A89915:962
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.
For the first: God hath Sons by Nature and by Grace; Christ is borne as Man,1 and begotten as God. Things are begotten three ways: 1. Metaphorically, only by comparison, or in some respects: 2. Corporally: 3. Spiritually: some things do beget without themselves, as bodies do; but this is more ignobly and basely; some things beget within themselves, as doth the Spirit or soul, more perfectly. But the most perfect and unutterable glorious generation, is the begetting of the Son of God, by God. The way of God in eternity, who can find out? and his generation who can tell? His ways are not as our ways; yet a glimpse of this great work, we may reach to two ways: 1 By way of Negation, as they say in Schools. 2 By way of Comparison.
For the first: God hath Sonnes by Nature and by Grace; Christ is borne as Man,1 and begotten as God. Things are begotten three waies: 1. Metaphorically, onely by comparison, or in some respects: 2. Corporally: 3. Spiritually: some things doe beget without themselues, as bodies doe; but this is more ignobly and basely; some things beget within themselues, as doth the Spirit or soule, more perfectly. But the most perfect and vnutterable glorious generation, is the begetting of the Son of God, by God. The way of God in eternity, who can finde out? and his generation who can tell? His waies are not as our waies; yet a glimpse of this great work, we may reach to two waies: 1 By way of Negation, as they say in Schooles. 2 By way of Comparison.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
First, by denying that unto God, which hath imperfection in it. In the generation of the Creatures we may see something into the generation of the Son of God. There are eight things in the generation of the Creatures, which are not in this begetting of the natural Son of God. 1. The Creatures beget in time, because themselves are first begotten: but this is not in God, Christ is of the Father, but not after the Father: there is here a priority in order, but not in time. 2. The Creatures beget by affection (this is imperfection) but God begetteth by Nature. 3. The Creature begets without himself, so as Sons are divers, and divided from the Father, because they are finite: