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…

1 Peter 5:2: the elders which are among you, I exhort, feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the oversight thereof. 1 Timothy 3:15; Colossians 4:17: and say to Archippus, take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it. They were th…

(2) John 20:21, 22, 23; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 21:14; Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5, 7. (3) Matthew 28:18, 19, 20; 2 Corinthians 11:28; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:2; Colossians 4:17. (4) 1 Corinthians 12:28, 29, 30.

(1) Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:2; 1 Corinthians 12:28. (2) 1 Timothy 3:5; Colossians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 10:4, 8. (3) 1 Timothy 4:11; Titus 2:15; 1 Peter 1:2, 3, 4, 5.

(2) Hebrews 13:17; 1 Corinthians 16:16. (3) Ephesians 6:18, 19; Colossians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Colossians 4:17. (4) Galatians 6:6; 1 Corinthians 9:14.

(2) Ephesians 4:8, 12, 13. (3) 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6, 7; Colossians 4:17; Matthew 25:14, 15, 16. (4) 1 Corinthians 12:7.

We must in the first place take heed to ourselves, if we intend to take heed to the flock as we ought (Acts 20:28). And herein especially do we, as we are charged, take heed to the ministry we have received that we do fulfill it (Colossians 4:17). 3. The persons exhorted to the…

Hence he styles himself in particular (Philemon 1) the bondman for Christ, and gloried in his bonds as his peculiar honor (Acts 26:29), an Ambassador in bonds (Ephesians 6:20). So (Philippians 1:7) and 12. 13, 14, 16; (Colossians 4:3) which he desired the Church to remember him…

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…

To God you must pray, that he would send forth not only laborers, but champions (Matthew 9:38), not only such as can handle the trowel, but the sword in the battels of the Church. To men, you are to quicken those that have gifts to look to their duty in this kind; Say to Archipp…

Religion does not only forbid to offend God, but men (1 Corinthians 10:32): Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to Gentiles, nor to the Church of God. It requires your special care and circumspection towards strangers or enemies (Colossians 4:5): Walk in wisdom towards t…

For if you respect the literal name, there were many others that were called Jesus, as well as He, at the hearing of whose names, the grossest idolatry is oftentimes committed, by capping, and bowing, before they know what Jesus is intended and spoken of. For the Apocrypha menti…

Neither do I see any reason why the Church which was in the house of Aquila and Priscilla (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19) should not be understood to be a congregation, as Erasmus reads it, that is, such a number of Christians as met together in their house. So we read of the…

Many that are of weak parts, very poor abilities to exercise themselves, yet their hearts being upon God in a duty, Oh! there's a fulness in that duty, there's more in that weak expression, in their sighs and groans than in all the eloquence of your empty hypocrites, they not be…

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and humbling, in singleness of your hearts, as to Christ. 6 Not with service to the eye, as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart (Colossians 4:20-…

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,…

Prayer and supplications are continually to be in his behalf, for assistance in the work committed to him. (Ephesians 6:18, 19) Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, for me, that utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the…

(Ephesians 6:18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints. (Colossians 4:12) Epaphras who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always labouring fervently for you in pra…

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…

He who waters the garden, waters every plant of the garden every moment (Isaiah 2:7), and when he waters not, there is a drying up. 6. Neglect of praying and fetching enlargement from the fountain may straiten, as appears from Paul's suiting of the prayers of the Lord's people,…

[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…

Tis too commonly seen that Amici temporis Fures; our friends are our thieves; they steal our time, because we don't use our time, when then they are with us. Tis observable, in Colossians 4:6, as soon as the Apostle had said, redeem the time, he adds, let your speech be always w…