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…

Body of sins] He saith not only that there are sins in the flesh, but a body of sins: that is, a huge mass or lump of sins, linked together as the members of our body are. The sins of the fleshly may be called a body in divers respects.

Bodie of sinnes] He saith not onely that there are sinnes in the flesh, but a body of sinnes: that is, a huge masse or lumpe of sinnes, linked together as the members of our bodie are. The sins of the fleshly may be called a body in diuers respects.

1. In respect of that harmony and union of sins one with another in practise, so as if one sin be practised, many will accompany it: as in Adams sin, the sin was to eat the forbidden fruit; but that would not be alone, but was attended with doubting of Gods word, with faith in the devil, with most inordinate pride or desire to be like God, with discontentment with their present condition, with vile ingratitude, with apostasy from all righteousness, with profanation of the sacrament, with wilful murder of all their posterity, and evil concupiscence. Cain was angry that God did not accept his profane sacrifice: but would this sin be alone? no, for there follows it the hatred of his brother, the falling of his countenance, the rejecting of Gods admonition, coloured hypocrisy, murder, and blasphemy. When desire of gain infects the hearts of Trades-men, we see by experience, it will not be alone, a number of transgressions grows with it, as love of the world more then God, neglect of sincerity in the use of Gods ordinances, swearing, breach of Sabbath, rigorous dealing with inferiors, unmercifulness to the poor, selling by false weights and measures, usury, if not otherwise yet in selling time, deceit, lying, oppression by engrossing of wares or encroaching upon the trades of others.

1. In respect of that harmonie and vnion of sinnes one with another in practise, so as if one sinne be practised, many will accompanie it: as in Adams sinne, the sinne was to eat the forbidden fruit; but that would not be alone, but was attended with doubting of Gods word, with faith in the deuill, with most inordinate pride or desire to be like God, with discontentment with their present condition, with vile ingratitude, with apostacie from all righteousnesse, with prophanation of the sacrament, with wilfull murther of all their posteritie, and euill concupiscence. Cain was angry that God did not accept his prophane sacrifice: but would this sinne be alone? no, for there followes it the hatred of his brother, the falling of his countenance, the reiecting of Gods admonition, coloured hypocrisie, murther, and blasphemie. When desire of gaine infects the hearts of Trades-men, we see by experience, it will not be alone, a number of transgressions growes with it, as loue of the world more then God, neglect of sinceritie in the vse of Gods ordinances, swearing, breach of Sabboth, rigorous dealing with inferiours, vnmercifulnes to the poore, selling by false weights and measures, vsurie, if not otherwise yet in selling time, deceit, lying, oppression by ingrossing of wares or incroaching vpon the trades of others.