Colossians 3

Colossians 3:1

SEek those things that are above] Give your selves to the study and practise of a spirituall and Angelicall life, elevating your hearts and thoughts into heaven, without setting any more your affections upon the things on the earth, or putting any opinion of holinesse in any outward earthly thing whatsoever. By the things that are above, he meaneth, everlasting happinesse and glory, whereof Christ hath taken possession for us in heaven, together with all spirituall gifts, requisite for salvation, which Christ at the right hand of his Father doth impart and distribute to his Church. Acts 2:11. Eph. 4. 8.

sitteth on the right hand of God] Or, at. See Mark 15:19. Luke 24 51. Acts 7:55. Romans 8:34.

Colossians 3:2

affection] Or, minde.

Colossians 3:3

ye are dead] Dead to the world, dead to the flesh, dead to all the vain and sinfull motions and desires thereof.

your life is hid] Your life of grace and of glory are hid and laid up in Christ with God, as out of the knowledge, so out of the danger of the world. Or, it is hid with Christ, that is, as Christs life and glorious reign in heaven, so your spirituall life is concealed from the eyes of worldly men.

Colossians 3:4

When Christ who is our life] That is, in whom, and by whom we live, who is not onely the efficient and meritorious cause, but the pattern also of our spirituall life.

Colossians 3:5

your members] Those members which we made weapons of unrighteousnesse, or the evill affections and motions of corrupt nature, which is as it were a masse of sinne, called expressely the body of sinne, Romans 6:6. Col. 2. 11. These motions may be called members, because the reason and will of corrupt man doth use them, and produce operations by them, as the bodie doth use the members.

upon the earth] Thus the Apostle calleth these vicious desires, in regard they do ever move men to earthly things; viz. to the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life, 1 John 2:16. whereof we shall be altogether freed in heaven. Revelation 21:27.

fornication] See Ephesians 5:3.

inordinate affection] Gr. passion. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the Originall signifieth some kinde of uncleannesse, in which men are rather passive then active; such as the Apostle intimateth, Romans 1:26. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

covetousnesse, which is idolatry] Some conceive the Apostle here to speak by way of aggravation; as when in 1 Samuel 15:23. rebellion is said to be the sinne of witchcraft, and stubbornnesse to be idolatry; not that they are so properly, but that they are most hainous and execrable sinnes, as witchcraft and idolatry were deservedly esteemed. Yet farther, how covetousnesse may be termed idolatry, see the note upon Ephesians 5:5.

Colossians 3:6

children of disobedience] An Hebraisme, unbeleeving or disobedient children, properly such as no good perswasion can work upon. Ephesians 5:6.

Colossians 3:7

the which ye also] Gr. Tec. these ye also.

in them] Or, among them.

Colossians 3:8

you also put off all those] Or, put you also from you all these.

Colossians 3:9

old man with his deeds] Our unregenerate condition, or our old depraved nature, with the sinfull works thereof. See Romans 6:6. & Augustinum de vera relig c. 26. vetus homo exuitur primum in Baptismo, deinde quotidiano profectu novitatis.

Colossians 3:10

put on] He useth the metaphor of putting on, to shew that these graces are an addition to our nature, and that we are naked withot them, and that they are as a beautifull ornament to our soul. Ephesians 4:24.

new man] See Ephesians 4:24.

in knowledge] Gr. to knowledge.

Colossians 3:11

Greek nor Jew] From these words Epiphanius noteth four sects or sorts of religion which one after another bore sway in the world; from Adam to the Flood, Barbarisme; from the Flood to Abraham, Scythisme; and after that, Hellenisme, and Judaisme: But whether Saint Paul had reference unto these, it is uncertain: His plain meaning is this, That if we speak of renovation and salvation in Christ, there is no respect of persons at all; (Acts 10:34.) for every man is accepted according to that measure of grace, by which Christ dwels and worketh in him. Galatians 3:28.

Christ is all, and in all] See Galatians 3:28.

Colossians 3:12

Put on] See V. 10.

Colossians 3:13

quarrell] Or, complaint.

Colossians 3:14

which is the bond of perfectnesse] Whereby all the members of the Church are perfectly united together, and do shew one another all due and brotherly affection. Or, the bond of perfection, that is, the bond which tyeth all Christian vertues together, and perfecteth them. Romans 13:8.

Colossians 3:15

peace of God] See Phil. 4. 7.

Colossians 3:16

dwell in you richly] Be familiarly acquainted with the Word, let it not passe by you as a stranger, or lodge and sojourn with you for a short space; but let it continually abide with you, and give it rich, that is, liberall entertainment, by frequent reading, hearing, meditating upon, and conferring about the Scriptures.

teaching and admonishing] Teaching the ignorant, admonishing and warning the carelesse. He seemeth not here to speak of publike teaching and admonition, by the explication and application of the Scriptures, in Sermons, Homilies, and other exhortations, which particularly appertain to the Pastorall function; but a private instruction, advise, direction, or admonition out of holy Scriptures, whereby all the faithfull are to impart their knowledge to others, and edifie and comfort one another.

in Psalms and Hymnes] See Ephesians 5:19.

with grace] Gr. in grace; or, gracefully.

Colossians 3:17

And whatsoever ye doe] See 1 Corinthians 10:31.

in the Name of the Lord] Call upon the Name of Christ when ye doe it; or do it to Christs praise and glory. 1 Corinth. 10. 31.

Colossians 3:18

Wives, submit your selves] See Ephesians 5:22. Titus 2:5. 1 Pet. 3. 1. Either the meaning is, that it is fit and agreeable to Gods Word, that they should submit; or submit in such sort, and with such a kinde of submission, as is fit for wives, not with a servile, but with a conjugall submission.

Colossians 3:19

Husbands, love your wives] See Ephesians 5:25.

Colossians 3:20

Children, obey your parents in all things] See Ephes 6. 1.

Colossians 3:21

Fathers provoke not your Children, &c.] See Ephesians 6:4.

to anger] Gr. Tec. above that is fitting.

Colossians 3:22

Servants, obey in all things] See Ephesians 6:5. Titus 2:9. As the Apostle exhorteth the Children before, so here he will have servants obey thir Masters in all things; but with a limitation exprest Ephesians 6:1. viz. in the Lord; in all things warrantable for the masters to command, and the servants to performe.

with eye-service] Gr. in eye-services. See Ephesians 6:6.

Colossians 3:23

it heartily] Gr. from the oul.

Colossians 3:24

the reward of the inheritance] He calleth it a reward, because he speaketh of servants; but addeth, of an inheritance, because that if they faithfully serve their masters, or rather the Lord Christ in them, the time shall come, when they shall be made sonnes of servants, and partakers of the Heavenly inheritance.

Colossians 3:25

the wrong which he hath done] Gr. what he hath wronged.

there is no respect of persons] See Romans 2:11. Ephesians 6:9.