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

We have also heard of the wisdom of the Apostle, The end of all this teaching and admonishing is, to make men perfect, alluding to the sacrifices of the Priest in the law. For though the minister be no sacrificer,¹ as the wretched Papists do make of them, yet there is a resemblance in the Ministers to the law, that by the word of God the people are, as it were, killed and cut, to be a fit sacrifice unto God: and therefore all this care and wisdom is to be used, that they may be acceptable to God.

We haue also heard of the wisedome of the Apostle, The end of all this teaching and admonishing is, to make men perfect, alluding to the sacrifices of the Priest in the law. For though the minister be no sacrificer,¹ as the wretched Papists doe make of them, yet there is a resemblāce in the Ministers to the law, that by the word of God the people are, as it were, killed and cut, to be a fit sacrifice vnto God: and therefore all this care and wisedome is to be vsed, that they may be acceptable to God.

1. 1Note.

Doctrine Here the Ministers are to learn a good lesson, that they are not to content themselves with a beginning, that the people be entered only, nor the ⟨p. 102⟩people content themselves with beginning, that they think it enough that they are altered in judgement &c. but they must still labour to grow and increase to perfection, as we pray in the Lords prayer to do the will of God like the Angels, in all readiness and willingness. And we must grow: and not be dwarfs in Christianity, but still to grow for in Christianity¹ there is no old age, but in the oldest age is a growth till such time as all rebellion and imperfection be taken away in the kingdom of God.