the fleshe whiche thyng many doeth by whom the worde of God suffreth euill and is euill spoken of emonges Heathen ye emonges christiās and many be offended iudgyng other with them And suche people iudge some to do euill when in eatyng thei doo not euill but that thei maie dooe lawfully by Gods lawe and thei that euill iudgeth offendeth God and not thei that eate with a rectified cōscience geuyng thankes to God knowyng all meates pure to the pure 3 Or in part of the holy daie or new Moone or of Sabboth dayes He forbiddeth one to iudge another for kepyng of the holy daie or not for kepyng of it Of the Sabboth daie it is written Leuiti xxiii and for what intent thei were institute thei were ordinated that the people should rest from all their bodily labors and come together in a mete and conuenient place to here the woorde of GOD to learne to knowe God and theimselfes to glorifie God to praie vnto God one for another to geue thankes to God for his benefites to them and to other to receiue the benefites of the sacramentes of God and that these daies specially men should ceasse from all seruile workes that is from all sinne and to serue GOD truly after that sort as God hath appoynted to bee serued honored and worshipped of all menne in his holy scriptures But alacke for pitie no daie God is serued worse then vpon the holy daie in many places what eatyng drynkyng riotyng and surfetyng cardyng and disyng swearyng and blasphemyng the holy name of God is vpon holy dayes it greueth euery good man to here it see it or to speake of it whiche is vsed more vpon the holy daie then vpon the woorke daie I will not speake of the drūkennes of the vnthriftie spēdyng of mennes substaunce vpon the holy daie ye more then thei can get the whole weke before ye parauenture some thyng of the weeke folowyng shal bee spente or it bee gotten and that when no nede requireth It is no merueill though God doth suffre suche vnthriftes some tyme to neede necessarie thynges in punishment of their synnes and yet parauenture suche vnthriftes and drunkers thynketh thei kepe the holy daie well if thei abstein frō handie labors I wil not speake of adulterie fornicaciō slaundryng backbityng one another of craft falshed deceipt vsurie periurie contencion and debate vsed vpon the holy daie by the whiche the holy daie is broken rather then by handie woorke necessarie to be doen vpō the holy daie and yet the holy daie not brokē but kept God graunte that the holy daie maye be spente as Gods woorde willeth and commaundeth Also he willeth that no man shall iudge another for feastes of new Mones Feastes of newe Moones was celebrated euery monethe assone as the newe Moone did appere for it doeth appere that these Colossiās worshipped the Moone as a GOD and gaue Godly honor to it whiche thyng the Apostle forbiddeth and willeth thē not to honor the Moone as a God for it is no God but the creature of God ordinated for the commoditie of man nor to kepe holy daies to honor the newe Moone nor yet to doo any sacrifice to any Idolle as the Heathen did Al suche false worshippyng of creatures for God is here forbidden as thynges vnlawfull displeasyng God or to kepe holy daie in their names or for their sakes to do sacrifice to theim to honor theim or worship theim 4 Which are shadowes of thinges to come the body verely of Christe As he should saie difference of meates in daies kepyng of holy daies as of the newe Moone of the Tabernacle of Pasche of Pentecoste and suche like are but shadowes of thynges for to come and whē the bodies do come of whiche thei wer shadowes then ceaseth the shadowes when the thing commeth it self then ceaseth the figure the thyng it self is come lette vs care no more for the figure wee haue the body fare well the shadowe These figures and shadowes in the old lawe thei figured Christ the sauiour of the worlde to come thei figured that he should sprynkle his bloud vpon the Crosse for the redempcion and saluaciō of the world Christ is come and hath shed his bloudde for our redempcion and by hym alone we be saued therefore shadowes and figures muste nowe cease and no more be coumpted as necessarie to bee kepte to our saluacion for without theim we be brought to saluacion that is by the mercie grace and goodnes of God the father for Christes sake alone and not for oure merites or deseruynges Let no man make you shote at a wrong marke after his awne chosyng walkyng in humblenes and supersticion of Angelles in those thynges which thei haue not sene goyng vainly puft vp of the mynde of their fleshe not obeiyng their hed of whiche the whole bodie by ioyntes and couples fixed and ioyned receiueth nourishement and doeth increase by the increasement of God Now more at large he monisheth theim to bee ware of pseudoapostles craftie deceiuers whom he setteth furthe in their colours mouyng theim to bee ware of thē that study to plucke awaie from theim their rewarde thei looke for and to geue theim pain for ioye shadowes for the thynges figures for the veritie darkenes for lighte shadowes for the bodies yearthly thynges for heauenly thynges carnall thynges for spirituall thynges Note here how false Apostles deceiptfull iugglers go aboute to deceiue theim and turneth awaie from men their heauenly reward suche be thei that teache Moses for Christ workes of the lawe for the Gospell and woorkes of the spirite for true faithe in Christ Ceremonies and mānes ordinaunces and tradiciōs of like necessitie to Gods commaundementes to be obserued or els of more necessitie And in this these false Apostles are more to be blamed that thei doo it of a set purpose and mynd aduisedly intendyng to deceiue other and in this their malice is more to bee noted and reproued that thei studie to deceiue other and to plucke other from the veritie of the Gospell into heresies suche bee thei that stifly defende workes of the lawe to be kept of necessitie of saluacion as Circumcision Ceremonies and other mennes tradicions to be obserued of like necessitie as the commaundementes of GOD more esteme mannes tradicions then Gods commaundementes those bee thei whiche Paule in this place biddeth vs beware of for thei goo aboute to plucke away from vs our heauenly rewarde 2 By humilitie and supersticiō of Angels Here he sheweth by what meanes thei went aboute to deceiue them that was by humilitie pretendyng great humilitie and mekenes contempte of the worlde of worldely honors and promocions contēpt of carnall pleasures and riches in habite countenaunce and goyng sad and deuoutely pretendyng great holines and perfecciō and nothyng els but holines they would be sene to menne to haue and yet thei were inwardly Hypocrytes dissemblers full of hatered malice and enuie full of pompe and pride coueteous and vainglorious ye verie
Ephe. v By God inwardly workyng by his spirite that cutteth from the harte all euil thoughtes carnal lustes and affeccions and this is called the circumcision of the harte signified in the olde lawe by the outward Circumcision of the flesh And this our baptisme is come to vs in the stede of circumcision to the Iewes and is as necessarie and more profitable to vs then was Circumcisiō to the Iewes in the tyme of the old law And as it was necessary by Gods cōmaundement Gene. xvii That all young men children should be Circumcised the eighte daie So it is no lesse necessarie that all young children should be Baptised for without Baptisme none can bee saued Ihon .iii. Math .xxviii. Marke .xvi. Therfore the Anabaptistes are greatly to bee blamed that would not haue young children Christened or Baptised in the water and in the holy Ghost Of Baptisme of young children I haue spoken Ephe. iiii Therfore I do not speake of it in this place any more And you whē you wer ded by synne and by the vncircūcisiō of your flesh together with hym he hath quickened you again forgeuyng to you all youre synnes and put awaie that hand writyng that was against vs conteined in the lawe writtē with the decre that was contrary to vs and that toke he clere awaye and fastened it to the crosse hath spoyled Rule and power and hath made a shewe of theim openly and hath triūphed ouer thē in his awne persone The Apostle here sheweth the thyng that he shewed more at large Ephe. ii That is what we are of our selfes mightes and powers what we be by Christ By our awne nature receiued of Adam we wer ded by synne originall and of our selfes by actuall synne but by Christe alone we be restored again to life and God hath forgeuen vs our synnes frely without our merites or deseruinges for Christes sake onely and where we wer Gentiles vncircumcised now bee Circumcised in oure hartes haue cutte awaie from our hartes all carnall affeccions lustes appetites contrary to the spirite of GOD. And where as the hande writyng was against vs that is where as the law written called hand written did conuince vs of synne that wee could not deny but we wer synners and for our synne had deserued death and we wer worthie death yet it pleased God onely of his mere mercie and grace to forgeue vs our synnes and to make vs heires of the heauenly inheritaūce and partakers of his glory by Iesus Christe Also where as the lawe did condempne vs for our syn to death it pleased God of his mercie not onely to forgeue vs our synnes but also to take awaie that hande writyng that condēpneth vs for synne to deth and that writyng was the lawe of God written that shewed all men to be synners in the sight of GOD and no man to bee iuste Christe onely excepted in the sight of God and for sinne worthie death The Apostle here vseth a Metaphor of a writyng or of an obligacion made where men be bound to fulfill the writyng or obligacion made This writing is the lawe of God it requireth that all men should fulfill the lawe no manne fulfilled the lawe Christ onely excepted wherefore al men was found by the lawe gyltie worthie death because thei fulfilled not the law that thei were bounde to kepe This lawe Christ not onely for himself but for all them that beleue in hym or shall beleue in hym to the worldes ende did fulfill that it shall not bee imputed to theim that beleue in Christe any trasgression of the lawe for Christ is the fulfiller of the law and we by hym in hym Christ is the perfeccion of the lawe to al thē that beleue in hym Ro. x. 2 He hath fastened it to the crosse Now he sheweth when he deliuered vs from synne and brake in peces the Obligacion that condempneth vs to death for synne it was whē he suffered death vpon the crosse for vs and toke our synnes vpon his backe Esay liii And in that suffryng he ouercame the deuill and all our enemies synne death and hell and the deuill and all wicked spirites whom he calleth here rule and power and in token of victorie he sprede abrode banners of victorie and the spoyles of enemies diuided and did triumph noblely ouer his enemies and that by no other power or mighte but by his awne power and might and strength that al honor and glory should be geuē to God alone and to none other for all victories had ouer our enemies to declare vnto vs by whom and in whose name and power wee shall ouercome oure enemies the deuill the worlde and the fleshe that is in the name of Christe and by Christe alone and not by holy water sprynkelyng or by the sound of an holy bell by a palme crosse holy candle or other sorcery or witcherie as some folishly and supersticiously hath thought for these cānot driue awaie the deuill but rather the deuill is kepte and mainteined by suche false trustes vain hope lies for Christ droue not away the deuill when he was tēpted of the deuill Mat. iiii With holy water holy candle palmes or crosses but by the woorde of GOD resistyng all temptacions of the deuil and so by the woorde of God muste we resist and ouercome the deuill Ephesi vi Therefore let no man iudge you in meate or drynke or in parte of the holy daie as the newe Moone or Sabboth dayes which are shadowes of thynges to come the body verely is of Christ The Apostle semeth here to gather a conclusion of the wordes and sentences goyng before after this maner forasmuche as Christ hath restored you ded to life again and hath circumcised your hartes and forgeuen you all your synnes and takē awaie that hande writyng that condēpned you to death for sin in you ye and also hath ouercomed all your aduersaries that was against you or would haue accused yon and hath had victorie ouer thē And also you in Christ haue all iustice holines wisedome forgeuenes of synne redempcion saluacion life and all perfeccion fredom from al captiuitie of the deuill synne death or hell fire from all seruitude and bondage of the lawe and that by Christe onely that you hauyng and possessyng Christe by true faithe haue no nede of the lawe or workes of it that you should not thynke the lawe necessary to saluacion that is that you should not thynke that without you kepe the lawe and all the Ceremonies of it you could not bee saued as some thought no man could be saued without he were Circumcised in the fleshe accordyng to the old lawe Gene. xvii Commaunded to Abraham and his posteritie duryng the tyme of the law but against that opinion saincte Paule throughout all his Epistles laboreth and sheweth plainly that Circumcision is not necessary to saluaciō but that without Circumcision and workes of the lawe such as beleue in Christe shal bee saued although
salutacion Christians should vse one to another in their wrytynges and what thynges thei should desire and of whom Wee geue thankes to GOD and the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ alwaye for you when we praye for we haue heard your faith in Iesu Christ and your charitie towardes all sainctes for the hope layed vp for you in heauen Now the Apostle beginneth to shewe the cause wherefore he wrote to them and first of all he geueth thankes to god for their hope and charitie and other giftes of God geuen to these Colossiās onely of gods mere mercie and goodnes desiryng God to encrease these gyftes euery daie more and more in them By this example wee bee taught to geue thankes to god for his benefites geuen to other and to be glad with other for these diuine giftes and to desire theim to bee euery daie more more increased And in these woordes he reproueth them that thanketh not God for his holy gyftes geuen to thē and to other ye he reproueth thē that enuie Gods goodnes in other and be sory that other be riche cōnyng learned or haue more knowlege then thei such there is many now a daies whom it greueth muche to se so greate knowlege of Gods holy worde and truthe shewed to the worlde as now is for the whiche thyng thei should geue thankes to GOD for it as here the holy ghost teacheth vs and not to be sory for it or to murmure or spurne agaynste the pricke as many wisshyng all these new mē of the newe doctrine as thei call it when it is in verie deede the olde doctryne of Christe and of his Apostles in a fire or at the deuil condempnyng themselfes to the deuill and to hell fire callyng or thynkyng Christes doctrine error and heresy and condempnyng it for euill whiche is good and wholesome and true doctrine able to saue our soules Iacob .i. Let menne therefore beware and condempne not truthe for falsed and call not good euil or euill good light darkenes darkenes light least wo euerlastyng fall vpon them for so doyng and calling Take hede you ignoraunt men that you fal not into this daungier of eternall dampnacion threatened by the Prophete Esaye .v. to all theim that call good euill euil good light darkenes and darkenes light swete sower sower swete c. Learne that the holy ghoste in Paule moueth vs in our prayers to geue thankes to GOD for his benefites geuen to vs specially for the gyfte of faithe and of charitie Secōdly he sheweth what is the office of Christians to do when thei here faith and charitie geuē to men of god that thei should geue thākes to God for them Thirdly we se the office of faithe and of charitie a true faith hath charitie annexed worketh by charitie at all opportunitie geuē in tyme conueniēt charitie sheweth her self by helpyng and releuyng the poore faithfull Finally faith charitie bee the twoo chief thinges of Christes religion for the whiche we should geue thākes to God as giftes most necessary for our saluaciō without the whiche we cannot please god nor be saued 2 For wee haue heard of your faithe in Iesu Christe of your Charitie to the poore sainctes Here is declared the cause why Paule gaue thankes to God it was that he heard their faith in Christe Iesu and their charitie to the poore to be spred abrode for vertue vsed cannot bee hid long but it wil shewe it self so a true and a liuely faith cannot be hid lōg but it will burst vp into good woorkes as here Paule heard their faithe and yet faithe cannot bee heard nor sene for it is an inuisible gifte of God nor yet shewed except it shewe it self by good workes whiche declare faithe and sheweth where it is that it may be knowē and heard where it is for a true faithe in God is not idle or dedde in that he nameth firste faithe and then Charitie he sheweth that faithe muste goo before charitie or els that woorke of Charitie that spryngeth not out of faith pleaseth not God for it is vnpossible to please GOD without faith Heb. ii Faith is towardes God charitie to God to our neighbor charitie doth consist in workes and dedes in feruētnes of hart mynd to worke when power and habilitie will not serue nor is power geuen to worke 3 For the hope laied vp for you in heauen This place is of aucthors diuersly expounded some make it agre with that that goth before after this maner Wee haue heard of your faith and of your Charitie to the poore sainctes faithfull christians doen to theim for no other cause but for Christes sake not lookyng for any praise glory or profite to you of manne for these woorkes but onely for Gods sake and because of hope of immortalitie and glory with God that you trusted to bee partaker of not for the worthines of youre woorke or almose dooen to the poore by you but onely of the promise of God whose free gifte is life euerlastyng and not for the worthines or dignitie of any worke or dede doen by any mortall man And this sence saincte Peter i. Peter .i. dooth appere to allowe saiyng thus Blessed bee God and the father of our lorde Iesu Christe whiche after his greate mercie hath regenerated vs into a liuely hope by the resurreccion of Iesu Christe from death So for hope of eternall life we must do good woorkes surely trustyng to come to that life onely of Gods mercie and goodnes and not of dignitie or worthines of workes for the fre gift of Gods life eternal Roma vi Other referreth this place to the woordes that goeth before that is to these Wee geue thankes to GOD for you that you haue not put your trust hope in worldly thynges or in corruptible riches but in heauenly thynges lokyng more for heauenly treasure then any worldly dignities or riches onely to be geuen to you of Gods mercy for Christes sake for whom you suffre muche trouble and aduersitie in the worlde that ye might be partaker of Christes glory in heauē accordyng to that whiche is promised that if wee suffre with Christ we shal reigne with hym Rom. viii Whiche you surely trust and hope for nothyng doubtyng but GOD will performe his promes and for that hope you willyngly gladly and of loue shewe Charitie to the poore and helpeth them to your power not lokyng for a reward of men but onely of god Some other by hope vnderstandeth GOD and his glory hoped for whiche glory is called hope because it is sure keped as Iob saieth .xix. This hope is put in my bosome that is the thyng loked for by hope i. res sperata Other some thinketh by hope may be vnderstād God alone whiche is the rewarder of all that hope in him and will reward al good workes dooen for his sake loue or commaundement alone without all other respect trustyng to Gods promises And here perauenture
some will aske a question whether we should do good deedes for hope of eternall life or no To this question maie be made answer thus that we must do good workes appoynted vs of GOD to do principally for God and for his loue because we are his creatures made to do good woorkes and to walke in them lookyng for that rewarde that he hath bothe frely promised will frely geue accordyng to his promise to all thē that with a sure faith and constaunt hope do perseuer and continue in the wayes of the Lorde kepyng his commaundementes Secondely for the rewardes sake promsed vs of God we must do good workes so that in all oure workes we muste moste chiefly and aboue all thynges looke to the will pleasure loue and glory of GOD. Thirdely to our profite glorie or life to come wee muste so in all our workes loke for the glory of God that skarce once wee should remembre oure profit or glory to come for if we seke more our awne profite and glory then the glory of God we bee but mercemarii hirelynges vnworthy that glory immortall life in the worlde to come with Christ whiche glory cānot bee bought by woorkes of vs but we muste come to it onely of the free gifte of God and of his mercie and grace Roma vi Of the whiche before you harde by the true word of the Gospel whiche is come to you as to all the worlde and as it fructifieth throughout the whole worlde so it doeth emonges you since that daie you heard and haue knowen the grace of God by the truthe And as you haue learned of Epaphras our welbeloued seruaunt whiche is for you a faithfull minister of Christ which shewed to vs youre loue in the spirite The Apostle shewed before their mercifulnes to the poore sainctes and faithfull in Christ for hope of reward layed vp for them in heauen now he sheweth how thei gotte that hope that it was by the true preachyng of the Gospell whiche Epaphras preached vnto thē Learne here how hope of heauenly rewarde and life commeth that it commeth by preachyng of the Gospell of Christe whiche is called here the true woorde of the Gospell and the truthe it self If hope of heauenly rewarde commeth by the preaching of the Gospell as it dooeth in deede then what hope of heauenly rewarde can thei haue where as the word of the Gospel is not peached or what hope of heauenly life haue thei that will not here the worde of God preached That contempneth and despiseth it and estemeth it no better then a foolishe tale of Robyn Hoode Guye of Warwicke or Beuis of Hampton surely no hope at al. Learne here also how necessary a thyng for our saluaciō is the preachig of Gods worde that without it seldom be geuen faithe hope or charitie For faithe commeth by hearyng hearyng by the word of God Roma x. And hope commeth by the true woorde of the Gospell as here is shewed and Charitie spryngeth out of true faithe and sure hope The Apostle garnisheth the Gospell with his due laude and cōmendacion callyng it the true woorde that deceiueth no man the truthe it self that none should doubt of it but that euery man that loueth the truth should be glad to here the Gospell preached or taught because it is the truth and putteth away all falsed lies errors and heresies 2 And as it fructifieth throughout the whole worlde so it doeth emōges you He saith the Gospell to fructyfye and encrease throughout all the whole world as emōges thē that thei should more reioyse and be glad as all good menne reioyseth when the Gospell gooeth forwardes and fructifieth and euill men be sory that the Gospell is purely and sincerely preached receiued and beleued but thei geue thankes to God for it Here we learne to be our office to bee glad to here the Gospell of God to bee preached sincerely and to geue God thankes for it 3 Sence that daie you harde and haue knowen the grace of God by the truthe He sheweth how long the Gospell hath fructefied emōges them euen sence that daie thei heard the grace of God and knewe it by the true preachyng of the Gospell And here we maie lerne diuerse good lessons First that faithe is sure and firme that commeth by the worde of truthe Secondly that the sincere preachyng of the gospell not to bee vain or frustrate although it is not knowen how it dooth fructifie and in whō at the first to hym that preacheth yet it goeth not away in vain as the Prophet Esaie saieth Thirdely the benefites or the grace of God bee knowen by the pure preachyng of the Gospell of truth and not of mē or of a multitude of men that call theimselfes the church when it maie be doubted of whether thei bee any membre of the churche or no seyng their workes be so contrary to Christes true Churche Fourthely learne that the grace of GOD and his benefites is surely knowen by the truth of gods word And here it semeth that saincte Paule would haue vs to learne and know Christ and the grace of God by no other thyng but by the truth and to iudge euery thyng by the truthe of Goddes holy worde for the holy ghost is the moste surest declarer of hymself Learne also that Christ and the grace of GOD and Gods benefites is there vnknowen where as the woorde of God is not preached and how can God be loued feared or dread where as he is not knowen Or howe can there be any health or eternall saluacion where as is no loue feare ne dread of God And if it bee life eternall as it is in deede witnes sainct Ihon. xvii to knowe GOD the father and his sonne Iesus Christe then it muste nedes followe that it is death not to knowe God the father and his sonne Iesus Christ and Gods benefites to vs for Christes sake these benefites be vnknowen where as the worde of God is not taught therfore se how necessarie it is for oure saluaciō to haue the worde of God plenteously preached and truly taught that God might be knowē loued feared and dread and his wil and pleasure fulfilled of al men Finally learne here how farr be thei from health life and saluacion that will not here the worde of God but contempneth to here it ye dispiseth it and the true preachers of it slaunders backebites persecutes and as muche as in them lieth goeth aboute to let hinder and vtterly to stoppe and quenche the word of God and to bryng to deathe the faithfull ministers of Gods holy worde the necessarie foode of our soule and yet of the ignoraunt it is thought poyson and death of the soule God turne the hartes of suche and make theim his seruauntes 4 And as you haue learned of Epaphras our welbeloued seruaunt whiche is for you a faithful seruaunt of Christ Now he sheweth who it was that firste preached the gospel to these Colossians not Paule hymself but
the true preachers and setters furthe of it This place also reproueth all thē that do abuse Godly knowlege and vse it for their carnall libertie sensuall pleasure worldly honor and dignitie ease reste profite and for their belie sakes such do not serue God but their belies whose ende is deathe and their glory here shal bee in tyme to come to their confusion shame and euerlastyng death Phili. iii. if thei do not repent and amend for Godly wisedom is geuē that thei should serue and please god and not theimselfes or their belies And suche bely beastes bee the cause that the worde of God is euill spoken on because thei doo abuse their knowlege and turneth it to their carnall pleasures proffites or glory But suche let theim put awaie ignoraunce and take vnto thē Godly wisedome and knowlege and study to liue after Godly knowlege or els their knowlege shal be to their more condempnaciō as Luke sayeth the seruaunte knowyng the will of his Maister and not doyng it is worthy greate punishement and many plagues to bee laied vpon his backe 2 Fructifiyng in all good workes Godly wisedō here desired willeth vs to fructify in al good woorkes that is It would wee should bryng furth al maner of good workes not one worke alone as some there bee that thynke it sufficient for theim to haue doen one good woorke as some to haue builded a Chaūtry some an Abbay some a house of Fryers some a Nunnery some an Hermitage some a Guylde some a Candle some a Torche euer to burne in suche a churche before this Image or that Image whiche be workes not cōmaunded of God nor yet required of man to the which no promise of rewarde is promised of God but Godly knowlege takē out of scripture teacheth mē not onely to do one good worke but to do all maner of good workes appoynted in holy scripture to be doen. This place doeth seme to declare that holy scripture is able to shewe all maner of good workes that there is no worke to bee called good excepte it bee commended and also commaūded to be doen in holy scripture And this saiyng of sainct Paule reproueth those men that thynketh the holy scriptures cannot teache all necessarie truthes sufficient for our saluacion those men sainct Paule .ii. Timothe iii reproueth saiyng the holy scriptures to be able to instruct mē in righteousnes that he maie be made perfite and ready to do al maner of good workes He excepteth none If the holy ghost had thought other workes then holy scripture speaketh of to haue been necessary for our saluacion and that suche workes of necessitie ought to be doen he would not haue said I thinke the holy scripture to instructe vs and to make vs ready to doo all good workes 3 Increasyng in knowlege The Apostle would wee should bee fulfilled not onely with all wisedome and spirituall vnderstandyng but also he would we should increase in knowlege euery daie bee better and better learned and haue more more knowlege of Gods holy worde Here we maie se that euery man bee he neuer so well learned before yet he maie learne more wisedome and knowlege of Gods holy worde Ye we se it is euery mannes duetie euery daie to learne of Gods holy word more and more knowlege and to increase in the same This place sharpely reproueth all men that wil not learne knowlege of goddes holy woorde and specially priestes that will not learne but rather spend their tyme idlely at Cardes or Dise then thei will loke vpon the newe Testament or of the old Testament and wil bee no better learned then thei wer the first daie thei wer made priestes Ye this place reproueth all them that will not heare sermons Lectures of diuinitie in Englishe or in Latyn or in that tongue thei vnderstand ye this place cōdempneth all them that thynke it is enough for the rude people to saie their Pater noster and Aue Maria and the Credo and with them to bee contented and needeth to learne no more knowlege when saincte Paule would we should euery daie increase more and more in knowlege and spiritual wisedom and as thei increase in knowlege of God so he would thei should increase in Godlines in vertue that thei might be strengthened with al Godly power strength able to beare all aduersitie paciently geuyng thankes to God in their state liuyng vprightly in their vocacion whiche hath made vs able to the felowship of sainctes in light whiche hath deliuered vs from the power of darkenes and hath trāslated vs into the kyngdō of his wel beloued sonne by whom we haue redempciō and by his blood forgeuenes of synnes Now the Apostle turneth hym to the chief matter and cause for the which he wrote this Epistle that it was to shewe health and eternall life to be geuē to vs all frely by Christ without respect merite or dignitie of our woorkes or of any thyng that is in vs. And first he sheweth part of the benefites that we haue receiued by Christ Firste that when we wer vnable to thinke to will or to do any good worke or deede he made vs able and did geue vs power to thynke will and do good Of the whiche wee maie learne that all power to thynke will or do good commeth not of our selfes but of GOD the aucthor of all goodnes as saincte Iames saieth Iames .i. Second we be made partakers of the inheritaunce of sainctes in lighte that is of that heauenly inheritaunce that holy sainctes be of in light and in glory and thus wee bee made not by our selfes but by Christ when we were before farr frō it hauyng no right ne title to chalenge or clayme the heauenly glory for our inheritaunce Now by Christ we haue right title to claime it for our inheritaūce He addeth in light as he would saie our inheritaunce was before in darkenes now it is in light of the father of light by Christe Thirdly God hath deliuered vs from the power of darkenes and translated vs into the kingdō of his welbeloued sonne Iesus Christe for whose sake alone we wer deliuered frō all power of darkenes that is of the deuill the aucthor of darkenes and from al workes of darkenes as from synne death hell and from euerlastyng dampnacion also the father of heauen hath takē vs awaie frō all darkenes and blyndnes of ignoraunce of Gods holy word and brought vs into his truthe and into the lighte of the veritie of Gods holy woorde now openly preached and shewed thankes be to God We wer some tymes as saieth sainct Paule Ephe. ii The children of the Ire of God and of darkenes but wee are now made the children of God by adopciō and of light as children of light let vs walke in all iustice veritie and goodnes before wee were in darkenes and did walke in darkenes in much Idolatrie supersticion and feined holines thynkyng that wee pleased God very well when we highly
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
and displeasure or deserue life euerlastyng surely nothing And where as Paule saith here I fulfil that are behynd or that dooth remain of the affliccions of Christe is nothyng els but that sainct Peter saith i. Peter .ii. where he saith that Christ hath suffered for vs leauyng to vs example that we should followe his footsteppes that is that we should suffre afflicciōs after the example of Christ and the affliccions that we suffre Christ saith that he suffereth theim because we be membres of his body and Christ suffereth when his members suffereth Actes .ix. GOD spake to Paule Saule Saule quid me persequeris Why doest thou persecute me And so Christe is called to suffre twoo waies one way in his awne naturall body as when he suffered vpon the crosse another way when he suffereth in his misticall membres in the bodies of his elect people After the firste waie nothyng was left vnperfite as touchyng the mēbres that remaineth that Christe in theim should suffre vnto the worldes ende and that thei by pacient suffryng should entre into the kyngdom of glory and so sainct Paule here meaned saiyng I fulfill that which is behind of the passiō of Christ that is Christe did suffre bothe to take awaie oure synnes and also for our example to suffre so I do nowe suffre affliccions for the Gospels sake to geue other example to suffre paciently such affliccions as shal chaunce vnto theim here in this worlde for the truthe sake and for the comforte of other as he testifieth of hymself i. Corin. i. Saiyng whether we are punished or that we suffre it is for your comfort and health So Paule suffered affliccions for the example of the whole Churche of God that all should learne of Paule to suffre paciently for Christes sake for his worde and for his Gospell And so this is behynde of the Passion of Christe not that any thyng remayned vnperfite in Christes passion whiche by our suffrynges should be made perfite But that as Christe in his awne body here suffered hunger cold thurst many afflicciōs and death so he doth dow suffre in his members and that thyng the Passion of Christe sheweth that we should so do suffre with Christ and arise with hym So as parteinyng to our redempciō iustificacion and saluacion nothyng remaineth that was not fulfilled in the passiō of Christ but as touchyng the sufferyng of Christe in his membres this remaineth to be fulfilled in euery one of theim as sainct Paule saieth Omnes qui uolunt pie uiuere in Christo Iesu persecutionem patientur All that will liue godly in Christ must suffre persecucion and affliccions here in this worlde 3 A misterie hid from the world and from generacions but now shewed opēly to his sainctes to whom God would haue it knowen Paul saied he was made not of man but of God and by the ordinaunce of God a minister of the Gospell whiche Gospell was hid from the Gentiles and from a greate parte of the world of a long tyme From the beginnyng of the worlde vnto Christes tyme a fewe of the Gētiles excepted to whom it pleased God of his especial grace to shewe his Gospell his will and pleasure and so did geue to thē faith also by the whiche thei wer saued For what causes GOD would not haue had his worde openly preached to the Gentiles vnto Christes tyme it is not of vs to bee curiously searched nor inquired it is enough for vs to knowe that that was his will for his glory as holy scripture telleth vs whether it was that thei had by their synnes deserued their blyndnes and dāpnacion as thei had in very deede or it was that God knewe the hardnes of their hartes their stiffeneckes and that thei would not haue receiued it before Christes comming if the Gospel had been preached vnto them or that God reserued that misterie vnto the commyng of our sauioure Christ that by hym all goodnes should be knowē to come to vs by Christ and in Christ and all misteries by Christe to bee opened and shewed to oure profite and commoditie and that onely of the goodnes of GOD of his mere mercie and grace and not of our workes merites or deseruynges And here we maie lerne two thynges the one is that the misterie of the Gospell to bee openly shewed emonges the Gentiles was hid from the beginnyng and was not openly preached to theim in Paules tyme Therfore thākes is to be geuen to GOD of whose grace it was shewed so now in our daies that the veritie of Gods holy worde is plainly opened to vs more then it was in our fathers daies the cause is not of manne but of Gods goodnes to vs not of our wisedom pollicy connyng learnyng goodnes but onely of Gods grace and because it hath so pleased hym to shewe to vs that truthe that was hid from ourfathers that we should more thanke and glorifie God for the same and vse the light of Gods truthe shewed to vs better and liue accordyng to the Gospell opened to vs now in our daies Another thyng wee maye here learne that GOD sheweth his truthe and openeth the light of his Gospell of misteries long hid when it pleaseth him and to whom it pleaseth hym and not at the will or pleasure of manne that none should thynke he may vnderstand the holy scriptures whē yt pleaseth himself or of his awne might or power Learne that the knowleg of holy scriptures and of misteries hid cōmeth of God onely not of man God vsynge our diligēce labors as meanes by that which God vseth to geue his giftes of sciences knowlege of holy scriptures whiche as the riches of the glorie of this misterie emonges the Gentiles whiche is Christ in you the hope of glorye whom wee shewe monishyng euery manne and teachyng all men in all wisedom that we should make euery man perfite in Christe Iesu for the whiche thyng I labour with all force after the might of hym workyng in me by strength Now the Apostle sheweth what was that misterie that was hid from the worlde that it was the riches of the glory of Christe emong the Gētiles that is Christ in you that is that the Gentiles receiued Christe by faithe and saluacion by Christe was vnto the Gentiles suche riches glory as passed all other riches and glory that no toungue could tel it nor harte thynke it that was Christ to bee with theim and all benefites of Christe to come to the Gentiles by true faithe in Christe whiche is the hope of eternall glory 2 The hope of glory He sheweth that Christe is our hope of glory and none els neither his mother Ihon ne Iames here is declared the effecte of sainct Paules doctryne that it was that all menne should put their hope and trust of glory to come in no other but in Christe Iesu not in circūcision in no sacrifice ceremony or worke of the lawe in no deedes of men
not in merites of sainctes departed not in masses of Scala caeli but in Christ alone our sauior 3 That wee should make euery manne perfite in Christe Iesu Loke to what ende sainct Paules doctrine doth extende that it was to make euery manne as muche as in hym lied perfite in Christe Iesu that thei should lacke nothyng that perteined to eternall life and felicitie that thyng to be doen by the woorde of GOD that he preached and taughte This place maketh against all them that would kepe men still in their infirmitie and weakenes and would haue thē alwaies weakelynges and not perfite men ye not to increase to perfite men but to bee children waueryng with euery blaste of doctryne nowe ready to receiue this doctryne now that and not able to iudge themselfes in manifest truthes cōtrary to the doctryne of saincte Ihon biddyng vs to proue the spirites whether thei be of God or no 4 For the whiche I labor with al might The Apostle labored with all his power and diligēce to bryng al men to perfeccion in Christ to a full perfite knowlege of Christe and of his benefites that al men should knowe perfitely their health life saluacion to come to theim onely by Christ and that there was no health without Christ And this he did by the mightie power of God workyng in hym or by the ministracion of that woorkyng Godly woorde whiche he preached for God by his worde purely and sincerely preached doth worke therefore it is called a liuely woorde for it geueth life And here wee maie learne that the doctryne of saincte Paule and of other that wrote the holy scriptures not to bee of man although thei that wrote or preached them wer men but of God and of his holy spirite by whose inspiracion thei wrote as Peter saieth ii Peter .i. Learne to attribute to God all thynges that be dooen well of vs and not to our selfes as Paule did here to God workyng in hym and by hym ¶ The .ii. Chapiter FOR I woulde you knew what care I had for you and for thē that are of Laodice and as many as hath not sen my persone in the fleshe that their hartes mighte take cōfort seyng thei be ioyned in charitie in al riches of certain perswasion of vnderstanding in to the knowlege of the misterie of God and the father and of Christe in whō are hid all the treasures of the wisedō and knowlege of God The Apostle here getteth the fauor of these Colossians and of the Laodicenses shewyng his hartes desire was to confort the hartes of them that had not sene hym corporally by the spirite of God and that thei should agre and cleaue together as mēbres in the body surely by a true faith knowyng that all treasures of wisedom and knowlege of God are laied vp in Christe whom if thei should haue thei should lacke nothyng whō if thei lacked thei should haue nothyng whatsoeuer they had wythout Christ This place teacheth one of vs to be carefull for another that we might haue cōforte by the holy ghost and by Gods worde as Paule was for these Colossians and Laodicenses and it reproueth all theim that care not for other whether thei flete or sinke whether thei haue knowlege of Gods worde or no whether thei bee saued or dampned Ye this place reproueth al them that bee haters of Gods worde that care not for it but contēpne and despise it that bee contencious and vncharitable caryng not what chaūce to other so thei be well theimselfes liue in welth and pleasure Learne it is the office of a true pastor to edifie not to destroye to feede not to bryng to deathe to conforte mennes hartes in Christe not to discomfort and discorage theim from Christe or from his holy worde and Gospell 2 When thei shal bee ioyned in Charitie In these woordes is shewed how their hartes shal be cōforted that is when thei shall be compacted and knit together so in charitie that one of theim cannot bee seperated from another that thei be as sure one coupled to another as membres in the body bee ioyned together that thei all thynke and saie one thyng and that also when thei bee ioyned together with a true faithe whiche he calleth here riches of the sure perswasion in the knowlege of the misterye of GOD. And here me thynketh saincte Paule declareth what faithe is that it is riches of sure perswasiō in knowlege of Goddes woorde and that knowlege to bee so sure that it cannot bee false or brought in doubte for faith knoweth the truth of goddes woorde and promises to the whiche it staieth surely and will not be moued from it And here he sheweth that those men that bee doubtfull in their doctryne inconstaunt or waueryng haue not faythe For true faythe commeth of sure knowlege of Gods worde and hath annexed to hym hope and charitie and obedience to do Gods cōmaundementes al respectes of worldly riches fauor or pleasure well or wo set a parte example in Abrahā Isaac Iacob and other holy fathers 3 In Christ bee all treasures of wisedome and knowlege laied vp in score As he would say he that hath Christ he hath al thynges necessary for his saluacion as all wisedome knowlege vertue holines health and life he wanteth nothyng he hath a well of all goodnes euer spryngyng and flowyng ouer he hath treasures that cānot be spent or wasted Here the Apostle reproueth arrogant men and proude Philosophiers that thynketh humain learnyng and knowlege of mannes learnyng to bee preferred aboue the learnyng of Christe Ye here he checketh all theim that bee more studious of humain sciences then thei bee of Gods holy diuinitie Ye all thei be reproued that will spend dayes nightes yeres in the studie of humain Philosophie and will not geue more studie to the knowlege of Gods holy worde by the whiche Christe is gotten by faithe and keped by faithe and he that hath Christ hath all thinges he that lacketh Christ hath nothyng haue he neuer so muche humaine learnyng Philosophie or Poetrie as Tully and Demostenes was found in th ende as thei had had no learnyng because thei lacked Christ and Godly doctryne for al learnyng muste geue place to Christes doctryne as moste chief far excellyng all other learnynges This I saie that none should deceiue you with entisyng woordes although I am absent frō you in the flesh yet in the spirit I am present with you ioyyng seyng your ordre and stedfastnes of your faithe in Christe Now he sheweth for what end he said all treasures of wisedom and knowlege of God to be hid in Christe that it was that thei should not suffre theimselfes to be deceiued by no intisyng wordes of Rethorique or of mannes lernyng or by no other doctrine had it neuer so greate pretense of holines or apparaunce of wisedome and by it to be brought to the degrees of humain Philosophy from the pure clere spring and