conversation full of exemplary integrity 2 Cor. 12.11 for authority he was not one whit behinde the chiefest Apostles 1 Tim. 1.12 for fidelity he was accounted faithfull and so put into the ministery For integrity his conversion altered his conversation his life made good his doctrine Gal. 2 20. for Christ lived in him The integrity of his conversation was approved by the viper that fell from his hand from the courteous entertainement that hee received from Iulius Acts 27. 28. whose defence and patronage saved him when the mu inous Souldiers would have killed him and from Publius and the Barbarians that thought him to be a God But above all how did the Disciples at Caesarea witnesse and approve the integrity of his life when they not onely wept Acts 21.13 but did even breake their hearts to forgoe him so that it might be truely said of this Apostle in whom Christ lived as it was said of Christ himselfe by the Centurion certainely this was a righteous man Lake 23.42 This was the applause and commendation which good men and wise men did ever strive for Laudari a laudato Cice. 4. Tusc qu. to be well spoken of by them that were well spoken of the approbation of one Paul was better then the praises of ten thousand parasites This approbation had Epaphras from Paul the Minister of the Colossians from the Bishop of the Gentiles and it were to be wished that every Pastor set over the Congregations in the Church of England had the like approbation from his Diocesan In the application of the Text give me leave to commend unto you an Epaphras now living whom we of this place have round zealous for us and of whom I now beare record Let us examine how and in what measure hee may be paralleld to the Epaphras of St. Paul As Epaphras had a relation unto the Colossians so this man to us Epaphras saluteth them by Pauls Epistle this man by his severall Epistles unto me for you saluteth you Epaphras was their Countrey-man so this is ours Epaphras was a servant of Christ so is ours too First in the common and generall service of Christianity Secondly in the service of the Ministery in particular though not by a speciall service and calling to teach and preach the Gospel of Christ in his own person yet alique mode for that he procureth Sermons to be preached at his cost and expense and this way doth exercise a ministeriall function though not formally yet efficiently for the glory of God and the good of this congregation Epaphras prayed for them this man is not behinde in the like holy exercise for us Wherefore I desire your patience to heare some passages word for word as they are delivered in his salutations by severall Epistles In one Epistle it is thus I aim at those of my countrey by neerest relation them of the Parish and Towne wherein I was born And again I cannot do lesse then remember the place of my birth and the poore that be in that towne and I desire that my gift viz. his benevolence and contribution may stir up some to the like actions whilst they live and not defer it till their death And againe I most humbly pray you writing to me your Minister to give unto your Parishioners foure Sermons in this yeare and I pray God heartily that they may worke upon the hearers effectually as they are by me intended for their good And againe I cease not to pray to God for the increase of your talent and that your ministery may distill upon the hearts of your hearers to gaine some and to direct establish and comfort others to Gods glory and your everlasting peace and happinesse And againe my prayer to God for you and yours is that hee will abundantly according to the riches of his grace make your labours most profitable and glorious in your charge and the high calling that God hath called you unto And againe I pray heartily unto God that I may bee what I am instructed in from men of your ranke and calling who are the lights of the people and the guides of soules for whom my prayers to the God of Spirits which is the quickning instrument shall never cease to be poured forth that every one of you may be as Moses Aaron to go in out before your people and to speak a word in due season to those that hear you for their and your owne salvation So to Gods gracious protection I commit you and them And unto these his several prayers for me your minister and you my Parishioners his alms so liberally extended toward the poore of this place and then tell me wherein he comes short of Epaphras There is not a Sabbath in the yeare wherein his hand is not extended to our poore On the Feast of S. Luke the Purification of the Virgin Mary Ascension day and S. James on each day allowing 10.5 to the poore and 10.5 for a Sermon and at four festivals in the yeare plentitifully enlarged not onely in Almes but Sermons also that so the whole congregation may be fed some spiritually and some corporally by his pious bounty S. Paul did testifie that Epaphras had a great zeale for the Colossians his countrey-men and it was so and I though inferiour to the Apostle yet witnes the truth doe testifie of our friend benefactor and countreyman that he hath a great zeal for you and certainly it is so Wherefore let us then in some thankfull way acknowledge the benefit of his love towards us Gal. 1. ult make requitall as the Churches of Iudea did for S. Paul even by the glorifying of God in him and let us all in generall pray for him as our Apostle did for the household of Onesiphorus 2 Tim. 1.16 The Lord give mercy unto his house for he hath oft refreshed us However if you for your part bee negligent and backward yet I for my part will say and heartily pray Peace be to him and love and faith from God the Father and the Lord Iesus Christ Ephes 6.23.24 And grace bee with all them that love our Lord Iesus Christ in sincerity Amen FINIS Imprimatur Johaunes Hansley May 29. 1641.
Epaphras A SERMON PREACHED AT SAINT AVSTELL IN CORNWAL IN COMMEMORATION of a Benefactor the second of February 1639. By Ioseph May Master of Arts and Pastour of that Parish HEB. 13.16 To doe good and to distribute forget not for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased LONDON Printed by T. H. for Humphrey Robinson and are to be sold at the Signe of the three Pigeons in Pauls Church-yard 1641. TO HIS WORTHY FRIEND AND FRIENDLY Benefactor Mr. Richard Delamaine servant to his Majesty in the practice of the Mathematickes SIR THis new borne Babe seeketh admittance into your bosome and that justly because it is one of your own begetting your Purse and my Pen have joyned for the production of this Issue which now as you see hath taken footing to step abroad into the world I for my part have designed it for the Sanctuary there to hold a candle that some dim-sighted-passengers might by its light finde out a way to the poor mans Box and that by the same light I and my fellow servants may behold what manner of man Epaphras was for our paterne and imitation I have sent it unto you without Bag or Scrip very naked yet in such garments as Truth useth to put on You that love your Countrey so well cannot chuse but make much of your owne childe borne in your owne Parish and one that doth so well resemble you I have onely taught him his prayers or rather I have learned from him how to pray especially for you that you may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God Which duty shall alwayes be really performed by Yours truely obliged JOSEPH MAY. To his beloved Parishioners of Saint AUSTEL BEloved Friends and Parishioners it was for your sakes that I preached this Sermon and you know by whose procurement They are salutations which I presented unto you from a friend of yours wherein you may perceive his love and zealous affection towards this place the place of his birth and first breeding It is my desire that among the many Sermons which I have delivered some one may be more powerfull then the rest to worke in you an imitation of our Benefactors good workes the glory of God being his chiefe aime and that it bee not raked in oblivion or as a Candle put under a Bushell when it was intended to give light to the whole house I have here published what I formerly preached you have the light both of the word of God and the good workes of men walke in the light of the one by the light of the other that yee may be the children of light and so at length placed in glory like starres in the firmament with him who onely hath immortality and dwelleth in that light which no man can approach unto whereunto tendeth the labour and service of Your friend and Minister JOSEPH MAY. Col. 4.12 13. Epaphras who is one of you a servant of Christ saluteth you alwayes labouring fervently for you in prayers that yee may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God For I beare him record that he hath a great zeale for you and them that are at Laodicea and them in Hierapolis THe Saints and faithfull brethren which were at Colosse a city of Greece converted to the faith of Jesus Christ by the faithfull ministry of Epaphras give occasion to our Apostle to rejoyce be holding their order and stedfastnesle of faith in Christ upon the heare-say and report that came to him Col. 2.5 and therefore made them a choice part of his Apostolicall charge whereby to animate Col. 2.1 and confirme them in the faith received And however he had not seen them in the flesh yet his spirit and heart went with them and this Epistle is sent unto them by Tychicus a faithfull Minister Col. 4.7 8 9. and Onesimus a beloved brother to the end that the state of the Apostle might bee made knowne unto them and likewise their state made known unto him Thereby to comfort their hearts and to establish them in the truth herein compendiously setting before them a platforme both for life and doctrine that so every Saint and faithful brother might know what belonged to his severall vocation And towards the end of his Epistle by way of consolation remembreth the salutation of others of the holy brotherhood and fellowship as well as of himselfe as namely of Marcus Aristarcus Justus Epaphras c. So that Epaphras here mentioned is one of the beloved brethren and fellow servants whose salutations to the Church that was at Colosse to the Saints and brethren there the Apostle remembreth in this Epistle as in the text Epaphras who is one of c. In my judgement the Apostle is more zealous and affectionate in the salutations remembred from Epaphras then from any other of the brethren Because in the remembrance of the salutations of Epaphras he so highly commendeth Epaphras for his love especially toward the Colossians This is observed by the severall commendations of others here mentioned compared with the commendations which are given of Epaphras Aristarcus Marcus Jesus which was called Justus they were his fellow-workers unto the Kingdome of God Luke a beloved Physician these are commended in briese but Epaphras hath a large commendation two whole verses are spent to this purpose enough to make a short epistle in the commendation of Epaphras which the observations here following shall more plainely demonstrate to the end that the worth of Epaphras for imitation may be had in ever lasting remembrance Wherefore observe I beseech you first who is here commended Epaphras and in him the matter of his commendation that is why and wherefore he is commended Secondly by whom hee is commended and in him the manner of his commendation I beare him record The person commended is called Epaphras Nomen quasi not amen etym. I suppose it to be his name taken in baptisme at his conversion from Paganisme to Christianity Colosse a town of Phrygia Alst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 1.6 Tit. 3.1 1 Pet. 1.12 13 Col. 1.7 which might be done at Hierusalem where Peter baptized Phrygians and others not without significancy especially in that he was after his conversion deputed to a ministeriall calling which calling requires that men be put in minde and remembrance of their duties by the ministry which was the practice of the Apostle toward Timothy and Titus And of Saint Peter to the dispersed Brethren And Epaphras properly signifieth an admonitor or one that putteth in remembrance and in this point he was for them a faithfull Minister of Christ well brooking his name by his office a fit name for a servant of Jesus Christ so that it was comfortable to the Colossians to heare of Epaphras and to have his name mentioned in the Epistle whereby they received a testimony of his love toward them requiting that testimony of their love in the Spirit which was declared by Epaphras unto the
Apostle Epaphras in those dayes was glorious among the Saints on earth Col. 1.8 but now is he glorious among the Saints in Heaven And so in remembrance of the man wee come to the matter of his commendation which is grounded on three severall foundations as they lye in order of the Text. First upon his love to his countrey who is one of you and for you Secondly upon his calling and office a servant of Christ Thirdly upon his labour and exercise of prayer not without respect to his calling and love to his countrey alwayes labouring for your fervently in prayers c. In which holy exercise of his there offer themselves to be considered the subject matter of his prayer and the severall circumstances thereof The subject matter of his prayer is that they may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God The severall circumstances are these First the painefulnesse of his exercise in prayer expressed by labour and striving yea and that fervently It was not faint and easie cold and perfunctory but hot and fervent with labour and strivings for surely to labour fervently in prayer is a painefull and hot exercise this is amplifyed by his zeale for hee had a great zeale for them Secondly the continuance of his exercise in prayer Alwayes that is constantly and continually not intending every minute of every day but exercise of prayer every day As it was called a continuall burnt-offering which was offered but morning and evening every day Numb 28.4 compared with verse 6. So they may be said to pray alwayes and continually which morning and evening doe offer the spirituall sacrifice of prayer Thirdly the extense of his laborious prayers which are made not onely for the Colossians but also for them of Daodicea and Hierapolis other congregations where Epaphras had bestowed his labours to plant the grace of God in truth Thus much concerning the grounds of his commendation in generall Now with your leave and liking as I hope I shall a little more discourse upon those grounds of the Apostles commendation of Epaphras in their order whereof the first is the ground of his just commendation taken frō his love to his country who is one of you labouring for you and hath a zeale for you saith the Apostle Epaphras was a Colossian their owne countryman and townseman their countryman either by birth or by education or by habitation in which severall senses one may be said to bee a countryman or townsman Natus in Bethlehem educatus in Nazareth incola in Capernaum Theophilact as Christ was a Bethlemite a Nazarite and a Capernaite Lyra saith perhaps he was a Gentile by Nation and made Pauls Disciple Without perhaps Dionisius Carthusianus saith he was natione Colossensis Forte crat Gent. lis natione de partibus Colossensium Lyrain locum Dionysius Cart. in lbcum a countreyman of that place this agreeth with the text for he was one of them Marcus Aristarcus and Jesus called Justus they were Jewes of the circumcision vers 11. but Epaphras was their owne countryman and by that tye had a neerer relation unto them which causeth him more fully to expresse his love and affection toward them It was their glory that such a flower grew in their garden as Theophilact noteth upon the place much more for their consolation and comfort that they had such a faithfull Minister and such a beloved brother Nescio qua natale solum dulcedine cunctos Ducit immemores non sinit esse sui He is unnaturall that hath no better affection to his native soyle then to a forraine country Psal 137. By the rivers of Babylon we sate downe and wept when we remembred thee O Sion Hierusalem could not be forgotten rather the right hand should forget her cunning and the tongue cleave to the roofe of the mouth whom nature hath joyned together they cannot easily be put asunder This made Mordecai and Hester to intercede for their Countrymen at Ahasuerus Court Hester 4. As it was sayd of the couragious souldiers in Hectors army Enreliqui cives vestra virtute teguntur So it may be said of good men well affected to their Country that the endeavour and care of one man doth many times deliver a whole city from disolation Were the armed Spartans by Agesilaus accounted Moenia urbis wals of the city Certainely good men are Propugnacula acclesiae the defence of the Church like the Towen of David builded for an armory whereon hang a thousand Bucklers all shields of mighty men Can. 4.4 Sodome had beene delivered had there beene but a few righteous men in that place to have interceded for the rest for good men borne and abiding in a towne or countrey are termed Auxiliatores ab ipsa natura suppeditati Plutarch helps ordained by nature for that purpose Therefore what some one may prize too much as Lots Wife did her delightfull Sodome one cannot choose but look back upon to wit his owne country the sympathy of native affection is not easily wiped off as it appeareth by Moses into whose heart it came to visit his brethren the Children of Israell As 7.23 after 40. yeares spent in Pharaohs Court O patriae natalis amor Sic allicis omnes O quantum dulcoris habes Such was the love of Epaphras to the Colossians the first ground of his commendation The second ground of his worthy commendations is that he was a servant of Christ and so generally is every beleeving Christian bought and redeemed from the bondage of sinne and Satan to serve and obey God in righteousnesse and true holinesse Rom. 6.18 For such as are made free from sinne doe become the servants of God and therefore being delivered from our enemies wee must serve him without feare in righteousnesse and holinesse all the dayes of our life and hereby such as love the Lord Iesus in sincerity are called and accounted as our Saviour Christ was his righteous servants Esay 53.11 or rather by this service they have obtained a greater honour then to be called servants Rem 12.1 for we are no more his servants but his sonnes Gal. 4.7 Because we doe and performe that reasonable service which belongeth rather unto sons then servants Such servants were Abraham Isaac and Jacob Job Noah and Daniel and such are all those that desire to glorifie God by doing his will with fervency of spirit serving the Lord. Rom. 12.11 These are they which are numbred of the Tribes of Isreal Revel 7. one hundred forty and four thousands and of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues a great multitude which no man could number and are called the servants of our God who are said to bee sealed in their foreheads in that they doe openly professe Christ and embrace the truth and make profession thereof with courage and constancy making an open shew of their faith Revel 14.1 because the Name of the Lamb of
a perfect man in his generation the mandate to Abraham is to all the children of Abraham Gen. 17.1 Walke before me and be thou perfect for not onely the man of God in his holyfunction but also the servant of God in his holy conversation must bee perfect to every good work 2 Tim. 3.16 And for that the chiefest grace and vertue of this life consisteth in love the Apostle calleth love vinculum perfectionis the bond of perfection Colos 3.14 And wise Solomon in the Canticles speaking mystically of the graces proper to the Church of Christ saith vna est columba mea Cant. 6.8 perfecta mea Which our translation rendreth my Dove mine undefiled is one uniting love and perfection in every good Christian This perfection is first in the heart there rooted thence spreadeth unto the tongue the hands It is first in the minde and the affection and thence proceedeth into words and workes by a sanctified operation for such a perfection is required First wee must serve God with a perfect heart as the good King Ezechiah did 2 King 20.3 and as David commanded his sonne Solomon to doe 1 Chion 28 9. And then with our tongues it any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man And for our hands James 3 2. they are to be made perfect unto every good work Phil. 3.14 15. By this meanes pressing hard toward the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus Let us therefore as many as bee perfect and would be really perfect bee thus minded For this perfection and fulnesse laboured Epaphras on the behalfe of his Countreymen the Colossions in his prayers and farther limits this perfection and fulnesse with the will of God For his labour for them in prayers is that they may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God where his will is to be understood not for his Essentiall Attribute which is the councell of his will Voluntas Volitio Volitum Ephes 1.11 for that is hidden from us nor for his will bringing to passe what he hath decreed for so his judgements are unsearchable and his wayes past finding out Rom. 11.33 And who hath refisted his will Rom. 9.19 but for the object of his will which is revealed and made manifest by the word taught and preacht This is the will of God required to be done of us in which will we must shew our obedience Psal 40.7 8. In the volume of the booke saith David it is written that I delight to doe thy will O my God! which is Prophetically spoken of Christ Allegorically of every good Christian whose duty it is to be a follower of Iesus Christ 2 Cor. 11.1 For it is just and requisite for such as know the will of God should approve the things that are more excellent as instructed out of the volume of his booke Rom. 2.18 Luke 6.46 Mat. 7.21 Why should we call him Lord and Master if we doe not the things that hee saith It is not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven saith our Saviour Christ It is required that we be transformed by the renewing of our mindes that we may prove and by our obedience approve Rom. 12.2 what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God It must must be unto us as it was unto Christ meat to doe the will of God and to finish his worke Ioh. 4.34 Mens thoughts ought especially to pitch on three things concerning the will of God First what he will doe with us Secondly what hee will doe for us And thirdly what hee will have us to doe If we doe what hee will have us to doe then will he make us vessels of mercie this will he doe with us and he will blesse us here and hereafter this hee will doe for us The summe of our obedience to the will of God in doing what he will have us to doe is First Acts 17.10 John 3.16 1 Thess 4.3 to repent seriously Secondly to believe in Christ constantly Thirdly to lead a holy life continually It is the will of God that wee recover our selves out of the snares of the Divell 2 Tim. 2.26 and turne from sinne unto God and so make our selves new creatures that wee may believe in Iesus Christ by faith appprehending him to bee our Priest to offer sacrifice for us our Prophet to teach and our King to rule and governe us and that we become holy as he is holy eschewing evill and doing good 1 Pet. 1.16 separating our selves from wickednesse and wicked company dedicating our selves and labours to God and godlinesse walking circumspectly ever learning and practising piety devotion and heavenly mindednesse cleansing our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit and perfecting holinesse in the feare of God 2 Cor. 7.1 forsaking our owne weake and corrupt wills and applying our selves wholly to the will of God which calleth us to repentance and newnesse of life For if God bee our Father what Christ applied to the Scribes and Pharisees to another purpose is most true of us The workes of your Father yee will doe To doe his workes and obey his will John â— 44 confirmeth the spirituall kindred farre more noble and excellent then the carnall betwixt Christ and us for whosoever shall doe the will of his father which is in heaven Mat. 12 â—0 he is his brother and fister and mother Luke â— 21 and his mother and brethren are those which heare the word of God and doe it Where the word of God and the will of God are one and of one signification that no man might bee to seeke where to learne or how to know the will of God Wilson There need no rules of Philosophy no decrees of Popes no traditions of the Church for the salvation of mens soules or the ordering of mens lives 2 Tim. 3.16.17 the Scripture alone which is a most absolute witnesse of Gods will is sufficient to make the man of God perfect There is the rule and Canon of obedience to the will of God because all doctrines necessary thereunto are in the Scriptures fully declared and expressed For when Moses had told the people the words of the Lord and had taken the Booke of the Covenant and read it in the audience of the people they said All that the Lord hath said we will doe and be obedient Exod. 24.7 And our Apostle thanketh God for the Romans that they had obeyed from the heart that forme of doctrine which was delivered them Rom. 6.17 For to obey is better then sacrifice 1 Sam. 15.22 because he that sacrificeth doth but slay a beast but he that obeyeth doth slay himselfe in his owne corrupt will and naturally depraved affections Now then Epaphras in the subject matter of
his prayers for the Colossians doth include the sum of all perfection necessary to Christians in this life in that he praieth that they may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God And here the Apostle doth not onely pray that they may be perfect and complear c. but also that they may stand perfect c. where the Metaphor in the phrase of standing is not to be omitted because to stand in a matter is to be constantly setled in the same signifying to abide and continue in it and not to be drawne away from that station and posture by any assault or temptation as the Romans are said to stand in grace Rom. 5.2 And as the Galatians were advised to stand fast in their Christian liberty Gal. 5.1 And the Ephesians are exhorted to take unto them the whole armour of God that they may bee able to withstand in the evill day and having done all to stand Ephes 6.13 For as the counsell of the Lord is said to be sure and immutable Heb. 6.17 so the Prophet David saith It standeth for ever Psalm 33.11 Epaphras prayeth not only for an habendum but a tenendum to that so the grace of obedience to all the will of God may be theirs to have and to hold And no marvell that Epaphras had such a zeale for them because there was a possibility that they might be spoyled through Philosophy and vain deceit Col. 2.8 after the traditions of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ which might bee feared and therefore out of the earnestnesse of his zeale for them he laboureth instantly with our Apostle to write this Epistle and send faithfull messengers with the same as Tichious and Onesimus that as they had received Christ by the ministery of Epaphras so they might walke in him by the counsell and consolation of the Apostle Anxiè sollicitus Pel. in loc To this purpose his zeale is shewen for the Colossians in that hee was very earnest and carefull for them that they might continue in the doctrine by him taught and preached whereby the foundations of Christianity layd might not be thrown down or overturned As there is a zeale of God for men expressed by the zeale of the Lord of Hoasts for the remnant of Iudah and those that remaine of Ierusalem 2 King 19.30.31 So there is a zeale of men for God which was the zeale of Elias being zealous for the Lord of Hoasts because the children of Israel had forsaken his covenant broken downe his Altars and killed the Prophets 1 King 19.10 And there is againe a zeale of men for men this was the zeale of Epaphras for the Colossians The zeale of God for men is the abundant and earnest love of God for the good of his Church and his people The zeale of men for God is the fervent and zealous love of men toward God for the advancement of his glory The zeale of men for men is the hot and earnest affection that the Church and people of God have to doe good one to another Zeale being still taken in the better part for true warrantable and religious zeale for this zeale of men to men setteth forth the fruits of it selfe in mercy and compassion Gal. 6.10 in the desires of doing good to all men especially to them of the houshold of faith in the hatred of prophanenesse and the furthering of Gods true worship and service in wrastling against the corruptions of the world ever hotly pursuing that grace of God which teacheth us to live godly Tit 2.12 righteously soberly in this present world The zeale of men for men is positive of men for God is comparative but that of God for men is superlative This we may admire the other two we must practise To be zealous as Epaphras was and withall that our zeale be extensive not unto one person or one place onely but unto many persons and many places even unto all the world and all persons in the world For looke how farre the commission from God extendeth to goe and teach Mat. 28.19 1 Tim. 2.4 so farre it commandeth to extend the rayes of our love and affection even to such as are of Colosse Laodicea and Hierapolis the Cities and places which had no long existence For in Nero's time Strab. lib. 10. as Historians write they all perished with an earth-quake From such desolation the Lord deliver us Neverthelesse the love of Epaphras toward them is here highly commended and where-ever this Epistle shall be read what this Epaphras hath done for the Colossians shall be told for a memoriall of him And so much for the person in my text commended and the grounds of his commendation It remaineth that I say somewhat of the person that commended him The person that commended him as I have said before was the Apostle Saint Paul and the manner was by bearing record or giving testimony of both which briâ—fly and together For the person commending as he was not a Citizen of a meane City Acts 21.39 so he was not a man of a meane quality for he was a chosen vessell unto the Lord Acts 9 15. to beare his name before Gentiles and Kings and the children of Israel and by the Apostles Peter Iames and Iohn he was appointed I may say consecrated the Apostle or Bishop of the Gentiles he maketh no question but his testimony would bee accepted of the Churches as it was at Rome Rom. 10.2 where he witnessed by his Epistle the zeale of Israel 2 Cor. 8.3 at Corinth where he witnessed the contribution and liberality of the Macedonians at Galatia Gal 4.15 where hee witnessed the aboundance of their love toward him and here at Colosse where he witnesseth the zeale of Epaphras toward the Colossians It was the happinesse of Epaphras to be limned by such a Painter Tul. de or at Tully the Oratour esteemed it sufficient that wise Cato approved him though others condemned him And Pauls testimony of Epaphras was as much if not more as if all the other Apostles had borne record of his just commendations 1 Cor. 7.40 for the Apostles judgement as in other matters so also in this was guided by the Spirit of God Undoubtedly Epaphras had never obtained these commendations from Saint Paul unlesse hee had duly deserved them and the causall particle doth enforce it for I beare him record Wherefore to be commended by him was the greatest honour the times could afford and that was justly due unto Epaphras Prosp de sym Paul was another Simmachus mirabili eloquio sapientia praeditus wise and learned vir totus exsapientia virtutibus factus Boetius de eod full of grace and goodnesse which Symmachus said of himselfe mei moris est bene cognitis approbatisque ferre suffragium nec personas hominumsed vitae merita cogitare My manner is to approve such as are well knowne