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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>C O L O S S I A N S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. II.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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I. The apostle expresses concern for the Colossians,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
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II. He repeats it again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:5">ver. 5</A>.
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III. He cautions them against false teachers among the Jews
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:4,6,7">ver. 4, 6, 7</A>),
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and against the Gentile philosophy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:8-12">ver. 8-12</A>.
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IV. He represents the privileges of Christians,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:13-15">ver. 13-15</A>.
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And,
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V. Concludes with a caution against the judaizing teachers, and those
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who would introduce the worship of angels,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:16-23">ver. 16-23</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Col2_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Col2_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Col2_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul's Concern for the Colossians.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 62.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you,
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and <I>for</I> them at Laodicea, and <I>for</I> as many as have not seen my
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face in the flesh;
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2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in
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love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding,
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to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father,
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and of Christ;
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3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We may observe here the great concern which Paul had for these
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Colossians and the other churches which he had not any personal
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knowledge of. The apostle had never been at Colosse, and the church
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planted there was not of his planting; and yet he had as tender a care
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of it as if it had been the only people of his charge
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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<I>For I would that you knew what great conflict I have for you, and
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for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the
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flesh.</I> Observe,
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1. Paul's care of the church was such as amounted to a conflict. He was
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in a sort of agony, and had a constant fear respecting what would
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become of them. Herein he was a follower of his Master, who was in an
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agony for us, and was <I>heard in that he feared.</I>
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(2.) We may keep up a communion by faith, hope, and holy love, even
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with those churches and fellow-christians of whom we have no personal
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knowledge, and with whom we have no conversation. We can think, and
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pray, and be concerned for one another, at the greatest distance; and
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those we never saw in the flesh we may hope to meet in heaven.
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But,</P>
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<P>
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I. What was it that the apostle desired for them? <I>That their hearts
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may be comforted, being knit together in love,</I> &c.,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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It was their spiritual welfare about which he was solicitous. He does
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not say that they may be healthy, and merry, and rich, and great, and
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prosperous; but that their <I>hearts may be comforted.</I> Note, The
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prosperity of the soul is the best prosperity, and what we should be
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most solicitous about for ourselves and others. We have here a
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description of soul-prosperity.</P>
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<P>
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1. When our knowledge grows to an understanding of the mystery of God,
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and of the Father, and of Christ,--when we come to have a more clear,
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distinct, methodical knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, then the
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soul prospers: <I>To understand the mystery,</I> either what was before
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concealed, but is now made known concerning the Father and Christ, or
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the mystery before mentioned, of calling the Gentiles into the
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Christian church, as the Father and Christ have revealed it in the
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gospel; and not barely to speak of it by rote, or as we have been
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taught it by our catechisms, but to be led into it, and enter into the
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meaning and design of it. This is what we should labour after, and then
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the soul prospers.</P>
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<P>
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2. When our faith grows to a full assurance and bold acknowledgment of
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this mystery.
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(1.) To a full assurance, or a well-settled judgment, upon their proper
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evidence, of the great truths of the gospel, without doubting, or
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calling them in question, but embracing them with the highest
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satisfaction, as faithful sayings and worthy of all acceptation.
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(2.) When it comes to a free acknowledgment, and we not only believe
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with the heart, but are ready, when called to it, to make confession
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with our mouth, and are not ashamed of our Master and our holy
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religion, under the frowns and violence of their enemies. This is
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called the <I>riches of the full assurance of understanding.</I> Great
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knowledge and strong faith make a soul rich. This is being rich towards
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God, and rich in faith, and having the true riches,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:21,16:11,Jam+2:5">Luke xii. 21; xvi. 11; Jam. ii. 5</A>.</P>
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<P>
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3. It consists in the abundance of comfort in our souls: <I>That their
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hearts might be comforted.</I> The soul prospers when it is filled with
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joy and peace
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+15:13">Rom. xv. 13</A>),
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and has a satisfaction within which all the troubles without cannot
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disturb, and is able to joy in the Lord when all other comforts fail,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:17,18">Hab. iii. 17, 18</A>.</P>
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<P>
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4. The more intimate communion we have with our fellow-christians the
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more the soul prospers: <I>Being knit together in love.</I> Holy love
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knits the hearts of Christians one to another; and faith and love both
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contribute to our comfort. The stronger our faith is, and the warmer
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our love, the greater will our comfort be. Having occasion to mention
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Christ
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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according to his usual way, he makes this remark to his honour
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.</I> He
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had said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+1:19"><I>ch.</I> i. 19</A>)
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<I>that all fulness dwells in him:</I> here he mentions particularly
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the <I>treasures of wisdom and knowledge.</I> There is a fulness of
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wisdom in him, as he has perfectly revealed the will of God to mankind.
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Observe, The treasures of wisdom are hidden not from us, but for us, in
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Christ. Those who would be wise and knowing must make application to
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Christ. We must spend upon the stock which is laid up for us in him,
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and draw from the treasures which are hidden in him. He is the wisdom
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of God, and is <I>of God made unto us wisdom,</I> &c.,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:24,30">1 Cor. i. 24, 30</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. His concern for them is repeated
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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<I>Though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit,
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joying, and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in
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Christ.</I> Observe,
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1. We may be present in spirit with those churches and Christians from
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whom we are absent in body; for the communion of saints is a spiritual
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thing. Paul had heard concerning the Colossians that they were orderly
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and regular; and though he had never seen them, nor was present with
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them, he tells them he could easily think himself among them, and look
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with pleasure upon their good behaviour.
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2. The order and stedfastness of Christians are matter of joy to
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ministers; they joy when they behold their order, their regular
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behaviour and stedfast adherence to the Christian doctrine.
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3. The more stedfast our faith in Christ is, the better order there
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will be in our whole conversation; for we live and walk by faith,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+5:7,Heb+10:38">2 Cor. v. 7; Heb. x. 38</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Col2_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Col2_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Col2_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Col2_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Col2_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Col2_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Col2_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Col2_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Col2_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Glory of the Christian Economy.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 62.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing
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words.
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5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the
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spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of
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your faith in Christ.
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6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, <I>so</I>
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walk ye in him:
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7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as
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ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
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8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain
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deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the
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world, and not after Christ.
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9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
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10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all
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principality and power:
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11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made
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without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh
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by the circumcision of Christ:
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12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with
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<I>him</I> through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised
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him from the dead.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The apostle cautions the Colossians against deceivers
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>And this I say lest any man beguile you with enticing words;</I> and
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>,
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<I>Lest any man spoil you.</I> He insists so much upon the perfection
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of Christ and the gospel revelation, to preserve them from the
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ensnaring insinuations of those who would corrupt their principles.
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Note,
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1. The way in which Satan spoils souls is by beguiling them. He
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deceives them, and by this means slays them. He is the <I>old serpent
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who beguiled Eve through his subtlety,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+11:3">2 Cor. xi. 3</A>.
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He could not ruin us if he did not cheat us; and he could not cheat us
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but by our own fault and folly.
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2. Satan's agents, who aim to spoil them, beguile them with enticing
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words. See the danger of enticing words; how many are ruined by the
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flattery of those who lie in wait to deceive, and by the false
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disguises and fair appearances of evil principles and wicked practices.
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<I>By good words, and fair speeches, they deceive the hearts of the
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simple,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+16:18">Rom. xvi. 18</A>.
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"You ought to stand upon your guard against enticing words, and be
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aware and afraid of those who would entice you to any evil; for that
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which they aim at is to spoil you." <I>If sinners entice thee, consent
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thou not,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+1:10">Prov. i. 10</A>.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. A sovereign antidote against seducers
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>):
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<I>As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in
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him, rooted and built up,</I> &c. Here note,
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1. All Christians have, in profession at least, <I>received Jesus
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Christ the Lord,</I> received him as Christ, the great prophet of the
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church, anointed by God to reveal his will; as Jesus the great high
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priest, and Saviour from sin and wrath, by the expiatory sacrifice of
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himself; and as Lord, or sovereign and king, whom we are to obey and be
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subject to.--<I>Received him,</I> consented to him, taken him for ours
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in every relation and every capacity, and for all the purposes and uses
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of them.
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2. The great concern of those who have received Christ is <I>to walk in
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him</I>--to make their practices conformable to their principles and
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their conversation agreeable to their engagements. As we have received
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Christ, or consented to be his, so we must walk with him in our daily
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course and keep up our communion with him.
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3. The more closely we walk with Christ the more we are <I>rooted and
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established in the faith.</I> A good conversation is the best
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establishment of a good faith. If we walk in him, we shall be rooted in
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him; and the more firmly we are rooted in him the more closely we shall
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walk in him: <I>Rooted and built up.</I> Observe, We cannot be built up
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in Christ, unless we be first rooted in him. We must be united to him
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by a lively faith, and heartily consent to his covenant, and then we
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shall <I>grow up in him in all things.</I>--<I>As you have been
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taught</I>--"according to the rule of the Christian doctrine, in which
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you have been instructed." Observe, A good education has a good
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influence upon our establishment. We must be <I>established in the
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faith, as we have been taught, abounding therein.</I> Observe, Being
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established in the faith, we must abound therein, and improve in it
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more and more; and this with thanksgiving. The way to have the benefit
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and comfort of God's grace is to be much in giving thanks for it. We
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must join thanksgiving to all our improvements, and be sensible of the
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mercy of all our privileges and attainments. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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II. The fair warning given us of our danger: <I>Beware lest any man
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spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of
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men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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There is a philosophy which is a noble exercise of our reasonable
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faculties, and highly serviceable to religion, such a study of the
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works of God as leads us to the knowledge of God and confirms our faith
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in him. But there is a philosophy which is vain and deceitful, which is
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prejudicial to religion, and sets up the wisdom of man in competition
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with the wisdom of God, and while it pleases men's fancies ruins their
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faith; as nice and curious speculations about things above us, or of no
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use and concern to us; or a care of words and terms of art, which have
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only an empty and often a cheating appearance of knowledge. <I>After
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the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world:</I> this
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plainly reflects upon the Jewish pedagogy or economy, as well as the
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Pagan learning. The Jews governed themselves by the traditions of their
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elders and the rudiments or elements of the world, the rites and
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observances which were only preparatory and introductory to the gospel
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state; the Gentiles mixed their maxims of philosophy with their
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Christian principles; and both alienated their minds from Christ. Those
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who pin their faith on other men's sleeves, and walk in the way of the
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world, have turned away from following after Christ. The deceivers were
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especially the Jewish teachers, who endeavoured to keep up the law of
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Moses in conjunction with the gospel of Christ, but really in
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competition with it and contradiction to it. Now here the apostle
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shows,</P>
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<P>
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1. That we have in Christ the substance of all the shadows of the
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ceremonial law; for example,
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(1.) Had they then the Shechinah, or special presence of God, called
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the glory, from the visible token of it? So have we now in Jesus Christ
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
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<I>For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.</I> Under
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the law, the presence of God dwelt between the cherubim, in a cloud
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which covered the mercy-seat; but now it dwells in the person of our
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Redeemer, who partakes of our nature, and is bone of our bone and flesh
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of our flesh, and has more clearly declared the Father to us. It dwells
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in him bodily; not as the body is opposed to the spirit, but as the
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body is opposed to the shadow. The fulness of the Godhead dwells in the
|
|
Christ really, and not figuratively; for he is both God and man.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Had they circumcision, which was the seal of the covenant? In
|
|
Christ we are <I>circumcised with the circumcision made without
|
|
hands</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
by the work of regeneration in us, which is the spiritual or Christian
|
|
circumcision. <I>He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is
|
|
that of the heart,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+2:29">Rom. ii. 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
This is owing to Christ, and belongs to the Christian dispensation.
|
|
<I>It is made without hands;</I> not by the power of any creature, but
|
|
by the power of the blessed Spirit of God. We are <I>born of the
|
|
Spirit,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:5">John iii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
And it is <I>the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
|
|
Spirit,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Tit+3:5">Tit. iii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
It consists <I>in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh,</I> in
|
|
renouncing sin and reforming our lives, not in mere external rites. It
|
|
is not the <I>putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of
|
|
a good conscience towards God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+3:21">1 Pet. iii. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
And it is not enough to put away some one particular sin, but we must
|
|
put off the whole body of sin. The <I>old man must be crucified, and
|
|
the body of sin destroyed,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+6:6">Rom. vi. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ was circumcised, and, by virtue of our union to him, we partake
|
|
of that effectual grace which puts off the <I>body of the sins of the
|
|
flesh.</I> Again, The Jews thought themselves complete in the
|
|
ceremonial law; but we are <I>complete in Christ,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
That was imperfect and defective; <I>if the first covenant had been
|
|
faultless, there would no place have been sought for the second</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:7">Heb. viii. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
and the <I>law was but a shadow of good things, and could never, by
|
|
those sacrifices, make the comers thereunto perfect,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:1">Heb. x. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
But all the defects of it are made up in the gospel of Christ, by the
|
|
complete sacrifice for sin and revelation of the will of God. <I>Which
|
|
is the head of all principality and power.</I> As the Old-Testament
|
|
priesthood had its perfection in Christ, so likewise had the kingdom of
|
|
David, which was the eminent principality and power under the Old
|
|
Testament, and which the Jews valued themselves so much upon. And he is
|
|
the Lord and head of all the powers in heaven and earth, of angels and
|
|
men. <I>Angels, and authorities, and powers are subject to him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+3:22">1 Pet. iii. 22</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. We have communion with Christ in his whole undertaking
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you have risen with
|
|
him.</I> We are both buried and rise with him, and both are signified
|
|
by our baptism; not that there is anything in the sign or ceremony of
|
|
baptism which represents this burying and rising, any more than the
|
|
crucifixion of Christ is represented by any visible resemblance in the
|
|
Lord's supper: and he is speaking of the <I>circumcision made without
|
|
hands;</I> and says it is <I>through the faith of the operation of
|
|
God.</I> But the thing signified by our baptism is that we are buried
|
|
with Christ, as baptism is the seal of the covenant and an obligation
|
|
to our dying to sin; and that we are raised with Christ, as it is a
|
|
seal and obligation to our living to righteousness, or newness of life.
|
|
God in baptism engages to be to us a God, and we become engaged to be
|
|
his people, and by his grace to die to sin and to live to
|
|
righteousness, or put off the old man and put on the new.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Col2_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Col2_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Col2_15"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Glory of the Christian Economy.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 62.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of
|
|
your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven
|
|
you all trespasses;
|
|
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against
|
|
us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing
|
|
it to his cross;
|
|
15 <I>And</I> having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a
|
|
show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The apostle here represents the privileges we Christians have above the
|
|
Jews, which are very great.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Christ's death is our life: <I>And you, being dead in your sins and
|
|
the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with
|
|
him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
A state of sin is a state of spiritual death. Those who are in sin are
|
|
dead in sin. As the death of the body consists in its separation from
|
|
the soul, so the death of the soul consists in its separation from God
|
|
and the divine favour. As the death of the body is the corruption and
|
|
putrefaction of it, so sin is the corruption or depravation of the
|
|
soul. As a man who is dead is unable to help himself by any power of
|
|
his own, so an habitual sinner is morally impotent: though he has a
|
|
natural power, or the power of a reasonable creature, he has not a
|
|
spiritual power, till he has the divine life or a renewed nature. It is
|
|
principally to be understood of the Gentile world, who <I>lay in
|
|
wickedness.</I> They were <I>dead in the uncircumcision of their
|
|
flesh,</I> being <I>aliens to the covenant of promise, and without God
|
|
in the world,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:11,12">Eph. ii. 11, 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
By reason of their uncircumcision they were dead in their sins. It may
|
|
be understood of the spiritual uncircumcision or corruption of nature;
|
|
and so it shows that we are dead in law, and dead in state. Dead in
|
|
law, as a condemned malefactor is called a dead man because he is under
|
|
a sentence of death; so sinners by the guilt of sin are under the
|
|
sentence of the law and <I>condemned already,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:18">John iii. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
And dead in state, by reason of the <I>uncircumcision of our flesh.</I>
|
|
An unsanctified heart is called an <I>uncircumcised heart:</I> this is
|
|
our state. Now through Christ we, who were dead in sins, are quickened;
|
|
that is, effectual provision is made for taking away the guilt of sin,
|
|
and breaking the power and dominion of it. <I>Quickened together with
|
|
him</I>--by virtue of our union to him, and in conformity to him.
|
|
Christ's death was the death of our sins; Christ's resurrection is the
|
|
quickening of our souls.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Through him we have the remission of sin: <I>Having forgiven you
|
|
all trespasses.</I> This is our quickening. The pardon of the crime is
|
|
the life of the criminal: and this is owing to the resurrection of
|
|
Christ, as well as his death; for, as he <I>died for our sins,</I> so
|
|
he <I>rose again for our justification,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+4:25">Rom. iv. 25</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Whatever was in force against us is taken out of the way. He has
|
|
obtained for us a legal discharge from the <I>hand-writing of
|
|
ordinances, which was against us</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
which may be understood,
|
|
|
|
1. Of that obligation to punishment in which consists the guilt of sin.
|
|
The curse of the law is the hand-writing against us, like the
|
|
hand-writing on Belshazzar's wall. <I>Cursed is every one who continues
|
|
not in every thing.</I> This was a hand-writing which was <I>against
|
|
us, and contrary to us;</I> for it threatened our eternal ruin. This
|
|
was removed when he <I>redeemed us from the curse of the law, being
|
|
made a curse for us,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+3:13">Gal. iii. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
He cancelled the obligation for all who repent and believe. "Upon me be
|
|
the curse, my father." He vacated and disannulled the judgment which
|
|
was against us. When he was nailed to the cross, the curse was as it
|
|
were nailed to the cross. And our indwelling corruption is crucified
|
|
with Christ, and by virtue of his cross. When we remember the dying of
|
|
the Lord Jesus, and see him nailed to the cross, we should see the
|
|
hand-writing against us taken out of the way. Or rather,
|
|
|
|
2. It must be understood of the ceremonial law, the <I>hand-writing of
|
|
ordinances,</I> the ceremonial institutions or <I>the law of
|
|
commandments contained in ordinances</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:15">Eph. ii. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
which was a yoke to the Jews and a partition-wall to the Gentiles. The
|
|
Lord Jesus <I>took it out of the way, nailed it to his cross;</I> that
|
|
is, disannulled the obligation of it, that all might see and be
|
|
satisfied that it was no more binding. When the substance came, the
|
|
shadows fled away. It is abolished
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+3:13">2 Cor. iii. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
and <I>that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:13">Heb. viii. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
The expressions are in allusion to the ancient methods of cancelling a
|
|
bond, either by crossing the writing or striking it through with a
|
|
nail.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. He has obtained a glorious victory for us over the powers of
|
|
darkness: <I>And, having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a
|
|
show of them openly, triumphing over them in it,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
As the curse of the law was against us, so the power of Satan was
|
|
against us. He treated with God as the Judge, and redeemed us out of
|
|
the hands of his justice by a price; but out of the hands of Satan the
|
|
executioner he redeemed us by power and with a high hand. <I>He led
|
|
captivity captive.</I> The devil and all the powers of hell were
|
|
conquered and disarmed by the dying Redeemer. The first promise pointed
|
|
at this; the bruising of the heel of Christ in his sufferings was the
|
|
breaking of the serpent's head,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:15">Gen. iii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
The expressions are lofty and magnificent: let us turn aside and see
|
|
this great sight. The Redeemer conquered by dying. See his crown of
|
|
thorns turned into a crown of laurels. He <I>spoiled them,</I> broke
|
|
the devil's power, and conquered and disabled him, and <I>made a show
|
|
of them openly</I>--exposed them to public shame, and made a show of
|
|
them to angels and men. Never had the devil's kingdom such a mortal
|
|
blow given to it as was given by the Lord Jesus. He tied them to his
|
|
chariot-wheels, and rode forth conquering and to conquer--alluding to
|
|
the custom of a general's triumph, who returned
|
|
victorious.--<I>Triumphing over them in it;</I> that is, either in his
|
|
cross and by his death; or, as some read it, in himself, by his own
|
|
power; for he <I>trod the wine-press alone, and of the people there was
|
|
none with him.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Col2_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Col2_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Col2_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Col2_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Col2_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Col2_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Col2_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Col2_23"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Glory of the Christian Economy.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 62.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in
|
|
respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath
|
|
<I>days:</I>
|
|
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body <I>is</I> of
|
|
Christ.
|
|
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary
|
|
humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things
|
|
which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
|
|
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints
|
|
and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together,
|
|
increaseth with the increase of God.
|
|
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of
|
|
the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to
|
|
ordinances,
|
|
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
|
|
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the
|
|
commandments and doctrines of men?
|
|
23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship,
|
|
and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to
|
|
the satisfying of the flesh.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The apostle concludes the chapter with exhortations to proper duty,
|
|
which he infers from the foregoing discourse.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Here is a caution to take heed of judaizing teachers, or those who
|
|
would impose upon Christians the yoke of the ceremonial law: <I>Let no
|
|
man therefore judge you in meat nor drink,</I> &c.,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Much of the ceremonies of the law of Moses consisted in the distinction
|
|
of meats and days. It appears by
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+14:1-23">Rom. xiv.</A>
|
|
|
|
that there were those who were for keeping up those distinctions: but
|
|
here the apostle shows that since Christ has come, and has cancelled
|
|
the ceremonial law, we ought not to keep it up. "Let no man impose
|
|
those things upon you, for God has not imposed them: if God has made
|
|
you free, be not you again <I>entangled in that yoke of bondage.</I>"
|
|
And this the rather because these things <I>were shadows of things to
|
|
come</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
intimating that they had no intrinsic worth in them and that they are
|
|
now done away. <I>But the body is of Christ:</I> the body, of which
|
|
they were shadows, has come; and to continue the ceremonial
|
|
observances, which were only types and shadows of Christ and the
|
|
gospel, carries an intimation that Christ has not yet come and the
|
|
gospel state has not yet commenced. Observe the advantages we have
|
|
under the gospel, above what they had under the law: they had the
|
|
shadows, we have the substance.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He cautions them to take heed of those who would introduce the
|
|
worship of angels as mediators between God and them, as the Gentile
|
|
philosophers did: <I>Let no man beguile you of your reward, in a
|
|
voluntary humility and worshipping of angels,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
It looked like a piece of modesty to make use of the mediation of
|
|
angels, as conscious to ourselves of our unworthiness to speak
|
|
immediately to God; but, though it has a show of humility, it is a
|
|
voluntary, not a commanded humility; and therefore it is not
|
|
acceptable, yea, it is not warrantable: it is taking that honour which
|
|
is due to Christ only and giving it to a creature. Besides, the notions
|
|
upon which this practice was grounded were merely the inventions of men
|
|
and not by divine revelation,--the proud conceits of human reason,
|
|
which make a man presume to dive into things, and determine them,
|
|
without sufficient knowledge and warrant: <I>Intruding into those
|
|
things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly
|
|
mind</I>--pretending to describe the order of angels, and their
|
|
respective ministries, which God has hidden from us; and therefore,
|
|
though there was a show of humility in the practice, there was a real
|
|
pride in the principle. They advanced those notions to gratify their
|
|
own carnal fancy, and were fond of being thought wiser than other
|
|
people. Pride is at the bottom of a great many errors and corruptions,
|
|
and even of many evil practices, which have great show and appearance
|
|
of humility. Those who do so do <I>not hold the head,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
They do in effect disclaim Christ, who is the only Mediator between God
|
|
and man. It is the highest disparagement to Christ, who is the head of
|
|
the church, for any of the members of it to make use of any
|
|
intercessors with God but him. When men let go their hold of Christ,
|
|
they catch at that which is next them and will stand them in no
|
|
stead.--<I>From which all the body, by joints and bands, having
|
|
nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase
|
|
of God.</I> Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. Jesus Christ is not only a head of government over the church, but a
|
|
head of vital influence to it. They are knit to him by joints and
|
|
bands, as the several members of the body are united to the head, and
|
|
receive life and nourishment from him.
|
|
|
|
2. The body of Christ is a growing body: <I>it increaseth with the
|
|
increase of God.</I> The new man is increasing, and the nature of grace
|
|
is to grow, where there is not an accidental hindrance.--<I>With the
|
|
increase of God,</I> with an increase of grace which is from God as its
|
|
author; or, in a usual Hebraism, with a large and abundant
|
|
increase.--<I>That you may be filled with all the fulness of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:19">Eph. iii. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
See a parallel expression, <I>Which is the head, even Christ, from whom
|
|
the whole body, fitly joined together, maketh increase of the body,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+4:15,16">Eph. iv. 15, 16</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. He takes occasion hence to warn them again: "<I>Wherefore, if you
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be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though
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living in the world, are you subject to ordinances?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
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If as Christians you are dead to the observances of the ceremonial law,
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why are you subject to them? Such observances as, <I>Touch not, taste
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not, handle not,</I>"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:21,22"><I>v.</I> 21, 22</A>.
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Under the law there was a ceremonial pollution contracted by touching a
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dead body, or any thing offered to an idol; or by tasting any forbidden
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meats, &c., <I>which all are to perish with the using,</I> having no
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intrinsic worth in themselves to support them, and those who used them
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|
saw them perishing and passing away; or, which tend to corrupt the
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Christian faith, having no other authority than the traditions and
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|
injunctions of men.--<I>Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in
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|
will-worship and humility.</I> They thought themselves wiser than their
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|
neighbours, in observing the law of Moses together with the gospel of
|
|
Christ, that they might be sure in the one, at least, to be in the
|
|
right; but, alas! it was but a show of wisdom, a mere invention and
|
|
pretence. So they seem to neglect the body, by abstaining from such and
|
|
such meats, and mortifying their bodily pleasures and appetites; but
|
|
there is nothing of true devotion in these things, for the gospel
|
|
teaches us to worship God in spirit and truth and not by ritual
|
|
observances, and through the mediation of Christ alone and not of any
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|
angels. Observe,
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|
1. Christians are freed by Christ from the ritual observances of
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Moses's law, and delivered from that yoke of bondage which God himself
|
|
had laid upon them.
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2. Subjection to ordinances, or human appointments in the worship of
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|
God, is highly blamable, and contrary to the freedom and liberty of the
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|
gospel. The apostle requires Christians <I>to stand fast in the liberty
|
|
with which Christ hath made them free, and not to be entangled again
|
|
with the yoke of bondage,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+5:1">Gal. v. 1</A>.
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And the imposition of them is invading the authority of Christ, the
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|
head of the church, and <I>introducing another law of commandments
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contained in ordinances,</I> when Christ has abolished the old one,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:15">Eph. ii. 15</A>.
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3. Such things have only a show of wisdom, but are really folly. It is
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|
true wisdom to keep close to the appointments of the gospel, and an
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entire subjection to Christ, the only head of the church.</P>
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