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…

The question is, how those sayings should be true, and in what sense they are meant: And for the clearing of the doubt, the way is not simply to reject the propositions, as impious, and untrue, and heretical, as some ignorant ⟨p. 142⟩and malicious persons do: but seeing they are the sacred words of Scripture, to consider what it is may be attained, and what Gods requires of us. To think with the Papists, or Anabaptists, that any mortal man can perform the obedience required in the moral Law, perfectly; so as never to commit sin against the Law, is a most blasphemous, detestable, and cursed opinion, for there is no man that sinneth not: the best of the Saints have had their thousands of sin. But those places are to be understood of the righteousness of the Christian, as he is considered to be under the covenant of grace, and the Gospel, not of Legal perfection, but of an Evangelical innocency and uprightness. Not as their works are in themselves, but comparatively, either with the works of wicked men, or as they are in their desire and endeavour, and as they are presented in the intercession of Christ, who covers th• imperfections that cleave to the works of the faithful. Sometimes the faithful are said to be perfect, that is, strong men in CHRIST; compared with the weak Christian, and Infant in grace: so that we see what a Christian in this life may attain unto; the rigour of the Law being taken away, in the covenant of grace, and the imperfections of his works, and frailty, being covered in Christs intercession.

The question is, how those sayings should bee true, and in what sence they are meant: And for the cleering of the doubt, the way is not simply to reiect the propositions, as impious, and vntrue, and hereticall, as some ignorant ⟨p. 142⟩and malicious persons doe: but seeing they are the sacred words of Scripture, to consider what it is may bee attained, and what Gods requires of vs. To thinke with the Papists, or Anabaptists, that any mortall man can performe the obedience required in the morall Law, perfectly; so as neuer to commit sinne against the Law, is a most blasphemous, detestable, and cursed opinion, for there is no man that sinneth not: the best of the Saints haue had their thousands of sinne. But those places are to bee vnderstood of the righteousnesse of the Christian, as hee is considered to bee vnder the couenant of grace, and the Gospell, not of Legall perfection, but of an Euangelicall innocency and vprightnesse. Not as their workes are in themselues, but comparatiuely, either with the workes of wicked men, or as they are in their desire and endeauour, and as they are presented in the intercession of Christ, who couers th imperfections that cleaue to the workes of the faithfull. Sometimes the faithfull are sayd to be perfect, that is, strong men in CHRIST; compared with the weake Christian, and Infant in grace: so that wee see what a Christian in this life may attaine vnto; the rigour of the Law being taken away, in the couenant of grace, and the imperfections of his workes, and frailty, being couered in Christs intecession.