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…

¹Thus of his nature: now of his works. The works of the old man are in general, works of darkness, of iniquity, of the flesh, vain, unfruitful, corrupt, abominable, deceivable, shameful, and tend to death. And now particularly, if we would know what he doth, and how he is employed, we must understand, that he gives laws to the members against the law of God and the mind; that he frames objections and lets against all holy duties; that he strives to bring the soul into bondage and captivity under imperious lusts; that he inflames the desires of the heart against the spirit: that he infects our vain generation, and works both sin and wrath for our posterity; but more especially, his works are either inward or outward: inwardly he works Atheism, impatience, contempt, carnal confidence, hypocrisy: he forges and frames continually, and multiplies evil thoughts: he works lusts of all sorts, he works anger, rage, malice, grief, evil suspicions, and the like. Outwardly, he works all sorts of disorders, impieties, unrighteousness, and intemperance. A catalogue of his outward works are set down, in the Epistle to the Galatians^b. He is here in the coherence, described to be covetous, filthy, wrathful, cursed, and lying: and all these are well called his works, because he rests not in evil dispositions, but will burst out into action: besides, it is his trade to sin, and they are well called his works, because they are properly a mans own, for till a man repent he hath nothing his own but his sin, and it is to be observed that his works indefinitely must be put away: as if the holy Ghost would imply, that all his works were nought: for his best works are infected with the viciousness of his person, or else they are not warranted in the word, or they are not finished, or the end was not good, or the manner not good, or they were wrought too late, or being out of Christ, they were not presented by Christ unto God, in whom only they can be accepted.

¹Thus of his nature: now of his workes. The workes of the old man are in generall, workes of darknesse, of iniquitie, of the flesh, vaine, vnfruitfull, corrupt, abhominable, deceiuable, shamefull, and tend to death. And now particularly, if we would know what he doth, and how he is imployed, wee must vnderstand, that he giues lawes to the members against the law of God and the minde; that hee frames obiections and lets against all holy duties; that he striues to bring the soule into bondage and captiuitie vnder imperious lusts; that he inflames the desires of the heart against the spirit: that he infects our vaine generation, and workes both sinne and wrath for our posteritie; but more especially, his workes are either inward or outward: inwardly he works Atheisme, impatience, contempt, carnall confidence, hypocrisie: he forges and frames continually, and multiplies euill thoughts: he workes lusts of all sorts, he workes anger, rage, malice, griefe, euill suspitions, and the like. Outwardly, he workes all sorts of disorders, impieties, vnrighteousnesse, and intemperance. A catalogue of his outward workes are set downe, in the Epistle to the Galathians