A89915:1003
An exposition upon the Epistle to the Colossians Wherein, not only the text is…An exposition vpon the Epistle to the Colossians Wherein, not onely the text is…
An exposition upon the Epistle to the Colossians Wherein, not only the text is methodically analysed, and the sense of the words, by the help of writers, both ancient and modern is explained: but also, by doctrine and use, the intent of the holy Ghost is in every place more fully unfolded and urged. ... Being, the substance of near seven years week-days sermons, of N. Byfield, late one of the preachers for the city of Chester.An exposition vpon the Epistle to the Colossians Wherein, not onely the text is methodically analysed, and the sence of the words, by the help of writers, both ancient and moderne is explayned: but also, by doctrine and vse, the intent of the holy Ghost is in euery place more fully vnfolded and vrged. ... Being, the substance of neare seuen yeeres weeke-dayes sermons, of N. Byfield, late one of the preachers for the citie of Chester.
London: printed by Edward for Nathaniel Butter, 1617
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Eternity of Christ may be thus defined: it is a pleasant, and at once, perfect possession of endless life.1 And hereby may the eternity of Christ appear, to differ from the eternity of all other things. The Heavens have an endlessness of Essence, but they want life. The Devils have an endless, not only being, but life; but it is not a pleasant life. The Saints in Heaven have a pleasant life till the day of Judgement, but they have not whole possession. The Angels in Heaven have a whole possession, but it is not at once, but successively, both in revelation and joy: I say, it is whole in them, because their whole Nature or Essence is possessed of pleasant and endless life. And lastly, Christs eternity differs from all eternity, of all the Creatures, because no creature hath the former things absolutely perfect; that is, such a possession of endless life, as unto which nothing is wanting, for they want many of the perfections that are in Christ, though they be perfect in their own kind.
The Eternity of Christ may be thus defined: it is a pleasant, and at once, perfect possession of endlesse life.1 And hereby may the eternitie of Christ appeare, to differ from the eternity of all other things. The Heauens haue an endlesnesse of Essence, but they want life. The Diuels haue an endlesse, not onely being, but life; but it is not a pleasant life. The Saints in Heauen haue a pleasant life till the day of Iudgement, but they haue not whole possession. The Angels in Heauen haue a whole possession, but it is not at once, but successiuely, both in reuelation and ioy: I say, it is whole in them, because their whole Nature or Essence is possessed of pleasant and endlesse life. And lastly, Christs eternitie differs from all eternitie, of all the Creatures, because no creature hath the former things absolutely perfect; that is, such a possession of endlesse life, as vnto which nothing is wanting, for they want many of the perfections that are in Christ, though they bee perfect in their owne kinde.
- 1The Eternity of Christ, described and explained.