Christ Set Forth

it is a manifest allusion unto the manner of Triumphs after victories among the Romans; even unto two of the most notable parts thereof; the first of spoiling the enemy, upon the place, ere they stirred out of the field: and this was done by Christ on the Cross, [Having spoiled them first] as ver. 14. hath it. He speaks it of the devils our enemies, and accusers; they had all Gods threatenings in his Law, and the Ceremonial Law (the Bond for our debt unto the Moral Law) to show for it; in these lay the power of the Devil over us, that he could boldly come to God and accuse us, and sue our bond; And therefore Heb. 2. 14. he is said to have the power of Death. Now Christ first took away all his power, and spoiled him of all his ensigns, weapons, and colours; which he did on the place where the battle was fought, namely, on the Cross; and nailed our bond thereto, and having paid the debt, left the bond cancelled, ere he stirred off the Cross. But then having thus spoiled these enemies on the Cross; he further makes a public triumphal show of them in his own person, which is a second Act; as the manner of the Roman Emperors was, in their great triumphs, to ride through the City in the greatest state, and have all the spoils carried before them, and the Kings and Nobles whom they had taken, they tied to their Chariots, and led them as Captives: And this did Christ at his ascension: (for of his triumphing at his Ascension, I take this Triumph in this Epistle to the Colos. to be understood; and so to be interpreted by that forecited 4. of the Ephesians:) ⟨p. 96⟩He plainly manifesting by this public open show of them at his Ascension, that he had spoiled, and fully subdued them on the Cross. That which hath diverted Interpreters from thinking this of 2. Col. to have been the triumph of his Ascension, hath been this, That the triumph is said to have been made [[Greek or Hebrew]] which they interpret [in it] as if it referred to the Cross, (mentioned ver. 14.) as the place of it; when as it may as well be translated [in himself] i. e. [in his own power and strength;] noting, how he alone did this, which other Conquerors do not; they conquer not in themselves, and by themselves, which Christ did.

it is a manifest allusion unto the manner of Triumphs after victories among the Romans; even unto two of the most notable parts thereof; the first of spoiling the enemie, upon the place, ere they stirred out of the field: and this was done by Christ on the Crosse, [Having spoiled them first] as ver. 14. hath it. He speakes it of the devills our enemies, and accusers; they had all Gods threatnings in his Law, and the Ceermoniall Law (the Bond for our debt unto the Morall Law) to shew for it; in these lay the power of the Devill over us, that he could boldly come to God and accuse us, and sue our bond; And therefore