Colossians 4

So says God, If the soul of your child miscarry by your negligence, his blood will I require at your hand: Think of this all you parents, take heed of placing your children in Egypt in a wicked family: Do not put them in the devil's mouth; find out a sober religious family, such…

God's glory is dear to a saint as his own salvation, and that this glory may be promoted he endeavors the conversion of souls, every convert is a member added to Christ: let us thus hallow God's name by laboring to advance piety in others; especially, let us endeavor that those…

Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, the church in their house: and, the churches of Asia. Colossians 4:15, Salute Nymphas and the church in his house. Acts 11:22, the church of Jerusalem.

In the Hebrew, they are grace. His words are not as vinegar to fret, but as salt to season others (Colossians 4:6). The roof of the mouth is called Coelum, heaven; a godly man's mouth is full of heaven; he speaks as if he had been already in heaven: The holy conference of the tw…

But the Gospel teaches us a real and personal mortification, and that we are to be holy as he is holy, perfect as he is perfect; that is, a new-covenant command (Genesis 17:1). That we should walk before him and be perfect, that we should walk after the Lord (Deuteronomy 13:4),…

The body while it is alive is sweet and savory, but as soon as ever it begins to smell, it must be buried — it cannot be kept above ground. Every living Christian is a sweet savor to God ([reconstructed: 2 Corinthians 2:13], and Colossians 4:4-6). Let your speech be savory, seas…

And here the popish sort come to be taxed, who exempt their clergy men (as they call them) from all reproofs, and ecclesiastical proceedings, in thrusting them into some monastery or other, lest their exemplary punishment should be a blemish or disparagement, to their order and…

This word may be taken in a different sense from what it had in the former verse, as meaning that seasoning of good odor, which is obtained by faith, or rather the wisdom of the Spirit. When Paul enjoins, "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt," (Colossians 4:…

But if we consider the purpose for which our tongues were made, we will acknowledge, that those men are justly held guilty who unthinkingly devote them to trifling fooleries, and prostitute them to such a purpose. It is no light fault to abuse, for frivolous purposes, the time,…

1. That her speech is profitable for its matter, as a scarlet thread is precious and useful: the subject of a believer's discourse is not common, but good to the use of edifying (Ephesians 4:29). 2. It's pleasant and delightsome for its manner, like a sweet, comely and pleasant…

Another general wherein his duty consists, is provision; and that both for their temporal and spiritual good; for the welfare both of their bodies and their souls. First; as for their temporal provision, he is bound to supply them with things necessary for them according to the…

There is a sweet harmony and exact symmetry in a saint's performance of duty. Some can frame to some easier duties, not to more difficult, but the treasured soul can frame to anything which God in the word has made his duty, and hence it is that he is complete in all the will of…

"And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark." He was Barnabas's sister's son, and seems sometimes to have been a companion of the Apostle Paul: Colossians 4:10. "Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner, saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas; touc…

This made them greater than all the nations round about them (Deuteronomy 4:7-8). (2) By losing the ordinances, they lose their quickenings, comforts, and soul-refreshments; for all these are sweet streams from the Gospel fountain (Psalm 119:50; Colossians 4:8). No wonder then t…

O how welcome is a shower to the thirsty ground! Hence the little hills are said to rejoice on every side, indeed to shout for joy, and sing when a shower comes (Psalm 65:12-13); but never was shower of rain so sweetly refreshing to the thirsty earth, as Gospel-showers are to gr…

[4.] Consider what a preparative it is for something further. It is a very desirable thing to stand complete in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12), to be fitted and furnished for every good work, to be made ready, a people prepared for the Lord. A living principle of grace is…

Rash and indiscreet zeal may give occasion to those who seek occasion to speak against all religious zeal. Therefore walk in wisdom towards them that are without (Colossians 4:5). Religion is a most sweet and pleasant and amiable thing: let not us by our indiscretion make it a t…

No fruit in the world so apt to corrupt and taint, as the fruits of the Lips. When it is so, the Scripture calls it [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], corrupt [•]r rotten communication, Ephesians 4:29. To prevent this, the Spirit of God prescribes an excellent way to season our words,…

They all imply a common equity between masters and servants, but no equality: mutual duties, but diverse and distinct duties, appertaining to their several places. Compare with this text, that which the Apostle himself has more plainly and fully noted (Colossians 4:1) and we sha…

The well managing of their authority is generally noted in this phrase, do the same things: but more particularly in another place referred to these two branches 1. Justice. 2. Equity (Colossians 4:1). Of these in order.

1. From God's precept: That precept which requires prayer, requires secret and closet-prayer: For God's command to pray, first falls upon single persons, before it falls upon families and churches, which are made up of single persons; therefore where God has bidden you to pray,…

Now because we are so full of self-love, therefore are we so backward to this duty. 2. A second cause is, our stupid negligence; we do not gather up matter of thanksgiving, and observe God's gracious dealing with us, that we may have with what to enlarge ourselves in giving glor…

[reconstructed: Take my Yoke upon you.] 2. When you give up yourselves to God, it must be without bounds and reservations: That you may stand perfect and complete in the will of God (Colossians 4:12). That was his prayer for them.

4. The Fear of God is Wisdom as it makes us walk wisely. Colossians 4:5. Walk wisely,, towards them that are without. 1. The Fear of God makes us walk affably.

Have you Tasted the Hony of the word? let others have a Tast with you. He who has bin in a Perfumers shop does not only himself partake of those sweet smells, but some of the perfume sticks to his cloaths, so that those who come near him partake of those perfumes: so having our…

Use 2. To press us to holy conference, both occasional and set. 1. Occasional: We are not left at random in our ordinary discourse to speak as we will; but at all times, and with all persons we should have an eye to the good of those with whom we speak (Colossians 4:6): Let your…

1. If you observe not his answer, God loses a great deal of honor and praise; for it is said, (Psalm 50:15) Call upon me in time of trouble, and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. Every answer of prayer makes for the glory of God: and (Colossians 4:2) Continue in pray…

The Apostle goes to God for that: Grant to your servants, that with all boldness they may speak your word. And so (Colossians 4:3) he begs prayers to God to open a door of utterance for them. There is a door shut until God opens it.

Use 1. Let then every person be dealing with God about this case, every single private person for himself, and for public persons, the prayers of others are necessary. It is a common case wherein all are concerned (Colossians 4:3): Praying for us that God would open to us a door…

Do not come only in a complaining way. (Colossians 4:2) Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. They are not holy requests unless we acknowledge what he has done for us, as well as desire him to do more.

We should not be always craving, always complaining, there should be a mixture of thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:6) "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" — together with the expression of our wants and desires, there must be thanksgiving for favors already r…

But now in soul-concernments we are not the like affected. It is for want of observation to discern the progress of grace, and God's dealings with the inward man (Colossians 4:2): "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving." And it is for want of affection; we…

For the negative; let no corrupt, or filthy, and rotten, unsavory communication (no kind of it, no degree of it) proceed out of your mouth; but (affirmatively) that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers (Ephesians 4:29). So again (Ephesi…

And if in any case, I take it, mercy is herein to be discerned, ought to be practiced and expressed. As the elect of God put on bowels of mercy (Colossians 4:11). If you be the elect of God show it in this, if ever you have received mercy express it, if ever God has shown favor…

Suffer me here to stay a while, and urge the collection with an argument or two, and yet go no further than the words, nor take other reasons than the text will afford, for it issues amain and with a full source from all particulars mentioned before, the foregoing truths meeting…

But let us who are of the day be sober: God's children must not do as others, they must be sober. 1. In their speeches; not rash, not unseemly (Colossians 4:6). Let your speech be seasoned with salt: grace must be the salt which seasons our words, and makes them savory; our word…

See Matthew 5:48. Colossians 4:12. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

5. He is godly who is good, as a Master; a godly man promotes religion in his family; he sets up piety in his house, as well as in his heart, Psalm 101. 2. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart, Joshua 24. 15. I, and my household will serve the Lord. I find it written…

We are the servants of the God of Heaven. Colossians 4:12. Epaphras a servant of Christ. Question. In what sense is a godly man a servant of God?

Pray always with all manner of prayers and supplication, watching to it with all perseverance: watch with all constancy and assiduity, shaking off all drowsiness of flesh and spirit; he calls not so much (though that may be part of his meaning) for constancy in prayer as for wat…

Go, show these things to James, as a sign he was not there; thus they met in sundry families. But this is not all, but besides this, it is said, they met every family apart, last verse; so that they did not only meet when many families could get together, but every family had a…

Ephesians 6:19. Colossians 4:3. And hereof there are two parts, or there are two Duties to be discharged by virtue of it.