An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…

To the same purpose the Apostle discourses in Coloss. 9.10.¹ For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete ([Greek or Hebrew], filled) in him, who is the head of all Principalities and Powers: The expression is allusive and Metaphorical: For God who is a Spirit, cannot in a proper sense dwell bodily in any thing: The Apostle's design in this Chapter is to persuade the Colossians to ⟨p. 263⟩adhere to the Gospel, not to be seduced by Jews or Gnostics, (who talked very much in their canting phrase of the Pleromata) to corrupt the Religion of Christ with Jewish Ceremonies, or Pagan Superstitions; and the principal argument he urges to this purpose is the perfection of the Gospel-revelation, that in Christ (that is the Gospel) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; Verse 3. [Greek or Hebrew], that is, not in whom are hid, but in whom are all the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge, that is, who hath now revealed to us all those treasures, which in former ages were hidden from the world; upon this he exhorts them to be firm to the Gospel, Vers. 6.7. To beware lest any man spoil them through Philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions, of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ; and then adds, For in him (that is, in Christ) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily: So this must refer to the complete and perfect revelation of the Gospel, which needs not be supplied by the Philosophy or Traditions of men. To understand the reason of this phrase, and the force of Argument, we must consider, that this is an allusion to Gods dwelling in the Temple ⟨p. 264⟩at Jerusalem by Types and Figures, which were the Symbols of his presence: The Temple was Gods house, the Mercy-Seat and Cherubims, &c. were the emblems of Gods presence; he dwelt among them by Types and Figures, and therefore instituted a typical and figurative Religion, and this was an imperfect declaration of himself to the world: But now God hath sent his son to tabernacle among us. Joh. 1.14. The Deity it self dwells in the Temple of Christ's Body, not by Types and Figures, but by a real and immediate Presence and Union;