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

Objection. And they will object hereby that we have not the Gospel, for where (say they) is your fruits? In the time of the Popish religion there was more alms and not so much wickedness, as among the Protestants.

Obiection. And they will obiect hereby that we haue not the Gospell, for where (say they) is your fruits? In the time of the Popish religion there was more almes and not so much wickednesse, as among the Protestantes.

Solution. Answer. Would to God they could not too rightly object that to us But yet they cannot hereby prove our Gospel to be none, or not the true Gospel. For in the time of Popery, they lived in ignorance in palpable & Egiptiacall darkness, wherein small sins could not be seen to be sins. Great sins as blasphemy, infidelity &c. were no sins. For there was no liberty in reading of the word. Now the light of the Gospel discovereth sins that are committed under it, which in time of ignorance were not thought nor known to be sins. Again we wish it might be found more truly; That if the sin in time of the Gospel be punished under the Gospel, then the Gospel is quit and free from that accusation. Now by the Gospel, the Gospel appointeth the sins committed under it to be punished, and so much the more sharply, as because in the light they have been committed. And therefore those, that have the charge in the common wealth, and the Ministers are more earnestly to perform that duty more carefully for the credit of the Gospel. The Ministers ought to inveigh the more vehemently against sin and to reprove it out of the word of God, and the Magistrates to see it more severely punished. Thirdly our Gospel is proved indeed to be the Gospel, because that in the Gospel ⟨p. 30⟩sins more brake out then without the Gospel, which is strange. But the Apostle proveth it, for the¹ preaching of the Law, which goeth before the preaching of the Gospel, presseth (saith he) the wicked. And in the wicked it hath this effect, that it maketh them worse: for those that are truly called are but a few, and a little flock, and therefore the word must have an effect of condemnation in the greater sort. Fourthly, but the truth and fruit of the Gospel doth appear in those, that are truly called, for in them it bringeth forth holiness of life and good works. And therefore we be to them, that seeing any sins under the Gospel lay it upon the Gospel, whereas it is the corruption of men, which is the cause of offences and transgression and not the Gospel. And therefore it showeth their corruption, which pass by those good men, and instruments of Gods glory, the most religious and holy men, and will not behold the good things, that are in the Church.