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

Mortification, forbearing that is evil, Quickening, and doing good works,

Mortification, forbearing that is euill, Quickening, and doing good workes,

hath exhorted to divers duties which are good and necessary to be done of the godly, and dehorted from the evils to be eschewed: Now he cometh to a more general exhortation, whereby they might be furthered unto all those good duties before spoken, & all other holy duties, which cannot be particularly reckoned up. And whereby also they might be kept from all evil things which are forbidden.

hath exhorted to diuers duties which are good and necessary to be done of the godly, and dehorted from the euils to bee eschewed: Now hee commeth to a more generall exhortation, wherby they might be furthered vnto all those good duties before spoken, & all other holy duties, which cannot bee particularly reckoned vp. And whereby also they might bee kept from all euill things which are forbidden.

To the end you may refrain all the vices aforesaid,¹ and practise all the virtues afore-spoken, together with all other vices to be avoided, and virtues to be embraced, it is necessary that you be exhorted, that the word of God be as familiar unto you, as if now in one house it dwelt with you, that you have it also plentifully, and as it were treasured up against the day of need. Last of all, that you have it in all wisdom, making choice both of the things that are most important in it, and especially that which doth most concern your selves, and your own particular use, avoiding all curious questions, tending rather to strife, then to edification of God, which is by faith. And as you must have it for your own use, so also for the use of others, as well in teaching those that are ignorant, as in admonishing those that walk not according to their knowledge they have received.