A89915:1589
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.
3. If these words be compared with the Apostles exhortation in the 23. verse, of the former chapter, it will appear manifestly, that one reason why many are deceived, is there unsettledness, in the doctrine of faith and hope: if they had been established in their assurance of Gods favour in Christ, and the hope brought by the Gospel, they could not have been so deceived, and beguiled, or not so easily.
3. If these words be compared with the Apostles exhortation in the 23. verse, of the former chapter, it will appeare manifestly, that one reason why many are deceiued, is there vnsetlednes, in the doctrine of faith and hope: if they had been established in their assurance of Gods fauour in Christ, and the hope brought by the Gospell, they could not haue been so deceiued, and beguiled, or not so easily.
4. The way by which men are in points of religion deceived,1 is not by apparent falsehoods, but by probabilities of truth: the Apostle calls them paralogisms of pithanologie. Pithanalogie, which the Apostle condemns is a speech fitted of purpose, by the abuse of Rhetoric, to entice and by tickling the affections of men, to please and seduce; and herein properly lies the abuses of Logic or Rhetoric in matters of Divinity, when out of affection, & some subtle purpose to deceive, vain and false arguments are varnished and coloured over, and made probable to the minds of the simple▪ yea though the matter taught be sometimes truth, yet many minds are beguiled, from the power and profit of it, by placing their respects and affections, upon the wisdom of the words and the affected artificial frame: otherwise there is singular use both of Logic and Rhetoric, when they are applied to set out the wisdom of God in his word, upholding the hidden depths of the power of the word of God: the very preaching of the Gospel is exceeding effectual, when without affectation, men use their art, to express the native force and life of the words of the holy Ghost in scripture: but the chief thing in general, is for us hence to learn, that heresy and error, was never so unclothed, but it was presented to the world with great colours and probabilities; many simple people wonder that Papists or Brownists should be able to say so much for their idolatry or schism: but we must know, that any heretics that ever were, have brought great probabilities for there heresies as well as they. The devil were wonderful simple, if he should think, to bewitch men so far, as to believe with any confidence, things that had manifest appearance of falsehood, that cannot be. Thus in general.