live any longer therein For if they be dead to sin but in promise and profession only they cannot to wit with any face live to sin For who can with any face live to that which he hath promised and professed he hath nothing to do with and which he hath renounced And if they be dead to sin not in promise and profession only but in truth and reality also How can they possibly live to sin For it implieth a contradiction to be truly and really dead and yet to live to the same thing to wit at the same time When therefore Christians may be said to be dead to sin these two manner of wayes I conceive that the Apostle argues here in this part of the Chapter from both these wayes that is from the promise and profession which they make in their entrance and admission into the Church of Christ that they renounce sin and will die unto it which he prosecutes in the third and fourth verses And from that that if they be true Christians they are dead to sin in truth and reality which he prosecutes in the verses following We that are dead to sin We may take notice here of the difference of these two Phrases to wit to be dead to sin which is the Phrase the Apostle here useth And to be dead in sin which is a Phrase the Apostle useth Eph. 2. ver 1.5 c. he is said to be dead to sin which obeyeth not sin nor followeth the lusts thereof He is said to be dead in sin which is so under sins dominion as that he can get no more out of it in a manner than a dead man can get out of the Grave Therein The Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may be rendred Thereto Ver. 3. Know ye not that as many of us as are baptised into Christ Jesus are baptised into his death i. e. Know ye not that so many of us as by baptism have entred our selves into the number of Christ Jesus his disciples and have by the Susception of baptism obliged our selves to follow him and his doctrine that we I say did by that our baptism and the susception thereof and the ceremonies therein used profess and promise that we would renounce sin and die to her which death was typified as it were and figured in the death of Christ and the death of Christ figured in our baptism that is in plainer and shâ—rter terms have not as many of us as have been baptized professed and promised by or in our baptism that we would renounce sin and die or become dead unto her As Christ once died to this naturall life Note that whereas the Apostle said ver 2. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein he doth here illustrate and shew the truth of that his saying First by shewing that we Christians are dead to sin in promise and profession at the least And this he doth in this verse And Secondly by shewing that we are therefore dead to sin not that we should live again to her but that we should live a new life to wit a life to righteousness and this he doth in the next verse As were baptized into Jesus Christ To be baptized into Jesus Christ is by the susception of Baptisme or by the promise therein made to subject ourselves to Christ and to acknowledge him to be our Master whom we will readily follow and whose Gospel and Doctrine we will readily embrace and whose commands we will receive and keep without dispute See Acts 19.5 1 Cor. 1.14 The Baptism by which we are baptized into Jesus Christ is not different from that Baptism by which we are baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost yea we are baptized into Jesus Christ by being baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and while we subject ourselvs to them we subject ourselves to Jesus Christ for they are all one their commands one their doctrine one Were baptized into his death i. e. Were baptized into the similitude and likeness of his death for so the Apostle seems to explicate and express himself ver 5. And by consequence into a death to Sin which was typified both by the ceremony of being dipped over head and ears in baptisme as also by Christs Death They were baptized into the similitude of Christs death which were dippâ—d over head and ears in the waters at their Baptism for by being dipped over head and ears in the waters at their Baptisme they were as it were buried in the waters which burial represented the burial of Christ in the bowels of the earth and by consequence Châ—â—sts death This burial in the waters at their Baptism as it did figure and represent Christs death So it did figure and represent the death of those which were baptized unto Sin which the Apostle here intimates and we are to take notice of And as it did figure and represent the death of those which were baptized unto sin so it was a kind of profession that they did renounce sin and would dy thereunto Where note that at this Baptism the party to be baptized did by word of mouth promise and profess that he would renounce sin And what he did promise and profess by word of mouth he did promise and profess by the ceremonies to which he submitted himself in baptism For whether he were sprinkled with water or whether he were dipped over head and ears he did by those ceremonies and either of them promise â—nd profess that he had or would renounce sin and have nothing to do with the foul pollutions of her unclean motions and lusts For by being sprinkled with water he shewed that he had or would cleanse himself and as it were wash himself from sin And by being dipped over head and ears and so by being as it were buried in the water he shewed that he would die or was dead to sin for none but dead men use to be buried Into his death i. e. Into the similitude or likeness of the death of Christ which death of Christ was a figure or representation of our death to sin And by being baptized into that we did profess that we would renounce sin and die to her Note therefore that the death of Christ was not only a cause of our death unto sin But was also a figure and certain Typical representation thereof For it signified or figured our death to sin And did Typically and Figuratively teach us what we should do that is that we should die to sin as Christ died to this mortall life And this is evident by certain passages of the former part of this Chapter And not only the death of Christ but his Resurrection and his Ascention into heaven did figure and typically set forth what we should do who have been baptized into Christ For as Christ was raised from the dead so should we rise to a new
life ver 3. And as Christ is ascended into heaven so should we have our conversation in heaven and place our affections there Coloss 3. ver 1 2 3 c. Ver. 4. Therefore are we buried with him by Baptism unto death that like as Christ was raised from the dead c I take this Conjunction Therefore to be here in this place not as a note of Illation inferring any thing from what went before But as a note of demonstration shewing or pointing at the end of that which was there said and is here repeated or assumed to shew that end q. d. Now for this end or for this cause were we baptized into the death that is into the similitude of the death of Christ and so by consequence into the death of sin to profess and signifie that as Christ was raised from the dead we also should walk in newness of life We are buried with him by baptism into death This is that which he said ver 3. We were baptized into his death Which words he repeateth or assumeth again here to set forth the end thereof But note that whereas he said onely We were baptized into his death in the third verse here he saith We are or were rather buried with him by Baptism to death where he expresseth our being baptized with the Ceremony which was then used in baptism which was such as that the parties baptized were dipped over head and ears and so buried as it were in the water as Christ was buried in the bowels of the earth So that these words We are or were buried with him by baptism into death do speak explicitely and at large what he said in fewer words when he said We were baptized into his death And what he said implicitely and in fewer words when he said We were baptized into his death He saith more explicitely and at large when he saith We are buried with him by baptism into death We are buried with him by Baptism into death i. e. We are or were baptized into the similitude of Christs death Buried with him by Baptism i. e. Buried in the waters by being dipped over head and ears therein at our baptism as he was buried in the bowels of the earth and so by consequence baptized into the similitude of the death of Christ and representing his death at or in our baptism The Apostle as I said expresseth here being baptized by being buried by baptism which was a Ceremony used in those days in baptism For whereas we sprinkle or pour water upon those which we baptize they of old dipped them over head and ears and so buried them as it were in the waters whom they baptized And the Apostle may seem thus to express their being baptized and to make mention of this Ceremony here because it did more plainly represent the burial of Christ to which this Ceremony doth allude and by consequence the death of Christ to the natural life which he lived before his Passion and so by consequence our death to sin which they which were baptized did profess by submitting themselves to that Ceremony and suffering themselves to be dipped over head and ears in the waters at their baptism Note here that those which the Apostle here speaks of were men of ripe years and understanding and such when they were baptized were wont for the most part to be dipped over head and ears and buried as it were in the waters when they were baptized But this dipping over head and ears and burying as it were in the waters was not essential to baptism For the use of water in baptism is and was to signifie outwardly the inward cleansing of the soul from sin which water doth aswell by sprinkling as it doth by our being dipped and overwhelmed therein And it is more than probable that though they of the primitive times used to dip over head and ears in baptism yet they used sprinkling also especially when the parties to be baptized were either Infants or sick or weak of body For whereas we read Act. 2.41 that in one day and that not an whole day neither three thousand souls were baptized by the Apostles and that at Jerusalem where there was no great Rivers fit for such baptism or dipping It is not likely that they did it or could do it by dipping them every one whom they did baptize over head and ears and burying them as it were in the waters in so short a time but that they did it by sprinkling or pouring water upon them And in the time of Cyprian Bishop of Carthage who was promoted to that his Bishoprick Anno 250 that sprinkling was used as well as dipping in baptism and that not as a new thing will appear by his 76. Epistle the ninth Paragraph which beginneth Quaesisti c. That the Ceremony of dipping or burying as it were in Baptisme was of ancient use and long continuance in the Church of Christ cannot be denyed though now the pouring on of water or sprinkling is in a manner altogether used But when dipping and burying as it were in the water was so frequently used they which were baptized were for the most part men of stronger years converted from other Religions to Christianity But when Christianity had extended it self almost to all parts of the known earth and few men of years were now baptized who could better endure dipping than Children and Infants could And when most that were now to be baptized were Infants to whose tender bodies dipping might be offensive for their health pouring on of water or sprinkling came to be in a manner altogether used in the place of dipping With him i. e. Like unto him or like as he was buried Note that the preposition With is to be taken here for a note of similitude and is as much as to say Like as and so it is to be taken ver 5 6 8. Into death This is that which he said ver 3. Into his death the exposition of which words see there That like as Christ was raised from the dead c. i. e. To signifie and profess thereby that like as Christ when he was dead was raised from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also shall or should rise again to a new life and walk therein By the glory of the Father i. e. By the glorious power of God the Father The power of God is called a glorious power Coloss 1.11 And it is glorified and often commended for raising up Jesus from the dead as Ephes 1. v. 19 20 c. We may take the glory of the Father also by a Metonymy for the Father himself who is glorious Even so we also should walk in newness of life Even so we also should or would rise from the death of sin to a new life and live therein and if we do so we can no longer live either in or to sin There is an Hebraism in these words viz Newness of life which are put for
a new life or a new kind of life That he cals newness of life or a new life or a new kind of life here which consisteth in other gates manners than they formerly used while they were yet unregenerate and without Christ Note that this word walk is frequently in Scripture taken as a word of morality by which is Metaphorically signified the life and conversation of a Man and his manner of living who practiseth or exerciseth act after act or deed after deed taking thereby as it were step after step one step after another And it is a word of an indifferent signification taken sometimes in a good sence as here sometimes in a bad as John 12.35 c. Because we should not only rise to a new life but also continue therein the Apostle had rather say even so we also should walk in newness of life than even so also we should rise to a new life For walking presupposeth rising but rising doth not inferre walking Ver. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection The Apostle prevents or answers a tacâ—te Objection here For whereas he said ver 4 Therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into death that like as Christ was raised from the dead to the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life A man may object and say whereas thou sayest Paul That we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised from the dead even so we also should walk in newness of life thou inferrest more from the premises than the premises will allow thee for though thou maist infer from these premises viz. we are buried with him by baptism into death that we are therefore so buried that we may not live unto sin yet thou canst not infer from thence that we are therefore buried with him in baptism into death that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life To this objection I say the Apostle here answers or this objection the Apostle here prevents saying for if we are planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection q. d. For I may infer from those words viz. We are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father we should also walk in newness of life as well as that That we should not live unto sin For one of those do infer the other so that if we shall not live unto sin we shall live unto newness of life If we have been planted together with him in the likeness of his death c. q. d. If we have been planted in the waters of baptism like as Christ was planted in the earth at his burial so that we be thereby truly and actually dead to sin as Christ was dead to this natural life We shall truly actually and undoubtedly spring up to a new life as Christ did at his resurrection to a life of glory Observe that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him or with him that is with Christ is to be here understood which is expressed both in the Syriac and Arabique Translations Observe also that what the Apostle meant by being buried ver 4. He meaneth by being Planted here But changeth the word buried into a more emphatical word planted the more to set out the efficacy of baptism which here he speaks of And in both these words he alludes to the burial of Christ when he was laid in the Sepulchre As Christ therefore when he was laid in the Sepulchre under the ground was said to be buried so were they said to be buried who were in baptism so dipped as that they were under the waters But because Christ was not to continue under the earth when he was buried Christ may better be said to be planted in the earth than buried For things which are buried in the earth may never rise up again But things which are planted or sown in the earth do naturally rise and spring up again after their Plantation And for this reason doth Saint Paul liken the bodies of men which are to have a resurrection when they are buried to grain which is sown or planted in the earth which is not quickned except it die 1 Cor. 5.36 And for this reason doth our Saviour himself in allusion to his death and burial and rising again liken himself to a Corn of wheat which falleth into the ground and dieth John 12.24 As Christ therefore when he was laid into the ground being he was to rise again might better be said to be planted than to be buried So they which were baptised being that they were dipped into the waters and therewith covered but not there to lie but to be lifted out or rise out of the waters again with which they were covered may be said to be Sown or Planted in those waters better than buried Especially when they are so dipped or covered with the waters of baptism as that by the Grace of God the inward operation of his Spirit going along with the outward work of the Sacrament they are therein mortified to sin For such as are mortified in baptism to sin will rise from the death of sin or from sin to which they are dead to a new life viz. a life of righteousness As they rise out of the waters again in which they are as it were buried or planted which are baptised And as Christ rose out of the earth in which he was planted or buried Together Supple with him that is like to him that is like to Christ Note that the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with is here a note of Similitude as I said before In the likeness of his death That is so that we die as he died we to sin as he to this natural life As the Grain which is sowed or planted in the earth is not quickned except it dieth 1 Cor. 15.36 So they which are planted in the waters of baptism do not rise or spring up to a new life or life of righteousness except they first die to sin But if they first dy to sin then they do undoubtedly rise and spring up to a new life or life of righteousness as the corn or grain riseth sprouteth and springeth up and as they which are buried in the waters rise out of them again We shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection The words with their Supplement for they are defective had been better rendred thus We truly shall also spring up together with him in the likeness of his resurrection The sence of which words is this We truly shall also spring up as he did we to a new life of righteousness as he sprang up to a life of glory and so be like to him in
over us but shall be destroyed at the last by the power of Christ at the General Resurrection when we shall be so raised to life as that we shall die no more Note that the Apostle useth a Prosopopaeia here when he saith that Sin hath reigned and that grace reigneth and speaketh of them as of Queens By Jesus Christ our Lord Supple who hath merited this for us by his obedience and will work it for us by his power CHAP. VI. 1. WHat shall we say then shall we continue in sin that grace may abound 1. But now because I said That when sin abounded Grace did much more abound Shall we therefore continue in sin that Grace may abound 2. God forbid how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein 2. God forbid For with what face shall we Christians which profess our selves to be dead unto sin Or how shall we which are dead to sin indeed as we are if we answer our profession live any longer in sin 3. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death 3. Know ye not that so many of us as have by baptism entred our selves into the number of Christ Jesus his Disciples were in our baptism baptized into the likeness of Christs death and that by being so baptized we did promise and profess that we would die unto sin 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life 4. Now for this end were we baptized into the likeness of the death of Christ and did by that profess and promise that we would die unto sin which was figured to us by the death of Christ That we might thereby profess and signifie that like as Christ when he was buried was raised from the dead by the power of God the Father even so we also which was signified by our rising out of the waters when we were dipped over head and ears would rise from the death of sin to a new and more pure kind of life 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection 5. For if we like a grain of Corn that is planted in the earth have been planted in the waters of Bâ—ptism when we were baptized as Christ was planted in the earth when he was buried in the Grave so that like as the grain of corn that dies in the ground we be also dead to sin as Christ also was dead to this bodily life Then we like corn which springs up out of the ground after it is dead shall rise as Christ also did out of the grave and as we our selves did out of the waters of Baptism and spring up to a new and spiritual life 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin 6. Knowing this that we died to sin that sin might be destroyed so that that from henceforth we should not serve sin 7. For he that is dead is freed from sin 7. For as a servant or a slave when he dieth is freed from the servitude and service of his Master So that his Master now hath no power over him Even so he that is dead to sin is freed from sin so that sin hath no power over him to make him her Servant and to serve her 8 Now if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him 8. And now that we may go on if we be dead to sin as Christ was dead to this natural or bodily life we believe and are perswaded that we shall not remain in this estate but that we shall also live the life of righteousness as He liveth now the life of glory 9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him 9. For least any one should think it strange that Christ which was once dead should be so revived and raised up from the dead again as that he should be still alive we know that Christ being raised from the dead nor died nor shall die any more and that death hath no more dominion over him 10. For in that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God 10. For in that he died he died but once and that for this end that he might take away sin But that he is revived and liveth he liveth and shall live for ever for this end that God may be honoured and glorified by that his life 11. Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 11. Now then that Christ whom ye ought to imitate is alive who was once dead reckon ye your selves to be dead indeed unto sin But alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12. Let not sin reign therefore in your mortall body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof 12. Let not sin reign therefore in your mortal bodies that ye should obey her in her lust and temptations Though she stirs up lusts and Temptations in you 13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin but yield your selves unto God as those that are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God 13. Neither yield ye your members unto sin as Instruments for her to work unrighteousness by them But yield ye yourselves unto God as it becometh and behoveth those to do which are raised from the death of sin and yield ye your members unto him to be Instruments by which he may work righteousness in you 14. For sin shall not have dominon over you for ye are not under the law but under grace 14. For let no faint hearted Christian say nay but I cannot but obey sin when she stirs up her lusts in me and tempteth me to naughtiness for sin shall not have dominion over you as she hath had heretofore to make you do what she pleaseth for ye are now not under the Law which commanded you to do that which is good and forbad you to do that which is evil but gave you little or no power towards the doing of them But ye are under the Gospel the Gospel of Grace which as it commands that which is good and forbids that which is evil so it gives power to perform that which she commands for the Gospel is the power of God to salvation 15. What then shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace God forbid 15. But now because the Law as she commands but gives little or no power to fulfill her commands So she is severe in punishing every the least transgression which is committed against her precepts And because
his resurrection Note therefore that the first words of this verse in the Original are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The latter words which are the words we have now in hand are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which words are defective and must be made up out of the first words thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The whole verse supplied and made up runs thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which we interpret thus For if we have been planted together with him in the likeness or to the likeness of his death truly we shall also spring up with him in the likeness or to the likeness of his resurrection Where note that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is twice here used but in different significations for in the first place it signifieth planted with In the second place it signifieth springing up with Of the signification of the word as it is used in the first place I presume there will be no doubt But some perhaps may doubt of the signification which is given to it in the second place Know therefore that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth as well to spring up with as to be planted with for Saint Luke useth the participle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this sence Luke 8.7 where we read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is And other fell among thorns and the thorns springing up with it choked it But some may Object and say that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a word of a Passive form but I have given it a Neuter or Middle signification I answer such words though they are of a Passive form yet may they be of a Neuter and Middle signification as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chap. 2. ver 5. and the Participle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 8.7 is of a Passive form but not of a Passive but Middle signification Note that in these words We shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection there is a tacite allusion to the lifting up or rising up of those out of the waters which were dipped over head and ears and so buried as it were or as he here sayes planted therein at their baptism by which as Christs rising from the dead was figured so our rising from the death of sin to a new course of life was represented and professed Ver 6. Knowing that our old man is crucified with him The Apostle prevents an Objection here for whereas he said verse 5. That if we be planted together with Christ in the likeness of his death we shall spring up with him in the likeness of his resurrection A man might object and say Paul thou speakest here thou knowest not what for do you know what you say when you say that If ye be planted with Christ in the likeness of his dâ—ath ye shall spring up with him in the likeness of his resurrection This Objection I say the Apostle here prevents when he saith Knowing that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed c. q d. And when I say If we are planted together with him in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection I know well enough what I say for I know that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed c. Knowing this that our old man is crucified i. e. Knowing this that our former kind of life is mortified or left Or rather Knowing that our old nature or custom of living is abolished He spoke of this which he calls here Our old man as of a Person by a Prosopopoeia If we should look to the order or series of speech the Apostles speech is somewhat incongruous for he should rather have said here We are crucified to the old man than have said Our old man is crucified For he said verse 5. If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death And in the seventh verse he saith He that is dead is freed from sin And verse 8. If we be dead with Christ c. to which these words should be conform But as I have observed the Apostle looks more to the sence than to the form or manner of his speech as he doth Chap. 7.4 and in many other places For which reason it may be it is that he saith of himself Though I be rude in speech yet not in knowledg 2 Cor. 11.6 Our old man is crucified He alludes here to the death by which Christ dyed and therefore saith is crucified whereas otherwise he would have said is mortified or the like It is by Baptism that our old man is said here to be crucified or mortified which is when the party Baptized is so disposed as he ought to be and when God accompani th the outward work of baptism with the inward opperation of his Spirit and grace With him i. e. With Christ that is like as Christ was crucified The preposition with is used here also as a Note of Similitude That the body of sin might be destroyed By the Body of sin may be meant those many sins in which unregenerate men were wont to live before their Regeneration by Baptism as covetousness drunkenness fornication c. which he may call a Body as a Flock a People a City an Army a Legion is called a Body of which body every particular sin is a member See Coloss 3.5 That henceforth we should not serve sin i. e. That we should from this time forward serve sin no more nor be any more at sins beck or command or that Sin should not any more have such power over us as to make us her slaves and Servants to do what she would have us to do as she had before He speaks of sin here as of a Queen Lady or Mistress He is said to serve sin which obeys the motions and lusts of sin which are as it were her commands that is who when sin stirreth up any motion in him to evill presently gives his ascent to it and puts it in execution Ver. 7. For he that is dead is freed from sin For he that is dead to sin is freed from her so that she hath no power over him He speaks not here of a natural death but as he did before of a morall or spirituall death to wit a death to sin And when he saith that he that is dead is freed from sin he alludes to a Servant or a Slave which by his death is freed from the Law or bonds of his Master so that his Master hath now no power over him For such is the condition of the dead as that they are civily subject to no humane power at all Note here that for a man to be dead to sin is the same in the Apostles phrase as for sin or the old man to be crucified in him And the Apostle useth them promiscuously He proveth here that the Old man is crucified in us that we should not