A commentary upon the epistle of Saint Paul written to the Colossians. PreachedA commentary vpon the epistle of Saint Paule written to the Colossians. Preached

Doctrine Seeing that it is an inheritance, it showeth that it is by grace, and not by any merit. For even as the father giveth the child his land, and inheritance, not for any desert, but for his love to him, though he never deserved, nor never will deserve so much at his hands, and if it should be of desert, it might be that the servant should carry it away from the child, which may peradventure before have gotten for his Master the best part of the inheritance, or which may have saved his Masters life, and therefore the child hath not the inheritance of desert. And seeing it is no stipend, but an inheritance, which we have of God, we do not deserve it.

Doctrine Seing that it is an inheritance, it sheweth that it is by grace, and not by any merit. For euen as the father giueth the child his land, and inheritance, not for any desert, but for his loue to him, though hee neuer deserued, nor neuer will deserue so much at his handes, and if it should be of desert, it might be that the seruant should cary it away from the child, which may peraduenture before haue gotten for his Maister the best part of the inheritance, or which may haue saued his Maisters life, and therefore the child hath not the inheritance of desert. And seing it is no stepand, but an inheritance, which we haue of God, we do not deserue it.

Doctrine Again, here we learn that sith our inheritance cometh to us by lot, wherein God only sitteth, judgeth and directeth, it is not by any labour of ours, but only by the grace and favour of God alone. Sith then it is so, let us see what our duty is, for as the Prophet saith, the Lord is my lot, my portion, it is a¹ fair and beautiful inheritance, and hath fallen unto him in an excellent ground. And seeing our inheritance is the same with Davids, and as excellent as his was; and yet it is more notably set forth 1. Peter 2.²