308 Sect. 3. Expreffes his Zeal in preaching the Gofpel, preach the whole Word of GOD in the Gof pel. [Even] that great Myftery, which 26 Even the Mystery Col. I. 26. was bid from fo many preceding Ages and Generations, but is now manifefted to his Saints of the Gentile Nations, as well as of Jewish 27 Extraction; To whom GOD was gra 28 ciously determined to make known what is the which hath been hid from tions, but now is made maAges, and from Generanifeft to his Saints: 27 To whom GOD would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Myftery among the Gentiles; which is Chrift in you, the Hope of Glory: warning every Man, and Wisdom; that we may preteaching every Man in all fent every Man perfect in Christ Jefus : And this is the illuftrious Saviour, whom 28 Whom we preach, we, in the Midft of all Oppofition, ftill continue to preach, admonishing every Man, and inftructing every Man, as the refpective Circumftances of particular Perfons require. And in the Management of this important Miniftry, we conduct ourselves with all the Wisdom and Difcretion we can obtain, that no fingle Soul may be loft by our Means; but that we may, if poffible, prefent every Man in due Time perfect in Chrift Jefus, when he shall appear to make up his final 29 Account (b). To which important [Purpofe,] I alfo labour in the Sphere allotted me with Diligence and Refolution, exerting myfelf to the utmoft, and friving with an Intenfenefs, like that of one, who contends for a Crown in your well-known Grècian Games. Yet I arrogate nothing to myfelf herein, for all is carried on according to his Energy, 29 Whereunto I alfo labour, ftriving according to his (b) Whom we preach, &c.] All this Difcourfe centers in the great View of engaging the Coloffians to adhere to Chriftianity, and it is pleasant to obferve, how every Verfe, and almost every Claufe, fuggefts more directly or obliquely, fome frong Argument to that Purpofe (c) What and Concern even for those who had never seen him, 309 his working, which worketh Energy, which operates with Power in me, Sect. 3. in me mightily. I For I would that ye knew what great Conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not feen my Face in the Flesh: and fupports me in the glorious Contest, whereas otherwife I fhould fink, and be- Col. I. 29, come the Derifion of mine Enemies. Nor is it without attending carefully to Ch. II. 1. their full Import, that I have made Ufe of thofe ftrong Terms, which you have now been reading, to exprefs the Manner in which I exert myself in the great Truft committed to me. For I earnestly wish you to know, what a vigorous Contention (c) I have with a Variety of Antagonists, for you, and thofe of Laodicea, and as many as have not feen my Face in the Flesh (d). For indeed my Struggle for the Gofpel, while under this painful Confinement, is animated, not merely by Confiderations of perfonal Friendfhip, for those whom I particularly know and love, but by a moft benevolent Regard to the Good of Mankind in general, known or unknown, that they may receive and retain this glorious Revelation, and have it delivered to them with all poffible Advanz That their Hearts might tage: That their Hearts may be comfortbe comforted, being knit.to-ed by the Confolation of the Holy Spirit, gether and animated to every good Refolution (e), being a Kind (c) What a vigorous Contention.] The original Words, nov ayara, denote of Agony into which he was thrown. It grieved the Apoftle, to think how incapable he was rendered, of ferving them, otherwife than by his Letters and his Prayers. Oh that fuch Language might infpire every Minifter who reads it, with a Defire to ufe his Liberty to the beft of Purposes, and to exert himself, as under fuch Confinement he would with he had done! (d) Have not feen my Face in the Flesh.] Or, as it might be rendered, feen me in Perfon. Hence fome have inferred, that he had never feen Coloffe or Laodicea; but Theodoret thinks he means, he had not only a Conflict for them, but for others whom he had not fo much as feen. Poffibly he may intend to intimate, that he was not only concerned for thofe Members of thefe Churches, whom he perfonally knew, but likewife for others, to whom he was a perfect Stranger, and who might have been converted after he left them. Yet I think this Epistle contains no Argument, from whence it can certainly be inferred, that he was perfonally acquainted with thefe Chriftians. (e) Be comforted.] The original Word wapandwo fignifies not only to have Confor lation adminiftered under Affliction, but to be exhorted, and quickened, excited and animated, and fo recovered from Indolence and Irrefolution, as well as Dejection. (f) The 2 310 That they might be confirmed in the Chriflian Faith, Sect. 3. being knit together and compacted in mutual Col. II. 2. Chrift the great Head of it: and that being gether in Love, and unto all of understanding, to the Acknowledgment of the Myf Riches of the full Affurance 3 In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge. thus cemented, they may attain the richest tery of GOD, and of the and most affured Understanding (f) of the Father, and of Chrift; Gofpel, and being enlightened in the clear and Heart-affecting Knowledge of it, they may be awakened to the moft courageous and grateful Acknowledgment of the fublime and adorable Mystery of GOD, even of the Father and of Christ. Moft heartily do I wifh, that, however it may be defpifed as Foolishness by a vain World, they may steadily profefs it, and live upon the Bleffings 3 derived from it; Even from the Gofpel of the bleffed Jefus, in whom are hid all the nobleft and moft defirable Treafures of Wif dom and Knowledge, himself being the incar4 nate Wisdom of GoD (g). And this I fay of the Perfection of Chrift and his Gofpel, that no Man may deceive you by the inticing Difcourfes of human Philosophy, and draw you off from a becoming Attach5 ment to him.. For though I be abfent from you in the Flesh, yet in Spirit I am with you, and as my Heart interefts itfelf moft tenderly in all your Concerns, GoD is pleafed by the Revelation of his Spirit, to give me a very particular View of your Circumftances, fo that the very Sight of it could hardly be more diftinct and affecting. (1 Cor. 3.) [And indeed in your prefent Situation, it gives me a great deal of Pleafure, and I am continually rejoicing, while I thus V. bebold 4 And this I fay, left any Man fhould beguile you with enticing Words. in 5 For though I be abfent the Flefh, yet am I with beholding your Order, and in the Spirit, joying and you the The richer and moft afured Underlanding.] Εις παλα πλείον της πληροφορίας της συνέσεως. This is an extreamly emphatical Phrafe, more agreeable to the Hebrew than the Greek Idiom, and is one of the many Inftances of that trong Manner of fpeaking, with which the Writings of our Apostle abound. (g) Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge.] Mr. Howe thinks, that the Word YUNGENS here has fome oblique Reference to the Gnofticks, or Set of the Knowing Men, as we might exprefs it in English: (Vol. i. pag. 226.) but I fee no Evidence of their having prevailed fo early. 4 the Stedfaftnefs Faith in Christ. of your 6 As ye have therefore received Chrift Jefus the Lord, fo walk ye in him: 311 Col. II. 6 5. And having received Chrift, might walk with him. behold your regular and beautiful Order, and Sect. 3. the Steadiness of your Faith in Christ, which your Enemies are in vain endeavouring to thake. Be concerned therefore, as you defire to retain this Faith, to act in a Manner answerable to it: And as you have received Chrift Jefus the Lord, to whom you have vowed a moft faithful Obedience, an Obedience indeed, to which he has the jufteft Claim, [o] let it be your Care, to walk in all holy Conformity and Subjection to him; That it may appear you are deeply rooted and folidly edified in him, building all your Hopes of Pardon and Salvation on him and his Religion alone; and confirmed in the Purity of his Faith, as ye have been taught it, abounding more and inore in the lively Exercise of it, with the most cor-. dial and chearful Thanksgiving to GOD, who has been pleased to call you to the Participation of all the Bleffings, which are infeparably connected with it. 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the Faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with Thanksgiving. T IMPROVEMENT. 7 O bear Sufferings with Patience, has juftly been reckoned an high Attainment; and it was the boafted Strength and Glory of the Pagan Philofophy to teach Men to do it: A Glory in which it was often deficient, a Strength which often failed them, who had the fairest Opportunities of being Proficient in their Schools. But Paul had learnt by the Philofophy of Jefus, to rejoice in them, when Ver. 24. confidered as fubfervient to the Honour of Chrift, and to the Good of Chap. II. 1. his Church, even of those Members of it, whom he had never seen in the Flesh; rejoicing thereby to fulfil his Embaffy, and to confirm Chap. I. 26. that important Word of GOD, which taught the Mystery, concealed from fo many Ages and Generations. And what was that Mystery, but the fame that is fo clearly revealed to us, even that Chrift in us is the Hope of Glory? To Gentile Sinners that were without Hope, is Hope now preached; the Hope not only of Felicity, but Glory. And this by Christ, not only as proclaimed amongst us, for to many that hear of Ver. 27. 312 Sect. 3. Reflections on St. Paul's Manner of preaching the Gofpel. of his Name, and of the Scheme of Salvation by him, he is a Stone of Stumbling, and a Rock of Offence, but by Christ as in us. Highly are they honoured, who have it in Charge to preach him. May they learn from the Apostle, how it is to be done. It is to be atChap. I. 28. tended with practical Inftructions and Admonitions, to be conducted with the greatest Prudence and Care, and to be addreffed to every Man, according to his refpective Character and Circumftances in Life; that fo, if it be by any Means poffible to prevent it, none of those that are committed to their Care and Charge may be loft, but every Man may at length be prefented perfect in Chrift in that Day, when, among all that truly belong to him, there fhall be no remaining Imperfections. Ver. 29. Surely this is a Caufe, in which it is worth their while to frive. May the Strength of GOD work powerfully in them for that Purpose! Then will all our Hearts be comforted, when we have attained to the Chap. II. 2. full Affurance of the Truth of our Religion, when we courageously acknowledge and maintain it, when we improve it to the great End for which it was preached to us, and having profeffed to receive Christ Jefus as our Lord, make it our Care in a fuitable Manner to walk in him. For this Purpose, let us endeavour to be deeply rooted and grounded in him, confirmed in the Faith as the Apoftles taught it; giving Thanks to GOD for the Inftructions we receive in it, and numbering it, as we have great Reason to do, among the choiceft Mercies we could receive, even from an Omnipotent-Hand, not only that we hear the Sound of the Gofpel, but that we have felt its vital Influence upon our Hearts. Ver. 6. Ver. 7. SECT. IV. The Apoftle largely cautions the Coloffians against fuffering their Minds to be corrupted from the Simplicity of Christianity, either by Pagan Philofophy or Jewith Tradition, reprefenting to them how compleat they were in Chrift, without the Addition of either. Col. II. 8,--19. COL. II. 8. COL. H. 8. Sect. 4. SEE to it therefore, my dear Brethren, BEWARE left any Man Col. II. 8. that, as you are under fuch ftrong En- fpoil you through Philo fophy |