Colossians 2

2. They pray to angels. Angel-worship is forbidden (Colossians 2:18-19), and that we may not pray to angels is clear from Romans 10:14: How shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed? We may not pray to any but whom we may believe in; but we may not believe in an an…

Christ is the great Luminary. In him are hidden all treasures of knowledge (Colossians 2:3). The middle lamp of the Sanctuary gave light to all the other lamps.

This being a grand article of our faith, I shall amplify: I know the Arians, Socinians, Ebionites would rob Christ of the best jewel of his crown, his Godhead; but the Apostolical, Nicene, Athanasian Creed affirm Christ's deity, to this the churches of Helvetia, Bohemia, Wittemb…

The saints are not only compared to stars for their light, but trees for their growth (Isaiah 61:3; Hosea 14:5). A good Christian is not like Hezekiah's sun that went backward, nor Joshua's sun that stood still, but is always advancing in holiness, and increasing with the increa…

If our obedience be not according to the Word, it is offering up strange fire; it is [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], Will-worship; and God will say, Who has required this at your hand? The Apostle condemns worshipping of angels, which had a show of humility (Colossians 2:18). The J…

3. A miraculous faith, which was granted to the apostles, to work miracles for the confirmation of the gospel: this Judas had, he cast out devils, yet was cast out to the devil. 4. A true justifying faith, which is called a faith of the operation of God (Colossians 2:12), and is…

Who has required this at your hand? (Isaiah 1:12). The Apostle condemns the worshipping of angels, which had a show of humility (Colossians 2:18). The Jews might say, they were loath to be so bold as to go to God in their own persons; they would be more humble, and prostrate the…

Is a gold mine so precious? how precious is he who founded this mine? What is Christ in whom are hid all treasures? (Colossians 2:3). We should ascend from the creature to the Creator.

The strings of a viol may be the same, but the tune is altered: before this regeneration, there are spiritual pangs, much heart-breaking for sin. Regeneration is called a circumcising of the heart (Colossians 2:11). In circumcising there was pain in the flesh: so in this spiritu…

He is a pillar in the temple of God. Colossians 2:7: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith. Unbelievers are skeptics in religion, they are unsettled; they question every truth.

3. He is coessential with God the Father. The Godhead subsists in Christ (Colossians 2:9). In whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

When a poor sinner looks upon himself, and sees his guilt, and when he looks upon God's justice and holiness, he falls down confounded, but here is that may be as cork to the net, to keep him from despair, if you will leave your sins and come to Christ, mercy can seal your pardo…

(Ephesians 4:18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13) Thirdly, that in this state all men continue in sin against God, nor of thems…

The way to come to the acknowledgement of these things, is that described by the Apostle (Ephesians 3:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19): "For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in Heaven and Earth is named, that he would grant you, a…

Qu. 12. What is principally to be attended to by us in the manner of the celebration of the worship of God, and observation of the institutions and ordinances of the Gospel? Answ. That we observe and do all whatever the Lord Christ has commanded us to observe, in the way that he…

And this as it is sufficiently manifested in the Scriptures quoted in answer to this question, so it is at large declared in the writings of those holy and good men, who have explained the nature of gospel ordinances, and therefore in particular we need not here insist much in t…

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ? for we being many are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread." And also he gives out to them t…

Answ. Professing believers, if not baptized in their infancy, and their infant seed. Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 39; Acts 16:33; 1 Corinthians 1:16; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Colossians 2:12, 13; with Genesis 17:10, 11, 12. Quest. 39. Where, and to whom, is the ordinance of the Lord's S…

For to that season were those ordinances to serve, and no longer (Hebrews 9:10, 11, 12). And then were they removed by the same authority whereby they were instituted and appointed (Colossians 2:14, 18, 19, 20). So that though God would never allow, that men, upon what pretense…

There is among the members of the Church one faith (Ephesians 4:5): the common faith, the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3), which is the sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:10), which those that will not endure, must be turned from (2 Timothy 4:3); the faithful word that is t…

And therefore they are all to be at his disposal, to confirm or remove, as he saw reason and occasion. And this he did virtually in the sacrifice of himself, or the blood of his Cross, fulfilling and finishing of them all (John 19:30), breaking down the middle wall of partition,…

Q. What need was there of such a Mediator? A. Very much need, because by the sin of man there was now grown enmity between them, God being offended with man, and man being enemy to God (Romans 5:9, 10; Colossians 2:21). Q. Is Christ the only Mediator? or are there not others tha…

They are here presented as they were preached, with little alteration or addition, in method, style, or matter: only to make up the treatise more complete, I entirely added, against the publishing thereof, that whole discourse about Satan's part and hand in these desertions, beg…

Fourth, fire is a devouring thing — a whole world would not satisfy it if it were left to burn on. And one day this whole world will be burned up by fire as punishment for enticing people. Just such are people's desires after pleasures — never satisfied. The more fuel is added,…

Such a faith as a practical syllogism can make, is not a faith wrought by the Lord's almighty power: for though a syllogism makes faith; yet such a faith is but a human faith; because the conclusion follows but from the strength of reasonings, or reason; not from the power of Go…

The consequence is denied. That power which can disannul the greater, must needs disannul the lesser; if the death of Christ put an end to the heavenly Father's Ceremonial worship, and in prayer and praise, at, or before the Ark, or in the Temple; then it will put an end to all…

The allusion in my judgment to the art of painting, wherein a shadow is first drawn, and afterwards a picture to the life, or the very image itself, has here no place, nor does our Apostle anywhere make use of such curious similitudes taken from things artificial, and known to v…

This was to be effected by a glorious conquest and victory, which is every where so described in the Scripture. See (Colossians 2:15). And because outward force and opposition is always used by the world in the defence of the interest of Satan, he will also sometimes apply the o…

4. God had designed the whole dispensation of the Law under that Priesthood to this very end, that it should give the People neither rest nor liberty, but press and urge them to be looking after their full relief in the Promised Seed (Galatians 4:1, 2; chapter 3:24). It pressed…

Whatever it be, it is called better, with respect to the Law, with all things that the Law contained or could effect, somewhat of more power and efficacy to perfect the Church-state. This neither was, nor could be any thing but Christ himself and his Priesthood: for in him we ar…

From henceforward the Old Covenant, and all its administrations, having received their full accomplishment, did abide only in the patience of God, to be taken down and removed out of the way in his own time and manner. For really and in themselves, their force and authority did…

That therefore wherein God dwells really and substantially, and on the account whereof he is our God in the Covenant of Grace, that and no other is the true Tabernacle. But this is in Christ alone; for in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). Thus th…

It is used in the New Testament only (Jude 7) [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], are set forth for an example, (speaking of Sodom and Gomorrah) or a particular instance of what would be God's dealing with provoking sinners at the last day. [in non-Latin alphabet] which is framed of [in…

The Church that then was, was put into some kind of subjection to Angels, as the Apostle plainly intimates (Hebrews 2:5). Hence the worshipping or adoration of Angels began among the People (Colossians 2:18), which some, with an addition to their folly and superstition, would in…

(1) Of all those which concerned meats, or things to be eaten or not eaten, as being clean or unclean; an account whereof is given, Leviticus 11 throughout. With reference thereunto does the Apostle reflect on the Levitical institutions, in those words, Touch not, Taste not, Han…

His flesh was the vail (Hebrews 10:20), and in his incarnation he is said to pitch his tabernacle among us (John 1:14). Herein dwelt the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9), that is, substantially; represented by all the pledges of God's presence in the tabernacle of…

2. This yet is certain and indubitable, which gives us our stable rule of the interpretation of their significancy, that God chose this way and these means to represent his glorious presence in and with the Lord Christ, to all the ends of his mediation. For with respect to them…

And in the same spirit he complains of his Corinthians, for their want of proficiency in spiritual things, so that he was forced in his dealing with them to dwell still on the rudiments of religion (1 Corinthians 3:1, 2). In all his epistles he is continually as it were pressing…

It is no where used but in this place, and Chap. 9:14. And he uses it in answer to what he elsewhere declares, concerning men being dead in sin by nature (Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13). That which he there ascribes to their persons, here he attributes to their works.

As, (1) Because they proceed from a principle of spiritual death, or are the works of them who have no vital principle of holiness in them (Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13). (2) Because they are useless and fruitless, as all dead things are.

It was [〈in non-Latin alphabet 〉], the manifold wisdom of God, or the infinite wisdom of God, exerting itself in such wonderful variety of holy, wise operations, as no mind of men nor angels can comprehend. On this account are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge said to be…

1 The subject treated of is [in non-Latin alphabet]; that is [in non-Latin alphabet] the Tabernacle; the common name for the whole fabric, as the Temple was afterwards of the House built by Solomon. An eminent type this was of the Incarnation of Christ, whereby the fulness of th…

The foundation of the new creation was laid gloriously in the Death and Resurrection of Christ, so as to be the matter of triumphant praises to God. Such is the triumph thereon described (Colossians 2:15; 1 Timothy 3:16). And it may be observed, that as on the laying of the foun…

By the improvement of sanctified reason, called by the Apostle, the Spirit of Wisdom (for so I understand it) Christians grow into a further measure of the knowledge of God, and of his Son Christ Jesus, whom to know, is life eternal (John 17:3). And so are by degrees further roo…

But is this all? No, it also, according to (Colossians 2:6), receives Christ the Lord. Now good works are by that Lord required.

The first Argument of the Synod for confirming this Proposition, is; because the children here spoken of are partakers of that which is the main ground of baptizing any children whatever, and neither the parents nor the children do put in any bar to hinder it. Of which the forme…

For thus Paul makes a special request, that he might know Christ, and the virtue of his resurrection (Philippians 3:10), that is, that he might feel in himself that power whereby Christ was raised from death to life, to raise him also from the bondage of his sins to a new life m…

The King's daughter is glorious within. Jesus Christ himself was outwardly mean, yet in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom (Colossians 2:3). A soul inspired by the Almighty, and beautified with grace, does exceed others more than the light of the sun does exceed the light o…

The way of error is manifold, but there is but one path that leads to Heaven. 6. They are in one mystical body, ministering supplies to one another (Colossians 2:19): not holding the head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit togeth…

Reason 3. Thirdly the Holy Ghost affirms (Ephesians 2; Colossians 2:13) that all men by nature are dead in sins and trespasses: not as the Papists say, weak, sick, or half dead. Hence I gather, that man lacks natural power not to will simply, but freely and frankly to will that…