A commentary of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle to the Colossians. And translated…A commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the Epistle to the Colossians. And translated…

2 Not which are upon earth. He doth not understand, as afterward he doth, vicious desires which reign in earthly men: neither yet riches, or Fields, or houses, or whatsoever things else belonging to this present life, which we must use as though we used them not: but he followeth as yet his disputation concerning ceremonies which he maketh like unto trifling lets, which constrain us to creep on the ground. Christ, saith he, calleth us up unto him: but those lead you downward. For it is a conclusion & an exposition of those matters which lately he touched ⟨p. 63⟩concerning the dying of ceremonies by the death of Christ. as if he should say, Therefore are ceremonies dead to you by the death of Christ, and you unto them, that being lifted up into heaven with Christ, ye should think only upon heavenly things. Therefore let go earthly things. I will not contend against other who think otherwise: but certainly me thinks the Apostle doeth so proceed steppe by steppe orderly, that first and foremost he setteth opposite traditions touching trifling matters, unto the meditation of an heavenly life: and after that proceedeth further, as we shall see.

2 Not which are vpon earth. Hee doth not vnderstande, as afterward he doth, vicious desires whiche raigne in earthlye men: neyther yet riches, or Fieldes, or houses, or whatsoeuer things else belonging to this present life, which we must vse as though we vsed them not: but he followeth as yet his disputatiō concerning ceremonies which he maketh like vnto trifling lets, which constrain vs to creepe on the ground. Christ, sayth he, calleth vs vp vnto him: but those leade you downeward. For it is a conclusiō & an expositiō of those maters which lately he touched ⟨p. 63⟩concerning the dying of ceremonies by the death of Christ. as if he should say, Therfore are ceremonies dead to you by the death of Christ, and you vnto them, that beinge lifted vp into heauen with Christ, ye should thinke onelye vpon heauenlye thinges. Therefore let goe earthlye thinges. I will not contend agaynst other who think otherwise: but certaynelye mee thinkes the Apostle doeth so proceede steppe by steppe orderly, that first and formost he setteth opposite traditions touching trifling matters, vnto the meditation of an heauenly life: and after that proceedeth further, as we shall see.