A89915:1850
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.
In whom] Circumcision without hands is only found in such as are actually in Christ, they only wound corruption of nature, and cast away beloved sins with sorrow, this is the difference between temporary faith and justifying faith. There are three sorts of hearers in the City, Some wholly profane, such as will mend nothing, nor like to hear of mending. Some openly sincere, professing constantly this circumcision without hands. A third sort, partaking of the properties of both the former: for they agree with the best in these things: 1. In the love of the ministry and Ministers that preach faithfully. 2. In the taste of the powers of the life to come, finding the word often of singular power, so as they receive it with joy and great admiration. 3. In the defence of the truth they seem as forward as any: these are near the kingdom of God, as the Scribe was; these are more then half persuaded, as Agrippa was; these are fired with desire many times to know what to do to be saved, as the young man in the Gospel was; but alas all this brings them within the compass of none of Gods promises: and if they look not to it, fearful apostasy will be the end of all this, and they may prove most spiteful adversaries of the same ministry they admired, and proud contemners of the same remorse, with which themselves were often smitten, and so their latter end be ten times worse then their beginning.
In whom] Circumcision without hands is onely found in such as are actually in Christ, they only wound corruption of nature, and cast away beloued sinnes with sorrow, this is the difference betweene temporarie faith and iustifying faith. There are three sorts of hearers in the Citie, Some wholly prophane, such as will mend nothing, nor like to heare of mending. Some openly sincere, professing constantly this circumcision without hands. A third sort, partaking of the properties of both the former: for they agree with the best in these things: 1. In the loue of the ministerie and Ministers that preach faithfully. 2. In the taste of the powers of the life to come, finding the word often of singular power, so as they receiue it with ioy and great admiration. 3. In the defence of the truth they seeme as forward as any: these are neere the kingdom of God, as the Scribe was; these are more then halfe perswaded, as Agrippa was; these are fired with desire many times to know what to doe to be saued, as the young man in the Gospell was; but alas all this brings them within the compasse of none of Gods promises: and if they looke not to it, fearefull apostacie will be the end of all this, and they may proue most spitefull aduersaries of the same ministerie they admired, and proud contemners of the same remorse, with which themselues were often smitten, and so their latter end be ten times worse then their beginning.