8 for you: Who also declared to us your love in the 9 Spirit. For this caufe from the day we heard it, we do not cease to pray alfo for you, and to defire that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, 10 in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That

ye may walk worthy ofthe Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increafing 11 in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all 12 patience and long-fuffering with joyfulness: Giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to partake of the inheritance of the faints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his belo14 ved Son, In whom we have redemption through 15 his blood, the forgiveness of fins : Who is the image of the invifible God, the firft begotten of

V. 9. We pray for you---This was mentioned in general ver. 3 but now more particularly; that ye may be filled with the knowledge. of bis will---Of his revealed Will, in all wisdom---With all the Wildom from above, and spiritual underfanding---To difcern by that Light, whatever agrees with or differs from his Will.

V. 10. That knowing his whole Will, ye may walk worthy of the Lerd, unto all well-pleafing---So as actually to please him in allThings, daily increafing in the living, experimential knowledge of GoD our Father, Saviour, Sanctifier.

V. 11. Strengthened unto all patience and long-fuffering with joyfulness --This is the higheft Point: Not only to know, to do, to fuffer, the whole Will of God; but to fuffer it to the End, not barely with Patience, but with thankful Joy.

V. 12. Who by juftifying and fanctifying us bath made us meet for Glory. V. 13. Power detains reluctant Captives. A Kingdom cherishes willing Subjects: His beloved Son---This is treated of in the 15th and following Verses.

V. 14. In whom we have redemption ---This is treated of from the Middle of the 18th Verfe. The voluntary Paffion of our LORD, appeafed the Father's Wrath, obtained Pardon and Acceptance for us, and confequently diffolved the Dominion and Power which Satan had over us through our Sins. So that Forgiveness is the Beginning of Redemption, as the Refurrection is the Completion of it.

V. 15. Who is---By defcribing the Glory of Chrift and his Preeminence over the highest Angels, the Apoftle here lays a Foundation for the Reproof of all Worshippers of Angels: the image of the invifible God---Whom none can reprefent but his only begotton Son; in his Divine Nature, the invisible Image, in his Human, the vifible Image of the Father, the first begotten of every creature---That is,

begottes

16 every creature. For through him were created all things, that are in heaven and that are on earth, vifible and invifible; whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things 17 were created by him and for him. And he is before 18 all things, and by him all things confift, And he is the head of his body the church: who is the beginning, the firft-begotten from the dead, that in 19. all things he might have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the Father, that all fulness fhould dwell in 20 him : And by him to reconcile all things to him-. felf (having made peace by him, through the blood of the erofs) whether things on earth, or

begotten before every Creature; fubfifting before all Worlds, beford: all Time, from all Eternity.

V. 16. For---This explains the latter Part of the preceding Verfe:* through---Implies fomething prior to the Particles by and for; so denoting the Beginning, the Progrefs, and the End: Him---This Word, frequently repeated, fignifies his fupreme Majesty, and ex-cludes every Creature: were created all things, that are in beaven--And Heaven itfelf. But the Inhabitants are named, because more roble than the Houfe: Invifible---The feveral Species of which are fubjoined. Thrones are fuperior to Dominions, Principalities to Powers. Perhaps the two latter may exprefs their Office, with regard to other Creatures; the two former may refer to Go, who maketh them his Chariots, and as it were rideth upon their Wings.

V. 17. And he is before all things-.-'Tis not faid, He was :: He is from everlasting to everlasting. And by him all things confift---The Original Expreflion not only implies, That he fuftains all Things in. Being, but more directly, All things were and are compacted in him inte one fyftem. He is the Cement as well as Support of the Universe, And is He lefs than the Supreme GOD?

V. 18. And---From the whole, he now defcends to the most emi, neht Part, the Church. He is the bead of the church---Univerfal. The fupreme and only Head both of Influence and of Government to the whole Body of Believers, who is--The Repetition of the Expreffion (fee ver. 15.) points out the Entrance on a new Paragraph, the beginning--- Abfolutely, the Eternal, the firft-5egotton from the dead--From whofe Refurrection flows all the Life, Spiritual and Eternal, of all his Brethren; that in all things---Whether of Nature.or Grace, He might have the Pre-eminence, Who can found this Depth?

V. 19. For it pleafed the Father, that all fulness---All the Fulness of Gon, bould dwell in him---Conftantly, as in a Temple, and always ready for our Approach to Him.

•V. 20. Through the Blood of the cross---The Blood fhed thereon; whether things on earth---Here the Enmity began. Therefore this is mentioned

21 things in heaven.

And you that were once alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, 22 he hath now reconciled, By the body of his flesh,

through death, to prefent you holy, and spotless, 23 and unreproveable in his fight: If ye continue in the faith, grounded and fettled, and are not removed from the hope of the gofpel which ye have heard, which is preached to every creature that is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minifter. 24 Now I rejoice in my fufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh that which is behind of the fufferings of 25 Chrift for his body, which is the church: Of which I am made a minifter, according to the difpenfation of God, which is given to me for you, 26 fully to preach the word of God: The mystery which hath been hid from ages and generations; but

inentioned first; or thirgs in heaven---Thofe who are now in Paradife, the Saints who died before Chrift came.

V. 21. And you that were alienated and enemies---Actual Alienation of Affection, makes habitual Enmity; in your mind---Both your Underftanding and your Affections, by wicked works---Which continually feed and increase inward Alienation from and Enmity to God; be bath now reconciled---From the Moment ye believed.

V. 22. By the body of his flesh---(So diftinguished from his Body, the Church) The Body here denotes his entire Manhood; through death---Whereby he purchased the Reconciliation which we receive by Faith, to prefent you---The very End of that Reconciliation; boly ---Toward GOD, Spotless---In yourselves, unreproveable---As to your Neighbour.

V. 23. If ye continue in the faith---Otherwife ye will lofe all the Bleffings which ye have already begun to enjoy; and be not removed from the hope of the gospel---The glorious Hope of perfect Love; which is preached---Is already begun to be preached to every creature under

beaven.

V. 24. Now I rejoice in my fufferings for you, and fill up---That is, whereby I fill up, that which is bebind of the fufferings of Chrift That which remains to be fuffered by his Members. These are termed, The Sufferings of Chrift, 1. Because the Suffering of any Member, is the Suffering of the whole, and of the Head efpecially, which fupplies Strength, Spirits, Senfe and Motion to all. 2. Becaufe they are for his Sake, for the Testimony of his Truth. And thefe alfo are neceflary for the Church; not to reconcile it to God, or fatisfy for Sin, (for that Chrift did perfectly) but for Example to others, perfecting of the Saints, and increafing their Reward.

V. 25. According to the difpenfation of God, which is given me--Or, The Stewardship with which I am intrufted.

V. 26. The Mystery---Namely Chrift both juftifying and fanctifying

Gentiles

27 now is manifefted to his faints: To whom among the Gentiles it was the will of God to make known, what is the riches of this glorious mystery, which 28 is Chrift in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, admonishing every man, and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may prefent every 29 man perfect through Chrifl Jefus. For which also I labour, ftriving according to his mighty working, who worketh in me mightily.

II.

For I would have you know how great a conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not feen my face in the flesh: 2 That their hearts may be comforted, being knit together in love, even unto all riches of the full affurance of understanding, unto the acknowledg ment of the mystery of God, both the Father and 3 Chrift, In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I fay, that no man may 5 beguile you with enticing words. For though I am abfent from you in the flesh, yet I am present with you in fpirit, rejoicing to behold your order, and the ftedfaftness of your faith in Christ. 6 As ye have therefore received Chrift Jefus the Lord, 7 fo walk in him; Rooted and bailt up in him, and eftablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

4

8 Beware left any man make a prey of you

Gentiles as well as Jews, which hath been comparatively bid from former ages and paft generations of Men.

V. 27. Cbrift dwelling and reigning in you, the hope of glory---The Ground of your Hope.

V. 28. We teach the Ignorant, and admonish them that are already taught.

V. 1. How great a conflict---Of Care, Defire, Prayer. As many as bave not feen my face---Therefore in writing to the Coloffians, he refrains from thofe familiar Appellations, Brethren, Beloved.

V. 2. Unto all rickes of the full affurance of understanding, unto the acknowledgment of the mystery of God---That is, unto the fulleft and cleareft Understanding and Knowledge of the Gospel.

V. 6. So walk in bim---In the fame Faith, Love, Holiness.

V. 7.7. Rooted in bim---As the Vine; built---On the fure Foundation.

V. 8. Through Pbilofophy and empty deceit---That is, through the empty Deceit of Philosophy blended with Christianity. This the

Apoftle

through philofophy and empty deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, 9 and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the 10 fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are filled by him, who is the head of all principality and 11 power. By whom alfo ye have been circumcised with a circumcifion not performed with hands, in putting off the body of the fins of the flesh, by the circum12 cifion of Chrift: Buried with him in baptifm, by which ye are alfo rifen with him, through the faith of the operation of God, who raised him from the 13 dead. And you, who were dead in trefpaffes and the uncircumcifion of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all tref

Apoftle condemns, 1. Because it was empty and deceitful, promising Happiness, but giving none: 2. Because it was grounded, not on folid Reason, but the traditions of men, Zeno, Epicurus, and the rest: and 3. Because it was fo fhallow and fuperficial, not advancing beyond the Knowledge of sensible Things; no, not beyond the first Rudiments of them.

V. 9. For in bim dwelleth--Inhabiteth, continually abideth all the fulness of the Godbead. Believers are filled with all the fulness of God. (Eph. ii. 19.) But in Chrift dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead; the most full Godhead: Not only Divine Powers, but the Divine Nature, (ch. i. 19.) bodily---Perfonally, really, fubftantially. The very Subftance of God, if one might so speak, dwells in Chrift In the most full Senfe.

V. 10. And ye---Who believe, are filled with him, (John. i. 16 ) Cbrift is filled with GoD, and ye are filled with Chrift. And ye are filled by Him. The Fulnefs of Chrift overflows his Church, (Pfalm cxxxiii. 3.) He is originally full. We are filled by Him with Wildom and Holiness. Who is the head of all principality and power---Of Angels as well as Men. Not from Angels therefore, but from their Head are we to afk whatever we ftand in need of,

V. 11. By whom alfo ye have been circumcifed --Ye have received the fpiritual Bleffings typified of old by Circumcifion, with a circumcifion not performed with hands---By an inward, fpiritual Operation, in putting off not a little Skin, but the whole body of the fins of the flesh ---All the Sins of your evil Nature, by the circumcifion of Corift---By that fpiritual Circumcifion which Chrift works in your Heart.

V. 12. Which he wrought in you, when ye were as it were buried twith bim in baptism---The antient Manner of baptizing by Immerfion is as manifeftly alluded to here, as the other Manner of baptizing by fprinkling or pouring of Water is, Heb. x. 22. But no Strefs is laid on the Age of the Baptized, or the Manner of performing it, in one or the other; but only on our being rifen with Chrift, thro' the power ful Operation of GoD in the Soul, which we cannot but know aljuredly, VOL. III.

C