shall most effectually secure it. May divine wisdom preserve us from all those vain deceits whereby our faith might be corrupted, or our conformity to the plan of Christian institutions be rendered, in any respect, less beautiful, pure, and complete. SECTION V. He further cautions them against all corrupt additions to Christianity; and exhorts them to raise their hearts more to Christ. Ch. ii. 20.—iii. 1-4. 20 I F therefore ye be dead with Christ, from the elements of the world, why, as if ye were living in the world, do ye meddle 21 with these appointments of seducing teachers [who say] "Touch 22 not, taste not, handle not :" all which things tend to corruption by the abuse of them, according to the commandments and 23 doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a pretence of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and in severity to the body, to iii. the dishonourable satisfying of the flesh. Since ye are risen with Christ, therefore, seek things that are above, where Christ is 2 sitting at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, S not those that are on earth: For by your profession ye are dead to the world, and your new and better life is hidden with Christ in 4 God. When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then you shall also appear with him in glory. REFLECTIONS. Let us charge it on our hearts, by all our great and solemn obligations to Jesus, our beloved Saviour and glorified Head, that we study the nature of true religion with greater care, and practise it with greater constancy. Let us not place it in a zeal for ceremonial observances, according to the doctrines and commandments of men. Let us ever remember that Christ alone is the lawgiver of his church, and let us solicitously guard against the abuses in religion which would be the consequence of introducing, and much more of imposing, human ordinances. Too sensibly has the church in all ages seen and felt the unhappy effects of such a temper. Its divisions, and its formality, may in a great measure be traced up to this source. Will-worship and a voluntary humility have proved its disgrace, and in some countries almost its ruin. Let us labour after sublimer views, and, considering ourselves as risen with Christ, let us seek the things that are above. Let us cultivate greater spirituality of mind, and endeavour to have our hearts there where our Lord is. Surely the reflection upon that relation in which we stand to him, in concurrence with that glory in which he is now enthroned, the kind designs he still bears to us, and the prospect we have of sitting down with him ere long in that kingdom, may well raise our thoughts thither, and bear us above all immoderate attachment to these low scenes of mortal life. Let us therefore study more and more the hidden life of the Christian and, considering Christ as our life, be often anticipating in our thoughts the great day of his appearance, and dwelling on the blessed hope of appearing with him in glory. But, O! how dark are our views of these things! How little do we feel of the sanctifying and elevating influence of this hope! Let us earnestly pray for a more abundant communication of divine grace, that, deriving more and more of this spiritual life from Christ, we may have more suitable and affectionate apprehensions of that angelic life to which his love has destined us, and to which such a temper tends directly to lead us. SECTION VI. Cautions against all unclaenness, malice, and falsehood, and exhortations to the opposite virtues. Ch. iïì. 5—17. 5 THEREFORE money, inordinate affection, evil concupi HEREFORE mortify your members that are on earth; for 6 scence, and an insatiable desire, which is idolatry: on account of which the wrath of God is coming on the children of disobedience. 7 In which things ye also once walked, when ye lived among them 8 and were yourselves heathens. But now, being converted to Christ, ye also put away all these enormities: rage, resentment, malice, 9 evil-speaking, lewd conversation out of your mouth. Neither lie 10 one to another; having put off the old man with his deeds, and having put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, according to the image of him that created him. Thus you are inIl troduced into a society where there is no distinction of men: there is neither Greek, nor Jew, nor circumcision, nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian*, slave, nor freeman; but Christ is all, and 12 in all. Put on therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and beloved, bowels of tender mercy, gentleness, lowliness of mind, meekness, 13 long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a quarred against another; even as Christ hath freely 14 forgiven you, so also do ye. And above all these things, put on 15 love which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God preside in your hearts, into which you also are called into one bo16 dy; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching, and admonishing one another with psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songst, singing with grace 17 in your heart to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, even the Father, through hin. REFLECTIONS. Let Christians solemnly charge upon themselves an abstinence from those vices which bring the wrath of God upon heathens; and, though *The Scythians were the most unpolished of all barbarous nations. Such poetical compositions as were written or uttered by the Spirit. See 1 Cor. xiv. 15, 26. As there was such a gift in the church, it would be absurd to suppose that they were confined to David's Psalms. it should be like wounding or cutting off [any of] our members, let us put on an holy resolution to mortify them; and, not content with refraining from all degrees of pollution, falsehood, and malignity of heart, let us be more solicitous to put on the new man, which is the creation of God in the soul, and which bears his amiable image. Whatever our nation or rank, our education or our circumstances in life may be, let this be our concern, that we may be in Christ, and Christ in us, for on that depends our everlasting all. Happy the most untaught savage, and the most oppressed slave, who is thus related to the incarnate wisdom of God, and the great Lord of all, infinitely beyond the politest Greek, the most ceremonious Jew, the freest subject, or the most despotic prince, who is a stranger to such a blessing! If we have any reason to hope that we are the elect of God, holy and beloved by him, let this charm us to entertain the most beneficent sentiments and views with regard to our fellow-creatures, and teach us to put on bowels of mercy, gentleness, humility, meekness, and long-suffering. Let the grace of Christ in freely forgiving us, teach us to rejoice in opportunities of imitating it. Do we desire to feel the peace of God presiding in us, let us exercise charity, the bond of perfectness, and let us study to be more and more thankful, in whatever sta tions we are placed; observing attentively its advantageous circumstances, reflecting especially how much worse things might have been, and how unworthy we ourselves are of any distinction which God may be pleased to make in our favour. We have especially great reason most thankfully to acknowledge the divine goodness, in providing us with so many religious advantages, and particularly with those that relate to the most decent and edifying performance of the duty of psalmody. To furnish us for a right discharge of it, let us carefully treasure up the word of Christ in our minds, and let us be ever more solicitous to preserve the melody of the heart than that of the voice. In this, and in every other service, let all be done in the name of Christ, and then we may humbly hope that all shall be accepted through him. And, if that prevailing name do not recommend us to acceptance, the divine purity will find something in every one of them which will justify God, not only in rejecting them, but in condemning us. SECTION VII. Exhortations to relative duties, prayer, and watchfulness. 18 19 WIVES -iv. 1-6. Ch. iii. 18. TIVES, be subject to your own husbands, as it is becoming in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bit20 ter against them. Children, be obedient to your own parents in 21 all things; for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not 22 provoke your children to wrath, lest they be discouraged. Ser vants, be subject in all things to them that are, with respect to the flesh, your masters; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in 23 simplicity of heart, fearing God: and whatsoever work ye are employed in, pursue it heartily to the Lord, and not to men; 24 knowing that you shall receive from the Lord, the recompence of 25 an inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ. And he that is injurious to any, shall receive according to the injury that he hath iv. done; and there is no respect of persons*. Masters, render unto your servants justice and equity, knowing that ye also have a master in the heavens. 2 Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving; at the 3 same time also praying for us, that God may open to us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also I am in 4 bonds; that I may make it manifest, [by speaking plainly and bold5 ly] as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom towards them that are 6 without; redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with saltf, that you may know how to answer every one who may question you about your religion. REFLECTIONS. How happy will particular persons, families, and larger societies be, if these apostolic maxims be carefully pursued! While wives are submissive to their husbands, and husbands affectionate to their wives; children obedient to their parents, and parents tenderly careful of their children; servants revering the commands of their masters, and conscientiously and constantly attending to their interests; and masters concerned to maintain all equity in their behaviour to those of their servants who are most entirely in their power; remembering on all sides the account to be given to the supreme Master_in heaven, and humbly looking for the reward of the inheritance.-To engage a steady and uniform care in all these various duties, and to make us truly good in every relation of life, let us be daily drawing down grace from God, by continuing instant in prayer; and, as our spirits are so ready to grow cold and indifferent in it, let us watch thereunto, lest by insensible degrees we grow remiss in the performance, and from that remissness come entirely or frequently to neglect it. Let every mercy we receive from God awaken our thankfulness, and animate our devotion; and let us not forget in our prayers the ministers of Christ; but ask for them those assistances from on high which may enable them to open their mouth boldly, in declaring that mysterious and important doctrine with which they are charged, and on which the salvation of immortal souls depends. To enforce their labours as much as possible, let us add the influence of a regular and amiable behaviour, conducting ourselves with wisdom towards all, and particularly those who are strangers to religion; and redeeming time, as those that know its infinite importance, because they see eternity connected with it. And, that we may not, as is so frequent, lose the time we spend in conversation, let us seek *With God; nor shall a Christian servant be excused, though his master be a heathen. † Ordered in a graceful and courteous manner that it may appear influensed by divine grace-rendered savoury by heavenly wisdom. Dd VOL. II. more of the salt of divine grace in our hearts, to correct their innate corruption, and learn the happy art of improving discourse well, and of answering others in such a manner, that, without dictating to them, we may gently lead them to the most useful reflections, and make our lips, like those of the righteous, a fountain of life unto them. SECTION VIII. The apostle recommends to them Tychicus and Onesimus, and concludes with various salutations. Ch. iv. 7, &c. 7 a HE things which relate to myself, Tychicus a beloved brother, and a faithful deacon, and fellow-servant in the Lord, 8 will make known to you: whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that he may know your affairs, and may comfort your 9 hearts with Onesimus a faithful and beloved brother, who is one 10 of you. They will inform you of the state of things here. Aris tarchus, my fellow-captive, saluteth you; and Mark, sister's son to Barnabas (concerning whom ye have received instructions: if 11 he cometh to you, receive him) and Jesus, who is called Justus. These are the only persons, who being of the circumcision, have been fellow-labourers with me in the kingdom of God, who have 12 been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of your society, a servant of Christ, saluteth you; always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in the whole will 13 of God. For I bear witness to him that he hath great zeal for you, and for those Christians in the neighbouring cities of Laodicea 14 and Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician salutes you, and 15 Demas who is yet with me. Salute in my name the brethren in La16 odicea; and Nymphas, and the church that is in his house. And when this epistle is read* to you, cause it also to be read to the church of the Laodiceans: and [I desire] that ye also read pub17 licly that [which I have ordered to be sentt] from Laodicea. And say to Archippus in my name, Take heed to the ministry which 18 thou hast received in the Lord, that thou diligently fulfil it.-The salutation of o Paul with mine own hand. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. REFLECTIONS. The friendly disposition of St. Paul fails not to shew itself in the close as well as entrance of every epistle, and indeed runs through all the parts of each. It cannot but give some pleasure to the pious reader, to whom the memory of such a servant of Christ will always be precious, to find that there were some even of the circumcision that were comforts to him in his affliction; as well as that John Mark, the nephew of Barnabas, who was so thoroughly reconciled, and made one of "HATH BEEN read to you." M. and W. †This interpretation of Dr. M. seems easily to settle the meaning of this passage, on which the author has a very long note. |