preached to the Gentiles is a mystery full of glory 2 CHRIST is the subject of this glorious mysterie of the Gospell 3 CHRIST is among us in the preaching of the Gospell 4 CHRIST is Hee in whom we looke and wait for glorie The end of the Doctrines A COMMENTARY ' VPON THE FIRST Chapter of Saint PAUL to the Colossians COLOS. Chap. 1. VER 1 2. VER 1. Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God and Timotheus our brother VER 2. To them which are at Colosse Saints and faithfull brethren in Christ grace bee unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Iesus Christ IN these two Verses there is layd downe the Salutation wherein you have the Persons saluting the Persons saluted The Persons saluting Paul and Timotheus Touching the description of Paul from his Office and calling I passe it by having spoken of it in the first Verse of the Epistle to the Ephesians For the meaning Saints here are those who are already actually sanctified Verse 2. called Saints 1 Cor. 1.2 Washed in CHRISTS bloud There are Saints by predestination as there are Sheepe not yet gathered and brought home to the fold of CHRIST I have other Sheepe which are not of this fold Ioh. 10.16 but he writes to such as had received the spirit of sanctification Colosse a City neere Laodicea and Hierapolis in Phrygia a Citie of the Gentiles inhabited with Idolaters And faithfull brethren not false brethren crept in but faithfull which must be understood by a Synechdoche comprehending all faithfull whether men or women Grace and peace Grace noteth GODS free favour which giveth all good things 2. It signifieth the effects of his grace in us viz. All good things spirituall and corporall which may as fruits testifie the good will of GOD to us his kindnesse and all the fruits of his kindnesse especially grace pardoning sinne and enabling us to doe good as also grace exciting and moving us to worke when now we are made able that we may not receive the former grace in vaine Peace is the effect of grace in us for Gods grace forgiving sinne worketh in us peace of conscience in regard of the accusation which would be in it 2. The habits or qualities of grace Peter calleth them The divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 this grace given us we have quiet from the rage of corruption in us which while it tyrannizeth in us filleth all the powers of the soule with disturbance this is called peace of sanctification the quiet fruit of righteousnesse 3. Heb. 12 1â— When GOD sheweth his favour in giving all outward things that are good there is Peace eternall in regard of our outward condition and if Gods grace in any of these wayes be â—id instead of peace we feele disturbance Thou hiddest thy face and I was troubled To come to the Observations Every true member of the Church is a Saint Obs 1 Thou must not be ashamed to be counted a Saint Every thing doth binde to it 1. Our God is holy therefore wee must bee holy ones As he which hath called you is holy 1 Pet 1.15 so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation 2. It is the end of our predestination Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen us before the foundation of the world that we should be holy c. 3. Our calling bindeth us 1 Thes 4.7 1 Thes 4.7 God hath called us not unto uncleannesse but unto holinesse 4. Our Redemption Christ gave himselfe for us Tit. 2.14 to redeeme us from all iniquity and purifie us unto himselfe 5. The grace of God which we taste for the present and the things we looke for hereafter doe teach us this lesson Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared teaching us to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope c. And having such promises 2 Cor. 7.1 let us grow up to perfect holinesse 6. The finall judgement and our owne glory which we looke for do likewise perswade us to become holy Seeing all these things shall be dissolved 2 Pet. 3 1â— what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation And whosoever hath the hope of eternall life 1 Ioh. 3.3 he purgeth himselfe even as Christ is pure And all beleevers are called a Holy Nation 1 Pet. 2.9 7. The right constitution of the Church while the vigor of discipline flourisheth doth not allow that any should abide in her but Saints prophane persons being to be separated as Dogs from partaking in holy things Mat. 7.6 Give not that which is holy to Dogs neither cast Pearles before Swine 1. Vse This discovers to us the vanity of the Pope in restraining this common to all beleevers while they live to some few in comparison whom it pleaseth him to Canonize after they are dead 2. We see the lewdnesse of many prophane Esaus who disclaime yea scoffe at this name using such Proverbes These are the holy ones Young Saints prove old Divels Shall we have a Saint of you 3. We must remember what kinde of men wee must be even such as must professe and practise holinesse according to our calling At Colosse God gathereth and supporteth his people in all places Obs 2 Iob in VZ We say truly Where God hath his Church the Divell hath his Chappell and wee may say as well Where the Divell hath his Throne there God oft hath his people lie they where they will nothing shall keepe them from God I will say to the North winde give and to the South keepe not back bring my Sonnes from far and my daughters from the utmost parts of the earth Despaire of none Vse be they never so vile and farre from God if he have a purpose to call them they shall come home in despight of all the malice and power of the Divell for God is more able to save But why should we pray for them that have grace alreadie Quest Because the Divell is most bent against them Answ a candle new put out is soone blowen in So hee hopeth to kindle in new Converts their old sin which GOD by His Spirit hath extinguished To rebuke our carnall mindes whose lands Vse 1 preferments in marriage c. these things sometime the world will be thankfull for but of faith repentance and the worke of grace not a word with them A foole taketh more pleasure in colour of counters and a painted dagger than in gold and true treasure Such fooles are many found amongst us who are affected with these earthly vanities and are altogether carelesse of the true treasure If we be risen with CHRIST Vse 2 let us shew it in affecting spirituall treasures of grace and holinesse making these heavenly things the matter of our joy and thanksgiving This in Generall Particularly marke 1. Obs 2 What it is
them that have treasure and great charge about them letting penniles travellers alone So doth Satan he is busie to rob those whom GOD hath trusted with His graces VERSE 10. That ye might walke worthy of the Lord and please Him in all things being fruitfull in all good workes and increasing in the knowledge of GOD. NOw followeth the obedience it selfe set out by the practice of it that he prayeth for 1. In generall 2. More particular In generall it is to walke worthy of the Lord what this is may be understood by comparing it with like places Ephes 4.1 Worthy of the vocation whereunto yee are called Phil. 1.27 As it becommeth the Gospell 1 Thes 2.12 Worthy of God who hath called you to His Kingdome and glory To walke worthy of the Lord then is to live and behave our selves as becommeth those to whom God hath vouchsafed so great mercy that passing by thousands and ten thousands for deserts all as good and in outward respects many of them better than they Hee hath of His meere grace and free love in CHRIST chosen and called them out of the World to be partakers of Eternall life and glory with Him and for this cause hath caused His Gospell to be preached unto them and by His spirit hath made it effectuall in them we must therefore seriously consider 1 the dignity of our calling 2 the excellency of the Gospell whereby we are called 3 the kingdome of Glory whereto wee are called 4 and our most Holy and glorious Lord God by whom we are called and accordingly with due regard of all these things carry our selves in this present world let others then live as they list walke in sinne and wallow in filthinesse such a course may sort with their condition but for us we are by the grace of God of another dignity of an higher and more holy calling and such as waite for a Kingdome prepared for us even an Eternall Kingdome in the heavens This walking worthy of the Lord he expresseth by the end that it respecteth and aimeth at namely a pleasing of Him in all things or a full and entire pleasing of Him If then we will walke worthy of the Lord we must study to please Him and to give Him contentment in all things not accounting of pleasing any man yea or al men with displeasing him 1 Cor. 4.3 And good cause for life and death depend on Him He hath power to save and destroy yea He hath done such great things for our soules already and assured us of so great glory hereafter that we are the most unthankefull and impious Creatures that ever breathed our selves being judges if wee study not to please Him in all things Wherefore let others addict and give themselves over dedicate devote and consecrate themselves to serve and please to bow and becke to kneele and crowch and in all points to observe this or that great man on whom they depend by whom they live from whom they expect their advancement and rising in the world let us study and strive how we may please the Lord our GOD. He is to us in stead of all yea all inall Here Observe That this pleasing of GOD must bee in all things Obs or it must bee whole and universall for hee that seeketh not to please Him in all things seeketh not to please Him in any thing and hee that laboureth not to give Him an universall contentment laboureth not to give Him any at all according to that of Saint Iames Sam. 2.10 Whosoever shall Keepe the whole Law and yet offend in one point is guilty of all for the same God hath commanded all as well that Hee leaveth undone as that Hee doeth and therefore if out of conscience toward God hee hath care of doing any he would have conscience of doing all Which serveth notably to convince those who reforming and conforming themselves to the will of God as they would have it thought in many things Vse yet retaine some speciall beloved sinnes whereby they plainely shew that their reformation in other things is but counterfeit as being for some by-respects of their profit or estimation or such like Having thus set forth this pleasing of God in generall he expresseth it after in two particulars Bringing forth fruite Increasing in the knowledge of God For the bringing forth of fruite being an expressing of our duty to please God specially in an outward manner before God and Men may bee called not unfitly one particular of pleasing God Observe Hence Obs We must be fruitfull in good workes as Trees and plants are fruitfull in their kindes for from thence is this speech taken for being planted by Gods owne hand in His own Orchard or Garden yea in His owne house Psa 92.14 being also kept and dressed by Him as our Husbandman Ioh. 15.3 Esa 27.3 Ioh. 15.3 being watched over night and day and watered every moment finally being branches of CHRIST the true vine from whom by the vertue of His spirit we receive sappe and juice good reason wee should be fruitfull and if not we shall bee surely cut downe and cast into the fire Mat. 3.10 Ioh. 15.6 Luk. 13.7 For who among us would endure an unfruitfull Tree in his Garden who would not say with indignation Cut it downe why cumbreth it the ground If that were rooted up I might have another planted in the place of it that might bring me forth good fruite When the wicked see us grow livelesse powerlesse sapplesse they say what matter is in them and in their profession It is a shame that they should say I had rather live with any deale with any have a promise from any than from a Professor Their condition is incurable Reason when the Carpenter hath cut and hewen and sees it will not fit his turne ther 's no remedy but it must be cast into the fire My spirit shall not alwayes strive with man Gen. 6.3 Esay 5. GOD calls a counsell What shall I doe with my Vinyard A hedge Lord will do it good send them prosperity and security that they have had A winepresse Lord will doe them good that they have had afflictions will not worke upon them When no plaister will cure the Legge it must bee cut off when the Gospell will doe thee no good nothing can do thee good See the ground and cause of all our evils Vse wee impute them to the malice power or improvidence of men No no thy barren heart is the cause of all 1 Cor. 11. For this cause many are weake and many sicke and many sleepe as if hee should say you blame the ayre you say such a distemper was the cause no no it was your unprofitable comming to the Sacrament that hath brought this plague upon you Our unprofitablenesse is the cause why the Lord is still hacking at the Tree of England How many great Families are perished and yet by no ill husbandry or great improvidence no no they
though in the accessory of degrees it shall be otherwise We inherit partly Re partly Spe. This inheritance is a glorious life or condition which to all the heires of it is here begun in the Resurrection is perfected That which is begun is the life of grace which is given us from CHRIST our Head from what time wee truely beleeve on Him with so much right in the creature as maketh for GOD's glory and our soules health Now for the perfection of glory and Lordship over all the creatures this in some sort we have in other regard we have not First in our Head we are seised of this CHRIST GOD and man our Head as man is in heaven infinitely glorious Lord over all the creatures Secondly we have this presently in regard of right to it though we have not right in it as an heire in nonage ward to the King he hath presently right to all his lands though till one and twenty they come not into his hand So wee have right presently to the whole state which is given us though we shall not come to it till the comming of CHRIST Glory is here begun though perfected hereafter And truly so it is we are the sons of GOD though it appeare not what we shall be 1 Ioh. 3.1 whom GOD hath justified those He hath glorified Rom. 8. that is hath given them the first fruits of the Spirit of glory in their sanctification Even as parents doe sometime trust their children while they yet live with some pensions stockes of money as part of their patrimony trying how they will husband it and reserving their full inheritance to be given hereafter whether we looke at the title or state of our inheritance in part we have it the Spirit of Sons is sent into our hearts the title of children confirmed to us What is it to have the inheritance of a Baron But to have the title with the lands this should more comfort us we love in earthly things to have something downe in hand Thirdly we have the things themselves present to our faith which is the evidence of things not seene With the Saints Observe hence Observ Who they are that are inherit ours in this glorious inheritance Saints If you aske me why we have this inheritance I will tell you it is GOD's free gift for CHRIST His sake the naturall Son and Heire on whom we beleeve But if you aske not why wee have but who shall have then I tell you the holy man onely Looke Act. 20. 32. Matth. 5. and Act. 26.18.1 Thess 1.10 No uncleane thing shall enter into GOD's kingdome The Pure in heart shall see GOD. Will a wise man leave his estate to one whom hee seeth to be of lewd qualities Shall GOD part these heavenly riches to prophane miscreants covetous earth-wormes No. Againe this inheritance is called a Crowne of righteousnesse though it be not deserved by our righteousnesse yet it is a recompence which GOD of grace giveth to righteousnesse onely Wherefore this putteth in a caution against all those that are children of this world Vse 1 not holy like their heavenly Father but loving covetousnesse lusts pride c. Doe you looke for an inheritance Will a man give a childes part from amongst his wife and children to base broods of some harlot or of his sworne enemie Shall GOD give you inheritance with his children who have amity and are the brood of the world an old adulteresse Yee that doe live in these sinnes which are the works of the Divell and therefore are his children and here mock Saints that walke after their lusts may see that they shall have no place but in utter darknesse with the Divell and his Angels It is added in light Marke Obs What for substance and nature our inheritance is it is light For if I should speak thus to one of my children you shall be heires with my other children in my money goods lands c. I expresse the matter of my substance in which hee should be coheire with the rest Earthly men leave earthly substance But our God is a Spirit the true light dwelling in that light to which there is no accesse like as himselfe is like is the matter of his inheritance it is light We by nature are in darknesse and the shadow of death as we shall speake in the next Verse God doth make us all manner of light in Himselfe doth give us our parts even while we live here 1 Pet. 2.9 in a marvellous light Awake thou that sleepest Eph. 5.8 and stand up from the dead and CHRIST shall give thee light What light are we in Even in the light of Gods countenance which is as the Sunne to the world of spirits We are in the light of knowledge Yee are light in the Lord In the light of holinesse light of joy 1 Pet. 1. even joy of the Spirit unspeakable and glorious Object But we cannot see this light Answ Not because it is not light but because thy owle-like eyes are not able to looke against the brightnesse of it To moove us to thankefulnesse Vse that wee should ever bee brought into such an happy estate If one lay shut up in a dungeon where hee could not see any light of Sun Moone or Starres no nor have the light of a Candle allowed how joyfull would hee bee if hee should bee brought forth and set at large to behold this Sunne the heavens the face of the earth men walking and conversing on it Oh then how should we rejoyce to be drawne forth of our spirituall darkenesse wherein wee lay unable to get any saving fight of our God He. 12.23 of our Christ the mediator of Angels ministring Spirits about us of the spirits of just and holy men in the heavens of those blessed habitations and that blessed Citie whose maker is God It teacheth us Vse 2 seeing we are in the light that we must have care to walke honestly as in the day in the night we care not how we goe what we lie in but when wee walke forth in the day amongst men then wee would bee comely attyred VERSE 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkenesse and hath translated us into the Kingdome of his deare Son THe order followeth in which God wrought the former benefit set downe 1. From the state out of which wee were delivered 2. From the condition to which He brought us of mercy For though this followeth in the text yet it goeth before in Nature and sheweth how God did make us meete and therefore you have this first set downe Acts 26.18 First in the coherence we see Obs That none living in the state of darkenesse can be inheritors of Gods Kingdome Till wee come from under the powers and Principalities which rule in darkenesse we cannot bee heires unto God for beside that wee cannot live thrall to the Divell and be heires to God at once the matter as I shewed
savoring of the flesh 6 Whatsoever is meerely grounded on tradition and what is carnall and sensuall in GODS service is contrary to Christ Verse 9. 1 THis must make us rest in CHRIST onely as all sufficient that we know Him GOD blessed for ever 2 All the fulnesse of GOD is communicated with CHRIST as man the whole entyre Nature of GOD. 3 Not created gifts or miraculous effects of the divine nature are united with Christ man but the deity it selfe the fulnesse of it 3 The same singular Nature is in all the three persons 5 The manner of GODS dwelling in CHRIST man is personally so as that GOD the Sonne is thereby become personally man Verse 10. 1 CHrist man doth send out all the streames of grace and good things to all His members in that the fountaine dwelleth in Him 2 Being in CHRIST we receive all kinde of graces and benefits that wee lacke nothing 3 The dignity of CHRIST who is all to us is this that He is the chiefe above all the creatures Verse 11. 1 AN excellent meane to hold us fast to Christ is to remember what great evil of sin He hath subdued for us 2 Christ hath given us a spirituall Circumcision 3 No outward action of the hand of man reacheth to the clensing of the soule 4 Sin and grace is to the soule as apparell is to the body 5 Spirituall circumcision standeth in putting off all our corruptions 6 The soule of the naturall man is clad with sinne 7 Wee must forgoe not some part of our corruption but the whole body of sinne 8 Our masse of corruption containeth many sinnes 9 IESUS CHRIST it is who worketh in us this spirituall circumcision Verse 12. 1 VVHat Circumcision was to the old people that Baptisme is to us 2 From our union with CHRIST dead and buried we come to have the body of sinne crucified 3 GOD doth unite us with CHRIST even by our Baptisme 4 To consider of our resurrection which we have through CHRIST is a forcible motive to make us cleave to Him 5 Faith on Christ maketh us rise to new life 6 The omnipotent action of God which raised Christ from the dead is it that begetteth faith in us Verse 13. 1 OVr quickning in CHRIST is such a benefit which we must not quickly have done with and lightly passe over 2 Ministers must amplifie to their people the benefits bestowed on them 3 Sinne both originall and actuall is the death of the soule 4 The life of a naturall man is even a death in trespasse 5 Our course in actuall sin doth sinke us deeper and deeper in death 6 We are farre from being prepared to receive the grace shewed us by God when we are quickened to beleeve 7 The way to bring men to acknowledgement of GOD's grace with thankfulnesse is to make them see what they were when God first shewed it 8 All beleevers have a new life in and through Christ 9 In order of nature first we have pardon of sinne before we have the life of grace begun in us 10 God the Father Son and Spirit doe properly forgive sinne 11 God's pardon is of meere grace to us 12 We must remember what God hath done for us while we shew to others the things bestowed on them 13 The grace of God in forgiving our sinnes is exceeding large Verse 14. 1 NOt onely our sin which is our debt is answered but whatsoever may shew any thing against us is done away in Christ 2 By Christ the ceremoniall Law is taken away 3 The Iewish ceremonies as they were purely legall were as bills testifying the debt of the people before God 4 Christ by suffering on the crosse hath abolished these things Verse 15. 1 GOd doth set us free from the power of Satan before we are made alive in Christ 2 God in Christ hath crucified and disarmed Satan 3 Christ in His death made a scorne of all the power of darknesse and exposed them to open shame Verse 16. 1 VVE must not make account of mens sinister judgements as any way giving place unto them 2 To put no difference in meats for conscience sake or religious respect is no sinne 3 Such as doate upon Mosaicall rites are ready to condemne such as are not done right in them Verse 17. 1 THe legall ceremonies were shadowes of that is done in Christ and His Church Verse 18. 1 FAlse teachers are led with a spirit of arrogancie which maketh them usurpe judgement over others 2 The naturall man doth judge and condemne what doth not agree with him 3 Our softnesse and pusillanimity doth make us subject too much to take to heart mens sinister judgements 4 Wicked deceivers will seeme to stand for vertue and challenge those that are truly godly as wanting it 5 Adoration of Angels and Saints masketh under the vizor of holinesse 6 All religious worship of Saints or Angels is unchristian 7 The property of a seducer is to speake that he knoweth not 8. The cause of vouching and diving into hidden things is Pride Verse 19. 1 LOoking to the creatures for helpe and grace doth make us fall from Christ 2 We have not many but one Head 3 In Christ mysticall there is nothing but the Head giving growth and the body receiving growth 4 For the whole multitude of beleevers there is sufficiency in Christ 5 Before we can take spirituall growth in Christ we must be knit to Him 6 Every true beleever groweth up in Christ not stands at a stay 7 It is God who maketh us as begin so grow in grace Verse 20. 1 CHRIST by His death hath freed us from the Ceremonies of the Law 2 True Christians must not live in that Christ dyed to take away 3 Gods children live out of the world while in it Verse 21.22 1 MEn are exact in outward observancies who know not the power of godlinesse 2 Hard to forgoe old rites to which we are accustomed 3 Bodily observancies profit nothing 4 We are not to give credence to any thing not taught in God's Word Verse 23. 1 VIce and error may have a shew of truth and vertue 2 Will-worship hath a plausible shew of wisdom 3 Lowlinesse of minde argueth wisdome 4 False teachers will make a shew of humility 5 To keepe the body in subjection argueth wisdome 6 False teachers make shew of mortification 7 Exercises much regarded with men are of no esteeme with God 8 Bodily externall things are not of worth with God The end of the Doctrines A COMMENTARY VPON THE SECOND Chapter of Saint PAUL to the Colossians COLOS. Chap. 2. VER 1. VERSE 1. For I would yee knew what great fighting I have for your sakes and for them of Laodicea and for as many as have not seene my Person in the flesh WE have had from the three and twentieth Verse of the former Chapter from the end of it a digression the summe whereof consisteth in declaring Paul's calling Secondly his executing this calling Vers 28 29.
That their hearts might be comforted and they knit together in love and in all riches of the full assurance of understanding to know the mystery of God even the Father and of Christ THis Verse openeth the matter for which he strove with God by all meanes in it two points 1 The thing it selfe 2 The antecedents or meanes leading to it The thing is that their hearts might bee comforted at the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ that is of the Gospell which told them that Iesus Christ God-man was made light and salvation to them as to other Gentiles for the incarnation of the Sonne of God and the calling them to be a people who before were none were hidden mysteries till God reveiled them Now to this end he prayeth that they might be knit together in love and a more full knowledge having with it fullnesse of perswasion The better to understand it we must remember that these Colossians were brought by Epaphras to know the Gospell in truth Secondly you must know that they had love yea true love Thirdly that they did not feele the joy of the Holy Ghost so plentifully as others first because through the Divels tares of dissension there was not that soundnesse of love which should make them fully of one heart Secondly because though they knew the Gospell yet they knew it not so plentifully being in part ignorant of their Christian liberty of the all sufficiency of Christs sole mediation as who looked and listened a little to the helpe of Angells this way Thirdly from hence it came that being weake in knowledge they somewhat staggered the Apostle therefore wisheth them the tast of heavenly joy more fully in that they knew and to this end wisheth that all impediments of heavenly joy as dissension doubting ignorance being remooved they might be one in love rich in knowledge and fully perswaded and resolved in the things they knew First then Doct. from Saint Pauls example Ministers must see what they must chiefely helpe forward even the spirituall rejoycing of their people It is a great matter of their office to serve Christians this way What are we saith S. Paul no Lords over your faith but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Co-workers with GOD furthering your joy this he prayed for Rom. 1.10.12 this he made the intent of his journeyes to give and take comfort in them To this end Eph. 6.21 22. hee dispatched messengers to comfort their hearts True it is that sometime they are forced to make sadde as Saint Paul did the Corinthians but this is not their principall intent for they doe this not for it selfe but that it may make way for rejoycing as a Physitian is forced to make his Patients sicke that thus he may restore him to health There is great reason for this We are bound every one by the Commandement that sayth we shall not kill Reas 1 to be no way wanting to the life of others even this bindeth us that we doe every way seeke to make the lives of others comfortable unto them 2 Againe Saint Paul knew how many things the Saints have to presse them downe through the malice of Sathan and keepe them from knowing the sweet fruit of the spirit 3 He knew that this was a friendly Sunne which maketh all graces thrive the better in the heart where it is 4 That if GOD should not refresh them this way by letting them feele this power of that life which is to come they were in danger to shrinke from Christ in the midst of such discouragements with which this world aboundeth For as we say without this vita is not vitalis no man liveth or can live without a delight and joy As we see kind men when they tast a thing that pleaseth them more then ordinary will invite others to tast it with them So the Communicative love of this Apostle was such that finding in his own experience what a soveraigne thing this was he could not but wish it unto others 5 Lastly S. Paul knew that this was forcible to draw others to the profession when men should marke this in it that it filled those that imbraced it with gladnesse of heart and that in the midst of the greatest evils by seeing the joyfulnesse of such who were converted Wherefore it is a slander of sinfull men that thinke a Preacher of the Gospell killeth all good company Vse 1 cryeth down all rejoycing so that none can be merry that live under them indeed we kill that mirth that is nothing but madnesse that we may bring men to sound rejoycing even joy unspeakable and glorious Ministers must set an edge upon this grace and stirre up their people to it Vse the drooping and uncomfortable lives of Christians maketh many affrayd to looke this way For there are some men when God hath touched them a little they are affraid of progresse they thinke they are brought into bondage because they meete with discouragement and turne againe to sinne because they find more sorrow in goodnesse then they did in ill So there be others that are affrayd to enter into Gods way least they should come out of Gods comforts these are like the spies that brought an ill report of the good land it was a good land and fruitfull but there were Gyants Anakims Num. 14. c. and for this they never entered into the land of Canaan save only two faithfull Caleb and Ioshua So these people speake ill of the way to heaven even of heaven upon earth Oh say they the land is good the Kingdome of heaven is a glorious place but the way thither is by a sadde life so full of troubles that a man were as good be dead as live so But marke because they said they could not enter the Lord sware they shall not enter Secondly marke here That beliefe of the Gospell may bee Doctr. where the consolation of it and rejoycing of it appeare not Saint Paul need not to pray for this on their behalfe but that he doth intimate that many of them wanted it We reade indeed of first conversions of Christians accompanyed with the grace of spirituall joy as the City of Samaria very glad and full of joy Mat. 13.46 So the Merchant in the Gospell finding the Pearle in the field went away rejoycing But this is a fruite that lasteth all the yeare yea a babe in CHRIST may be borne crying as we say of teares Esau may have them that wanteth true repentance and another truely repenting may want them So it is true of joy a false Convert may have it Luk. 8.13 as the stony ground received the Word with joy Herod heard the Word gladly when a true Christian ere-while is without the fruite of it The fruite I say for he hath in him the seede of rejoycing which will budde forth blossome and show the fruite in due season Light is sowen for the righteous and joy for the upright in
Soveraigne salve of their soules not as a thing of rare and pleasant knowledge Secondly as they have not a licke but by beliefe bring CHRIST to dwell in their hearts and abide with them so their joy is a permanent abyding and durable joy No mans building can be better or firmer then his foundation nor no mans rejoycing better then the matter of his rejoycing if it be but meate and drinke both that and thou shalt perish and what shall become of thy joy yea if thou hadst a stately pallace like that of Nebuchadnezar which hee built for his royalty what is that to thee where is thy rejoycing when either thou shalt bee taken from it or it shall be taken from thee This is the state of all worldly comfort and of all things till we come to that which is above all that is to say the favour of GOD the eternall grace of GOD in our Lord Iesus Christ My peace I leave with you not as the world giveth the world gives a peace but what manner of peace why like the world it selfe but another manner peace is that which I give I give eternall peace and consolation as the Apostle calls it God hath given us good hope and everlasting consolation Thirdly as they doe not by vaine presumption apply CHRIST but by humble beleefe joyned with care of forsaking the love of all sinne so their joy standeth firme like a sure foundation when the other is turned into shame and confusion because it was grounded upon misconceit Wherefore labour if you be true beleevers Vse to make these things your joy Can a condemned fellow or a traytour get his pardon but it gladdeth him at the heart How can we heare all sinne forgiven Heaven opened God become a Father and take no contentment in them When a poore soule apprehends this it gives a man enough As Iacob said of his sonne Ioseph I have enough that my sonne is alive So the soule of a beleever can speake it in the presence of God My God liveth I have enough my Lord Christ hath redeemed mee I have enough the Spirit of God hath sealed mee to the day of redemption I have enough Psal 16. that I may say My line is fallen in a faire ground I have a goodly heritage Now for the meanes Being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding that so they might come to joy in the knowledge of that mystery Observe hence Doct. That soundnesse of love and fulnesse of affiance and understanding bring us to heartie rejoycing This may bee shewed by the contrary for these three things are great impediments to true beleevers intercepting that joy which otherwise they might have 1 Want of love when there creepeth in some little strangenesse that they are not one as they should be all of one heart Act. 4.32 as the multitude of beleevers Looke as a family full of contentments while all are friendly and linked in love let some spice of discord enter all the musike of the house is marred every thing as dolefull as before joyfull And no doubt but this hindered the Colossians joy some leaning to mediation of Angels Ceremonies some keeping to CHRIST only difference of opinion bred variance of affection as it commonly falleth out For Satan striveth nothing more than to disband the Church we being knit by sinewes if he can but cut the sinews of love and doctrine and crosse it he hath enough And as light vapours or exhalations being drawne up from the earth come downe with great tempests so from light differences in opinion if not a great measure of grace doe proceed often great stormes and tempests of wrath and envie 2 Want of full Perswasion eclipseth joy for tell a man never such joyfull things if he cannot resolve himselfe that they are so hee will take no pleasure in them The things are good he wil say but I am afraid too good to be true Nay let a man be troubled in matters of lesse moment with a scrupulous conscience being at a stand whether to doe this or that or not to doe it it is such a sicknesse as till it be out-growen doth much weaken the joy of the spirit Even as a man that hath a stone in his shooe cannot travell comfortably 3 Finally want of knowledge doth much hinder joy for further then we know things we cannot be glad of them beside want of understanding breedeth scruple as in young children who will be afraid of any thing almost through weaknesse of understanding But say they were fully perswaded yet if wee want understanding wherewith to give a reason of that wee beleeve it is a great damping to us wheras on the contrary love of our brethren O quà m bonum jucundum Psal 13 3.1 How good and pleasant a thing is it to see brethren to live together in unity It is as pleasant as a fragrant ointment it maketh a sowre sallad better than a stalled exe and it prepareth and fitteth us for that GOD of joy and love to come and dwell with us seâ—led perswasion and plentifull knowledge in one word fulnesse of faith for faith is nothing but an affianced knowledge this bringeth joy Rom. 15.13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in beleeving that yee may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost By faith we rejoyce in afflictions For as in earthly things the further we come to get assurance and to know good things towards us the more we take joy in them So in heavenly things the further we grow up in the apprehension of them the more are our hearts cheered and revived Wherefore Vse 1 we may see here what causeth so little spirituall joy among us Christians even this with other things there wanteth that sound Vnion through love We are estranged one from another in opinions of doctrine government Ceremonies which is no small cooler of that spirituall joy which otherwise we might see For the avoiding of this impediment or stumbling block let Christians follow the Apostle in his exhortation in matters of religion and opinion therein he would have them labour to be of one minde 2 Cor. 13.11 to come as neere as possibly they can to the Vnity of Faith He doth be seech them by vertue of this bond Ephes 4.1 2. to walke worthy of the Lord and how should that be in all long-suffering and lowlinesse of minde supporting one another in love endeavouring to keepe the Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Lowlinesse of minde and Patience will bring men to Vnity as Pride and selfe-love and impatience doth make men easily dissent in affection and opinion Againe private Christians are like the Coninthians very contentious to law for every trifle joy dwelleth not in disagreement So for the second here is much unbeleefe we fix not our perswasion nor provoke not our hearts confidently to rest and trust in
this their restoring to life The first is pardon of sin The second is cancelling the obligation against them The third is the setting them free from those jaylors and executioners in whose keeping they were The two first are in this thirteenth verse the latter in the end of the thirteenth verse and in the other two following The first of the antecedents in the end of the thirteenth verse The second in the fourteenth verse The third in the fifteenth verse To returne to the thirteenth verse And first in genenerall from this his Commoration in this benefit wee note Doct. That our quickning in CHRIST is such a benefit which we must not quickly have done with and lightly passe over The Apostle cannot move from this till hee have dwelt a while upon it and amplified and enforced on them the consideration of it So it is we lend it little thought but the more is our fault we should when wee thinke on God's benefits in Christ make a stand and dwell upon them that so we might be more affected 2 Marke What Ministers must doe Doct. viz. they must amplifie to their people the benefits bestowed on them how often doth Moses this in Deutr. For 1 It is for the honour of God that His benefits should be set forth 2 It edifieth others and gaineth glory to God while they are to know the things bestowed on them and they are by this meanes wrought unto thanksgiving Againe wee are like children wee know not the worth of those great things wherewith GOD hath enriched us As a young childe that hath great patrimonies and priviledges doth not to any purpose conceive the worth of them yea we are as forgetfull as the eaten bread is quickly forgotten And beside a benefit while enjoyed groweth no dainties with us in all these regards we must use this practise of the Apostle If men have outward commodities and abilities and gifts of any kinde they know them too well even till they be proud of them but in heavenly things it is quite otherwise Now for their condition it is described from the state of death You when you were dead 2. The kinde of death viz. in sin 1. Actuall in trespasses 2. Originall in uncircumcision of heart which is set downe by a Synecdoche or Metonymie of the signe for the thing signified Outward Circumcision put for outward and inward which is more emphatical when they were so dead that inwardly and outwardly they did lye in evill the meaning is when you were utterly dead in soule mortall in body subject to eternall damnation by reason of your actuall transgressions and original corruption You then He quickened that is GOD the Father out of the Verse before with His CHRIST First then observe That we are by nature dead to God the same is Eph. 2.1 We are not like a man in a sleepe nor like the Samaritan greatly wounded but we are starke dead in regard of the life of GOD. Rom. 5. he saith Wee are of no strength not of feeble strength and the naturall man is often so called My Sonne was dead and is alive let the dead bury their dead A man is every way by nature dead his body is mortall in dying from his birth eternall death of soule and body hangeth over him His soule is quite dead for God in regard of His presence of sanctifying grace going from a man he dyeth in soule As the soule going from the body the naturall life is extinct But it may be said Object why man hath some reliques of knowledge Againe some of the Heathen have excelled in vertuous actions without grace Every knowledge is not the life of God strictly so called Answ but that knowledge which affecteth the heart to follow God to trust in Him love Him They that know thee will trust in thee otherwise the divels doe know God in their kinde 2 The knowledge of man is able to make him unexculable onely not able to make him alive according to GOD for these Heathens vertues they were but pictures without the soule and life of vertue in them splendida peccata good trees they were not and therefore their fruit could not be good all is not gold that glisters This then confuteth all doctrines of free-will Vse 1 or of any power in man which holpen a little can helpe it selfe Dead men have nothing in them to help themselves toward this world so it is with us toward the other Yea we see hence that it is not suggestions to the minde nor exhortations that will doe it we doe but tell a dead man a tale and all in vaine till God create a new light in the minde and take away the heart of stone and give us tender new hearts let us confesse our utter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impotencie and inability and give glory to God Hence must be enforced to the natural man what is his estate dead in his soule Vse 2 hee heareth not the thunder of GOD's Law nor His sweet promises he seeth no heavenly thing neither GOD nor any spirituall matter hee tasteth no relish in any meat of the soule he speaketh not a word powdred with grace hee stirreth not hand nor foot to that which is good Oh the world is full of these ghosts twice dead as Saint Iude speaketh yea the relikes of this spirituall death hangeth about us all Marke from this that we who are alive through grace Vse 3 must not associate our selves with those that are meere naturall men for we see that no living thing can abide that which is dead the beasts will start at a dead carrion our dearest friends we put from us when dead but alas the LORD's children now can goe hand in hand with such who have not a sparke of grace in them Oh this death is not terrible we are al so much in it that we see not the filthinesse of it As a blacke hue among the Black-moores is not reproachfull So dead ones with us whose graces are ready to dye agree well enough In sinnes Observe Doct. That sinne both originall and actuall is the death of the soule Mors animae peccatum Our sin in which we are borne and live is the death of our soules and the demerit of further death Death it is to death it goeth Now what is death is it not the absence of life the soule being gone with the entrance of corruption And what is sinne Is it not the absence of saving knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse with the corruption of the minde will affections so that the spirituall stinch of it streameth out at the eye lust at the eare itching after vanity at the mouth rottennes is the best I mean unfruitfull speech sometime bitternesse Looke as holinesse is the beginning of life everlasting which goeth on till it end in glory so is sin the death of the soule which doth if the grace of CHRIST heale it not never stay till it come to everlasting damnation As for sinfull actions they
fanglenesse to come on in things which sometime we thought not on such as thinke men know not what they would have when they still call on them to be more forward 2 Hence we must exhort men to forget what is past and strive to perfection he is the best Christian that is ever finding some want in himselfe and hungering and thirsting What man would willingly have his stocke kept at one stay not caring to grow in wealth No men will cast up their bookes and see how they come on worldward So must we never be weary of seeking more grace and examining our selves what we profit which might be made a third use Lastly that hee saith with the increase of GOD The Hebrewes call the most excellent and choyce things the things of GOD as Nineveh a Citty of GOD Trees of GOD but here it noteth the Author of this increase for as hee faith after Chapter 3.3 Our life is bid with CHRIST in God and it is GOD in Christ that bringeth us on Observe hence Doct. Who doth make us as beginne so grow in grace it is GOD. 1 Thessalo 5.23 The very God of peace sanctifie you throughout that is in every part perfectly for the degree of grace all the strength of man cannot adde one cubit to the stature of his body how much more doth GODS power alone give the growth of the soule He that knew what sicknesses and enmities the soule hath to keep it down will the easilier grant it To teach us whither we must goe Vse 1 when we find we grow not on even to our GOD 2 Cor. 9.8 who is able to make all grace to abound toward you praying Him to purge us and make us more fruitfull and happily to leads us out of our infancy 2 It letteth us see to whom wee must ascribe our comming on viz. Wholly to GOD who is the Author and Finisher of our faith For as the same Sunne which first bringeth the light of the day doth after increase it and bring it to full strength So the same God that beginneth the light of grace doth continuing his gracious presence bring it to full strength and perfection It is not in mans power that which he hath much lesse to augment it 3 The Papists hence are confuted that put perseverance and growing up in the power of our will for some of them thinke that looke as in fire a man cannot make fire where there is none but give him some few sparkes he can keepe them in and increase them So here the first working of grace is from God after a more speciall manner but the continuance is otherwise VERSE 20. Wherefore if ye be dead with CHRIST from the rudiments of the world why as though living in the world are yee subject to ordinances HAving in two exhortations armed them against the condemning sentences of arrogant false Teachers he now doth turne himselfe and by way of communication or expostulation vehemently dehort from yeelding to bee burthened with the customary observation of these elements And two things are to bee marked to the end of the Chapter 1 The dehortation 2 The reasons In the dehortation which is in the end of this verse We must marke the Manner We must marke the Matter For the manner it is layd downe by way of interrogation which denyeth most strongly Why as if yee lived in the World are yee subject to ordinances that is you are at no hand to live that is customarily to observe any carnall or Iewish rites The matter is set down indefinitely why are ye injoyned rites More distinctly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the kind of them is opened in the 21 verse Touch not tast not handle not and this for the dehortation The reasons are two fold Such as are dead to worldly elements such must not live in them But ye are dead to these things verse 20. in the beginning The second kind of reason is taken from the nature of the things themselves 1 Things that perish and come to nothing are not to be observed 2 Such things as are after mens commandements and doctrines are not to be followed of you These two reasons are expressed in the two and twentieth verse Such things finally as have only an empty show of godlinesse but not the substance of it they are not to be used Such are these verse twenty three This is the Apostles discourse in the last verses of this Chapter For our being dead with Christ you heard above verse twelve buryed with Him in baptisme but marke from what we are dead in CHRIST from the rudiments of the world Observe That Christ by His death hath freed us from the ceremonies of the Law of Moses Doct. To understand it wee must know that the ceremonies of the Iewes were not onely taken away as they were types foreshewing things to come but as they were a worldly or carnall elementary kind of instruction or as they were sensible traynings of them to which GOD did condescend because it was the baby age of the Church wherein men were carnall that is in great measure carnall but in little measure spirituall True it is Gods worship is for the substance of it spirituall and was alwayes but for the manner of it it was carnall that is standing of sensible and fleshly observations which GOD did prescribe not as simply delighted in them but as accommodating himselfe to the childish condition of the Church in those times wherein the more plentifull presence of spirituall guifts was not obteyned Christ not being as yet manifested and glorified We must so conceive that our whole old man with his sinfull life his vayne life in traditions of men which were superstitious and his naturall life in Mosaicall rites ordeyned of GOD and injoyned him not simply but so farre forth as he was carnall living more in his senses then in spirituall contemplation this whole life is so crucified that after CHRIST it is to take no place de jure in those that are His the Apostle doth not say without cause 2 Cor. 5.17 old things are gone in Christ all things are new This is to be marked Vse for it doth strike through all the Popish rites in which they teach every thing by some sensible significant rite or other as if this sensible trayning were not taken away as if elements of this world such as follow in the next verse were not remooved All the rites of the Iewes did not signifie CHRIST to come but were by stirring up a motion in the mind to admonish them of their spirituall duties yet these are abolished Such therefore are to bee condemned that would still bring the Church to be in the A. B. C. and to use the Festkue from which Christ by his death hath delivered it As if you lived in them doe yee receive rites Observe secondly Doct. from the argument it selfe That true Christians must not live in that which CHRIST dyed to take away If yee be