7 And the peace of God, which furpaffeth all underftanding, fhall keep your hearts and your minds through Chrift Jefus. 8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatfoever things are honeft, whatfoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatfoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praife, 9 think on these things: The things which ye have both learned and received, and heard and feen in me, these do: and the God of peace shall be with you. but pray. Carefulness and Prayer cannot stand together. In every thing---Great and small, let your requefis be made known ---They who by a prepofterous Shame or diftruftful Modefty, cover, stifle, or keepin their Defires, as if they were either too small or too great, must be racked with Care; from which they are entirely delivered, whe pour them out with a free and filial Confidence; to God---'Tis not always proper to difclofe them to Men; by fupplication---Which is the enlarging upon and preffing our Petition; with thanksgiving---The fureft Mark of a Soul free from Care, and of Prayer joined with true Refignation. This is always followed by Peace. Peace and Thanksgiving are both coupled together, Col. iii. 15. V. 7. And the peace of God---That calm, heavenly Repofe, that Tranquillity of Spirit, which GoD only can give, which furpasseth all underflanding--Which none can comprehend, fave he that receiveth it, shall keep---Shall guard as a Garrifon does a City, your bearts---Your Affections, your minds ---Your Understandings, and all the varicus Workings of them, thro' the Spirit and Power of Cbrift Jefus, in the Knowledge and Love of God. Without a Guard fet on these likewife, the Purity and Vigour of our Affections cannot long be preserved. V. 8. Finally---To sum up all, whatsoever things are true---Here are eight Particulars placed in two fourfold Rows; the former containing their Duty, the latter the Commendation of it. The first Word in the former Row anfwers the first in the latter, the second Word the fecond, and so on; true---In Speech; boneft---In Action; juft-With regard to others; pure--With regard to yourselves: Lovely---And what more lovely than Truth? of good report---As is. Honefty even where it is not practifed. If there be any virtue---And all Virtues are contained in Juftice, if there be any praise---In those things which relate rather to ourfeives than to our Neighbour: think on these things---That ye may both practise them yourselves, and recommend them to others. V.9. The things which ye have learned---As Catechumens, and Received---By continual Instructions, and beard and feen---In my Life and Converfation, thefe da, and the God of prace, shall be with you--- Not 10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at laft your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were alfo careful; but ye wanted opportunity. 11 Not that I fpeak in refpect of want; for I have learned in whatfoever ftate I am, to be content. 12 I know how to be abafed, and I know how to abound, every where and in every thing I am inflructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both 13 to abound and to want. I can do all things through 14. Chrift ftrengthening me. Nevertheless, ye have done well, that ye did communicate to me in my 15 affliction. And ye know likewife, O Philippians, that in the beginning of the gofpel, when I depar ted from Macedonia, no church communicated with me in refpect of giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Theffalonica ye fent once and again to 17 my neceffities. Not that I defire a gift, but I de18 fire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all things, and abound: I am filled, having Not only the Peace of GoD, but God Himself, the Fountain of Peace. V. 10. I rejoiced greatly---St. Paul was no Stoic. He had frong Paffions, but all devoted to Gor, that your care of me bath flourished. again---As a Tree bloffoms after the Winter. Ye wanted opportunity Either ye had not Plenty yourselves, or you wanted a proper Merfenger. V. 11. I have learned---From GOD. He only can teach this, in every thing therewith to be context---Joyfully and thankfully patient. Nothing lefs is Chriftian Content. We may obferve a beautiful Gradation in the Expreffions: I bave learned: I know: I am infirusted :: I can. V. 12. I know how to be abafed---Having scarce what is needful for my Body; and to abound---Having wherewith to relieve others. alfo. Prefently after the Order of the Words is inverted, to intimate his frequent Tranfition from Scarcity to Plenty, and from Plenty to -Scarcity. I am inftrufted---Literally, I am initiated into that Myftery, unknown to all but Chriftians, both to be full and to be hungry---For one Day, both to abound and to want ---For a longer Seafon. V. 13. I can do all things---Even fulfil all the Will of God. V. 15. In the beginning of the gospel---When it was first preached at Philippi, in respect of giving---On your Part, and receiving---On mine. V. 17. Not that I defire---For my own Sake the very ift which I receive of you. V. 18. An odour of a sweet smell---More pleafing to Gòn, than the sweetest Perfumes to Men. B3 V. 19, received of Epaphroditus the things which came from you, an odour of a sweet smell, an acceptable 19 facrifice, well pleafing to God. And my God fhall fupply all your need, according to his riches 20 in glory through Chrift Jesus. Now unto our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 21. Salute every faint in Chrift Jefus. The bre22-thren who are with me falute you. All the faints falute you, chiefly they that are of Cefar's houshould. 23 The grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift be with you all. V. 19. All your need---As ye have mine, according to his riches in glory---In his abundant, eternal Glory. NOTES NOTE S ON St. PAUL's Epiftle to the Colofians. COLO ◄OLOSSE was aCity of the Greater Phrygia, not far from Laodicen and Hierapolis. Though St. Paul preached in many Parts of Phrygia, yet he never had been at this City. It had received the Gofpel by the preaching of Epaphras, who was with St. Paul when he wrote this Epiftle. It feems the Coloffians were now in Danger of being feduced by those who ftrove to blend Judaifm or Heathen Superftitions with Christianity: Pretending, that Gop, because of his great Majefty was not to be approached but by the Mediation of Angels: And that there were certain Rites and Obfervances chiefly borrowed from the Law, whereby thefe Angels might be made our Friends. In Oppofition to them the Apoftle 1. Commends the Knowledge of Cbriß, as more excellent than all other, and so entire and perfect, that no other Knowledge was neceffary for a Chriftian. He a. fhews, That Chrift is above all Angels, who are only his Servants and that being reconciled to Gon through Him, we have free Access te him in all all our Neceffities. I. The Infcription, This Epiftle contains, II. The Doctrine, wherein the Apoftle pathetically ex plains, the Mystery of Chrift, By Thanksgiving for the Coloffians, By Prayers for them, with C. L. 3, 2 3-8 9--23 A Declaration of his Affection for them, 24-29. C. ii, 3 IH. The Exhortation, 1. General, wherein he excites them to Perfeverance, and warns them, not to be deceived, Defcribes again the Mystery of Chrift, in Order, 9-15 z. From 20 NOTES on St. PAUL'S Epiftle to the COLOSSIANS. 2. To practise several Virtues, Efpecially to love one another, And ftudy the Scriptures, 3. To the Relative Duties of Wives and Hufbands, 5---9 10, 11 *12-15 16, 17 18, 19 20, 21 22-25. C. iv, 1. 2-4 5, 6 7---16 I. 31 5 COLOSSIANS. PAGod, and Timotheus-a brother, To the faints and faithful brethren in Christ at Coloffe, grace be We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, (praying always for you,: 4 Hearing of your faith in Chrift Jefus, and of your love to all the faints) For the hope which is laid: up for you in heaven, of which ye heard before in6 the word of truth, of the gospel, Which is come to you, as also it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it hath done likewise among you, from the day ye heard it, and knew the grace of God in truth: As ye likewife learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-fervant, who is a faithful minifter of Chrift V. 2. The faints--- This Word expreffes their Union with GOD, and brethren---This, their Union with their Fellow-Chriftians. V. 3. We give thanks---There is a near Refemblance between this Epiftle, and thofe to the Ephefians and Philippians. V. 5. Ye beard before---I wrote to you; in the word of truth, of the Gofpel---The true Gospel preached to you. V. 6. It bringeth forth fruit in all the world---That is, in every Place where it is preached: ye khew the grace of God in truth---Truly experienced the gracious Power of God. V.7. The fellow fervant---Of Paul and Timotheus. V.8. Your love in the Spirit--Your Love wrought in you by theSpirit.. V. 9. We |