Colossians 1

3. The saints at death shall not only have a sight of God, but shall enjoy the love of God; there shall be no more veil on God's face, nor his smiles checkered with frowns, but God's love shall discover itself in all its radiant beauty and fragrant sweetness. Here the saints pra…

5. Is creation proper to the Deity? This is a flower of Christ's crown (Colossians 1:16): By him were all things created. 6. Is invocation proper to the Deity?

Resp. He has redeemed us to a glorious inheritance (1 Peter 1:4): To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you. 1. To an inheritance.] Christ has not only redeemed us out of prison, but he has redeemed us to a state of happin…

Such were some of you, but you are washed, etc. Before effectual calling, we are not only without strength (Romans 5:6), but enemies (Colossians 1:21). So that the foundation of vocation is election.

Response: We must conceive of him spiritually, namely: 1. In his attributes; his holiness, justice, goodness, which are the beams by which his divine nature shines forth. 2. We must conceive of him as he is in Christ; Christ is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). S…

The excellencies of the creature are limited. A man may have health, not beauty; learning, not parentage; riches, not wisdom: but in God are eminently contained all excellencies: he is a good commensurate fully to the soul; he is a sun, a portion, a horn of salvation; in him dwe…

1 Peter 1:3: Blessed be God, who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a lively hope. Colossians 1:12: Giving thanks to the Father, who has made us meet for the inheritance in light. The new creature is a sign of election, a badge of adoption.

Men adopt because they want children, and desire to have some to bear their name; but that God should adopt us when he had a Son of his own, the Lord Jesus, here is the wonder of love. Christ is called God's dear Son (Colossians 1:13). A Son more worthy than the angels (Hebrews…

He has a mighty arm (Psalm 89:13). God's power is a glorious power (Colossians 1:11). 1. It is an irresistible power (Romans 9:19).

2. God the Son is the purchaser of peace. He has made peace by his blood (Colossians 1:20): Having made peace by the blood of his cross. The atonement Aaron made for the people when he entered into the holy of holies with blood, was a type of Christ our high priest, who has by h…

God infinitely out-shines all sublunary glory; he is better than the soul, than angels, than heaven. Thirdly, in the chief good, there must be not only fullness but variety; where variety is wanting, we are apt to nauseate; to feed only on honey, would breed loathing; but in God…

2. We must conceive of him as he is in Christ. Christ is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). As in the wax we see the print of the seal.

And this knowledge of God is through Christ. Christ is the glass in which the face of God is seen (Colossians 1:15). And then we know God aright, when we know him not only with a knowledge of speculation, but appropriation.

1. I begin with the first thing implied in this petition, Your Kingdom come: It is implied that we are in the kingdom of darkness; and we pray, that we may be brought out of the kingdom of darkness; the state of nature is a kingdom of darkness: It is a kingdom; sin is said to re…

Sanctification is still increasing, like the morning sun which grows brighter to the full meridian. Knowledge is said to increase (Colossians 1:10), and faith to increase (2 Corinthians 10:15); a Christian is continually adding a cubit to his spiritual stature. It is not with us…

He is [illegible], the Almighty (Revelation 1:8). He creates (Colossians 1:16). 2. Is God the Father infinitely immense, filling all places (Jeremiah 23:24), so is Jesus Christ.

2. The palace of this Kingdom is lucid and transparent; 'tis adorned with light, [illegible Greek text], The light is sweet. Hell is a dark dungeon, but the palace above is bespangled with light (Colossians 1:12). Such illustrious beams of glory shine from God as shed a brightne…

3. If God should pardon and not sanctify, then that should enter into heaven that defiles, but (Revelation 21:27): "Nothing shall enter that defiles." Then God should settle the inheritance upon men before they are fit for it, contrary to that (Colossians 1:12): "He has made us…

Is it the continuance in sin and the number and repetition of them that amazes you? 'All fullness dwells in him who is our righteousness' (Colossians 1:19) and has dwelt in him longer than sin has dwelt in you. And the righteousness of our Messiah is 'everlasting righteousness'…

There being even in the best something which does belong to his jurisdiction, which makes their spirits fit subjects for his temptations to take upon. In Ephesians 6:12, they are called 'the rulers of the darkness of this world'; and Colossians 1:12-13, their power is called 'th…

The second fruit of their faith is noted in these words; And believed them: where, by believing, we must understand not so much the act of faith, for that was noted before, as the growth and increase of their faith; for the word imports a confirmation of their hearts, and a reso…

1. It shows us the necessity of effectual calling; without it there is no going to Heaven: We must be made meet for the inheritance, Colossians 1:12. As God makes Heaven fit for us, so he makes us fit for Heaven; and what gives this idoneity and meetness, but effectual Calling?

Your] This word puts us in mind that there are two kingdoms: one God's, and that is the kingdom of heaven: the other the devil's, called the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:13). For when all had sinned in Adam, God laid this punishment on all, that seeing they could not be con…

1 Corinthians 13:12: We may see God as men do, through spectacles in his word, sacraments, and creatures. And therefore as Paul prayed for the Colossians (Colossians 1:10), that they might increase in the knowledge of God: so are we taught to pray for ourselves in this petition.…

3. Again, we are here taught to have a desire in our hearts, and an endeavor in our lives, in all things to perform obedience to God's word in our lives and conversations, and in our particular callings. 4. Lastly, we desire patience and strength, when it shall please God at any…

And again it is said, that God by his son made the world (Hebrews 1:2). As for the Holy Ghost, the work of creation is also ascribed to him: and therefore Moses says, The spirit moved upon the waters (Genesis 1:2): and Job says, His spirit has garnished the heavens ([reconstruct…

Question: Must we of necessity follow all the petitions in conceiving a prayer? Answer: No, but only those which do principally belong to the time, place, and occasion, as Paul makes a prayer (Colossians 1:9-10). And all the points of it may be referred to the third and last pet…

He who is truly righteous is far more excellent than any wicked person in the world whatsoever. I say [truly righteous] to exclude the hypocrite, who has a form, and slight tincture of piety, but knows not the grace of God in truth (Colossians 1:6). He has nothing of religion bu…

Now says the text, He has wrought us for this thing; and Romans 9:23, it is in terminis, the vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared to glory; which was by working holiness: for it follows, verse 24, even us whom he has called. Likewise, Colossians 1:12, who has made us m…

It should be our care not only to have Christ with us, but in us. Col. 1. 27. Christ in you the hope of glory. This will be a Cordial when we are dying; what though death be in our body, if Christ be in our heart?

We are not sufficient (says the Apostle, 2 Corinthians 3:5) of ourselves as of ourselves to think anything, not so much as a good thought. 2. The Scripture holds him out not only as unable for good, but perverse and bent to everything that is evil (Colossians 1:21), alienated an…

Or inward renovation contradistinguished to the external ministry, that can only hold out His will in a book, and speak it to the ear. Third, this may be cleared and confirmed from the nature of the work of grace, which is such a mighty work and so powerful, as it is impossible…

As namely that of (Isaiah 9:6): To us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, of whose Kingdom and Government there shall be…

The second is (Philippians 2:9), where having spoken of his humiliation, it follows, Therefore God has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and, etc. His exaltation is such as ha…

Though it is faith that makes our friendship, yet it is by holiness that it is entertained; and it is holiness whereby our communion is kept up with God. Therefore (Colossians 1:12), we are said by it, to be made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; fo…

In this giving and taking world, we are hence obliged to give the best and choicest thing we have for Christ. Should we make a table of Christ's acts of love, and free grace to us, and of our sins and acts of unthankfulness to him, this would be more evident; as there was (1.) b…

Of loving: it was a time of loathing; a time of love? When sinners were so base, so poor, wretched, so sinfully despicable, such enemies to God in their mind by wicked works (Colossians 1:21), dead in sins and trespasses, walking according to the course of this world ([reconstru…

(Titus 3:4) But when the bounty, and man-love, or rather, the man-kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us. Thanks to the birth of love, and of felt love (Colossians 1:12-13): giving thanks to the Father, [illegible], who has delivered, who has snatched us with haste and…

The taking away of the world's sins to us is the complete pardoning of them. Remission of sins in his blood (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14); blotting out of transgressions ([reconstructed: Isaiah 43:25]) as a thick cloud (Isaiah 44:23); a not remembering of sins (Isaiah 43:25;…

So that as the promise of forgiveness refers to his person, so also to this redemption that is in him. Thus both in Ephesians 1 and Colossians 1: 'In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.' His person gives us title to all the promises, and his…

It is a sign of a hypocrite, when with Simon Magus we think this gift may be bought with money. Reason 2: It is taken from the good pleasure of the Father, whom it has pleased that in Christ all fullness of life should dwell (Colossians 1:19). And when he which is our life shall…

Yea, and if I be offered upon the Sacrifice and Service of your Faith, I joy and rejoice with you all. Colossians 1:24. Who now rejoice in my Sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flesh, for his Body's sake, which is the Church.

Alas there is a lamentable appearance of mankind to God's sight, now nothing good to be found in them; a universal defection, both in piety and humanity. But then Christ undertook the reparation of mankind, and the design was pleasing to God, that he might not lose the glory of…

Hope, after the manner of the Scriptures, is taken two ways: for the thing that is hoped for, and for the affection of him that hopes. For the thing which is hoped for, it is taken in the first chapter to the Colossians: "For the hope's sake which is laid up for you in heaven" (…

This garment, that is to say, this corrupt and sinful nature we received from Adam: which Paul is wont to call the old man. This old man must be put off with all his works (Ephesians 4; Colossians 1), that of the children of Adam we may be made the children of God. This is not d…

The second is peace with the creatures; and it has five branches. The first is, peace with angels, for man is redeemed by Christ: and by means of this redemption, sinful man is reconciled to good Angels (Colossians 1:20). The second is, peace with the godly: who are all made of…

The second: we must take knowledge of the will of God in all things, whether it be revealed in the word, or by any event. It is not enough to know God's will, but when time and place serves, we must acknowledge it (Romans 12:2; Colossians 1:10). The third: we must bring ourselve…

The devil blinds the eyes of men that the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ may not shine to them (2 Corinthians 4:4). This must teach us, that we must not only hold and know the true religion for the time, but also build ourselves upon our faith (Jude verse 20), and be rooted…

Christ (whose example is without all exception, being exemplum indeficiens as the Schoolmen speak) did sweeten the bitterness of the cross with the consideration of the glory which a little after he was to enjoy, for so the Apostle says, that for the joy that was set before him,…

But seeing the kingdom of Hezekiah was but a little shadow of Christ his kingdom as we have touched before, these things therefore ought to be referred to Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We are also to note these titles which are used to set fo…