A89915:460
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.
Obseruat. 3 Thirdly, Hope is no more natural then Faith and Love: the carnal man is without Hope in the world: 1not that wicked men are clean without all profession of Hope; for, few men are so vile but they profess and stoutly avouch their hope in God; but this Hope is vain, empty, without evidence or promise, such as can never profit them: and therefore in the eight of Job he saith,2 that the Hypocrites Hope shall perish, his confidence also shall be cut off, and his trust shall be as the house of a Spider. It is to be observed, that he calls wicked men (even all carnal and unconverted people) Hypocrites, 3and that fitly, for every Sinner is an Hypocrite in some degree; and if there were nothing else to prove it, their very Hope and wilful Confidence in the mercies of God, without all warrant from the Word, or testimony of Gods Spirit, or their own Conscience, would undoubtedly prove it: and for the vanity of their hope it is fitly expressed in the comparison of the Spiders web. The silly Spider with many days labour weaves her self a web, in appearance able every way abundantly to cover her, and fit her turn, but at the end of the week, the Maid with a Besom sweeps all down. This poysonfull Spider is every unregenerate man or woman, this web is their Hope, in the framing of which they daily busy themselves, and in the coverture of which they vainly repose themselves; but when any Servant comes out of the Lords army to sweep with the Besom of Judgement or Death, the whole building of these imaginary hopes come suddenly and ⟨p. 45⟩totally down. In the 11. of Job and the 20. verse it is said,4 The eyes of the wicked shall fail, and their refuge shall perish, and their hope shall be sorrow of mind: In which words the holy Ghost shows that the time shall come, when those vain hopes shall be driven out of the souls of the wicked, and in stead thereof they shall be filled either with desperate sorrows on earth, or with eternal sorrows in hell. What hope hath the hypocrite when he hath heaped up riches, if God take away his soul?