Matthew Poole and continuators on Colossians 2:12

12 Buried with him in baptism , wherein also ye are risen with him , through the faith of the operation of God , who hath raised him from the d[illegible: 1 letter]ad .

He shews that in Christ they who are found have not onely the thing signified, but right to the outward sign and seal, viz. baptism, in the room of Circumcision abolished: the death and burial of Christ is not onely the exemplar, but the cause of the death of the old man, signed and sealed in Baptism; or by Baptism into death, Rom. 6.3, 4. Analogically, or symbolically or sacramentally, when the Lord, together with the external sign, conferreth his grace signified by that sign; for even then the sins of such an one are buried with Christ so as they shall appear no more, either to his eternal condemnation, or in their former dominion, Rom. 6.6, 9, 14.

In or by which Baptism becoming effectual, having mortified the body of sin, like as Christ was raised from the dead, ye are quicken'd and rais'd to newness of life, Rom. 6.4. Gal. 3.27, 28, 29. Eph. 4.23, 24. & 5.14, 26, 27. & Chap. 3.10, 11. By virtue of Christ's Resurrection, a spiritual and mystical one is produc'd in you, which hath a resemblance and analogy to his.

Not of your selves but through faith, Eph. 2.8. and that wrought in you by the energy or efficacy of God, Ioh. 6.29. Phil. 1.29. & 2.13. Heb. 12.2.

Who did exert his power in raising up Christ from the dead, comp. Rom. 4.24. with Eph. 1.19, 20. This faith is not onely wrought by God, as the circumcision without hands, but it doth respect that wonderfull power of God put forth in the raising of Christ, as the subject, which he mentions by way of congruity, speaking of our resurrection, and of Christ's. And he specifieth faith rather than love or other graces which are wrought also by God, because in this grace, which is the constitutive part of the new creature, God [illegible: 1 letter]omes in with a greater irradiation upon the Soul, being it hath not one fragment or point of nature to stand upon; carnal reason and mere moral righteousness being opposite to it, whe[illegible: 1 letter]eas other graces are but as the rectifying of the passions, and setting them upon right objects.

Marginal references: Eph. 3.7▪