John Trapp on Colossians 1

CHAP. I. Verſe 1. Paulan Apoſtle, &c.]

THis golden Epiſtle is an epitome, as it were, of that other to the Epheſians: like as that he writeth to the Galatians is an abſtract of that other to the Romans.

Verſe 2. Which are at Coloſſe] A City in Phrygia, ſwallowed up by an earth-quake not long after this Epiſtle was written. Gods judgements are ſometimes ſecret, but ever juſt.

Verſe 3. We give thanks—praying, &c.] Praier and thanks (ſaith one) are like the double motion of the lungs; the air that is ſucked in by praier is breathed out again by thanks.

Verſe 4. And of the love, &c.] Faith in Chriſt Jeſus maketh love to all the Saints. Therefore they go commonly coupled in Pauls Epiſtles. And therefore when the Diſciples heard how oft they muſt forgive an offending brother. Lord increaſe our faith, ſay they, Luk. 17.5. See the Note there.

Verſe 5. For the hope] It is hope (ſaith an Interpreter here) that plucks up the heart of a man to a conſtant deſire of union by faith with God, and of communion by love with man. But by hope, is here meant the object of hope.

Verſe 6. [non-Latin text not transcribed] Euſ[illegible: 2 letters]. hiſt. 1.2. c. 3. As it is in all the world] Euſebius ſaith, That the Goſpel ſpread at firſt thorow the world like a Sun-beam. The Reformation begun by Luther in Germany, wont on abroad Chriſtendom, as if it had been carried upon Angels wings. That of the Church of England is ſuch as former ages deſpaired of, the preſent admireth,Spec Europ. and the Future ſhall ſtand amazed at. It is that miracle (ſaith one) which we are in theſe times to look for.

Verſe 7. Who is for you a faithfull Miniſter] Epaphras was their City-preacher: whom therefore the Apoſtle here ſo highly commendeth. Luther is much blamed by his beſt friends for oppoſing and diſparaging Caroloſtadius among his own charge at Orlamund, anno 1524. Scultet. Annal. pag. 130. A faithfull Miniſter ſhould have all good reſpect afore his own people eſpecially.

Verſe 8. Who alſo declared unto us] His heart was over-joyed with his peoples forwardneſſe, and he could not but impart it to the Apoſtle. It was a pride in Montanus to over-ween his Pepuza and Tymium two pelting Pariſhes not far from Coloſſe, and to call them Jeruſalem, Euſeb[illegible: 2 letters] 5.[illegible: 1 letter] 17 as if they had been the only Churches in the world. But this was a commendable practice of Ep[illegible: 1 letter]phras to late to S. Paul the good he found in his people, that he by an epiſtle might further encourage and quicken them.

Verſe 9. In all wiſdome and ſpirituall] See the Note on Epheſ. 1.8.

Verſe 10. That ye might walk worthy] By walking before God, with God, after God, according to God, as it is phraſed in ſeverall Scriptures, all to one purpoſe. See the Note on Epheſ. 4.1.

Verſe 11. And long-ſuffering with joyfulneſſe] The joy of the Lord is the ſtrength of the ſoul, Nehem. 8.10. as true gold comforts and ſtrengthens the heart that Alchymy doth not. At the death of Francis Gamba a Lombard, that ſuffered Marty[illegible: 1 letter]dome, the Friers brought in their hands a croſſe for him to behold, to keep him from de poration at the feeling of the fire. But his minde he ſaid was ſo repleniſhed with joy and comfort in Chriſt,Act. and Mon. fol. 856. that he needed neither their croſſe nor them.

Verſe 12. Of the Saints in light] So that though caſt into a dark dungeon the Saints may clap th[illegible: 1 letter]ir hands upon their boſomes, as Oecolampadius upon his death-bed did, and ſay, Hic ſat luc is, here within is plenty of divine light.

Verſe 13. From the power of darkneſſe] Every naturall m[illegible: 1 letter]n is under the power of darkneſſe, nay of the devil, Act. 26.18. as the malefactour that goes bound and pinniond up the ladder, is under the power of the executioner. Imagine (ſaith one) a man driven out of the light by devils, where he ſhould ſee nothing but his tormentours, and that he were made to ſtand upon ſnar[illegible: 1 letter]s and g[illegible: 1 letter]ns with iron teeth ready to ſtrike up and grinde him to pieces, and that he had gall poured down to his belly, and an inſtrument raking in his bowels, and the pains of a travelling woman upon him, and a hideous noiſe of horrour in his ears, and a great Giant with a ſpear running upon his neck, and a ſlame burning upon him round about. Alas, alas, this is the eſtate of every one that is ou[illegible: 1 letter] of Chriſt, as theſe Places ſhew, whence theſe compariſons are taken, Job 18.7, 8. & 20.24 15 & 15.20, 21, 26, 30.

Verſe 14. Even the forgiveneſſe, &c.] See the Note on Mat. 1.21.

Verſe 15. Who is the image] The expreſſe image of his perſon, Heb. 1.2. Milk is not ſo like milk, as this Son is like the Father.

The first-born of every creature] As being begotten of the ſubſtance of the Father after a wonderfull manner before all beginnings.

Verſe 16. For by him were all things] This is an high praiſe to Chriſt, Rev. 4.11. See the Note on Joh. 1.3.

Verſe 17. By him all things conſiſt] They would ſoon fall aſunder had nor Chriſt undertaken to uphold the ſhattered condition thereof, by the word of his power.

Verſe 18. And he is the head] See the Note on Epheſians 1.22.

Verſe 19. In him ſhould all ful[illegible: 1 letter]eſſe] In a veſſel or treaſury an emptineſſe may follow a fulneſſe: not ſo here. See the Note on Joh. 1.14.

Verſe 20. To reconcile all things] That is, all the Saints, who are worth all, better then all, more worth then a world of wicked men, Heb. 11.38. The Jews have a ſaying, That thoſe ſeventy ſouls that went with Jacob into Egypt, were as much as all the ſeventy Nations in the world. What account God maketh of them in compariſon of of others. See Iſa. 43.3, 4.

Verſe 21. Enemies in your minde] Haters of God Rom. 1.30. and ſo, God ſlaiers, 1 Ioh. 3.15. Omne peccatum eſt Deicidium.

Verſe 22. To preſent you holy and unblameable] By his righteouſneſſe imputed and imparted: though moſt interpreters expound this text of ſanctification, and not of juſtification or future perfection.

Verſe 23. Grounded and ſetled] When faith bears fruit upward, it will take root downward, and make a man as a tree by the rivers ſide, and not as the chaffe in the fanne, Pſal. 1.3, 4. or as the boat without ballaſt.

Preached to every creature] That is, to every reaſonable creature, mar. 16.15. Though to many we preach to no more purpoſe then B[illegible: 1 letter]de did, when he preached to an heap of ſtones: theſe are unreaſonable creatures, 2 Theſſ. 3.2.

Verſe 24. [non-Latin text not transcribed] non [non-Latin text not transcribed] Viciſſim [illegible: 1 letter]ur, um impleo. And fill up that which is behinde] Chriſt ſuffered much for Paul: it is but meet therefore that Paul ſhould ſuffer ſomewhat for Chriſt. All our troubles are but the ſlivers and chips as it were, of his croſſe. When the Jews offered our Saviour gall and vineger, he taſted it, but would not drink. He left the reſt for his Church, and they muſt pledge him, not to expiate ſin, but for their triall and exerciſe.

For his bodies ſake] For the confirmation of mens mindes in the truth of the Goſpel.

Verſe 25. According to the dispenſation] What a horrid blaſphemy therefore is that of the Jeſu tes, who ſtick not to tell the people in their pulpits, That S. Paul was not ſecure of his preaching, but by conference with S. Peter, nor that he durſt publiſh his Epiſtles,Spec, [illegible: 1 letter]urop. till S. Peter had allowed them.

Verſe 26. But now is made manifest] God hath now opened his whole heart to his Saints. See the Note on Rom. 16.25. and on Mat. 4.16.

Verſe 27. The hope of glory] All the Saints are ſaid to worſhip in the altar,Revel 11.3. becauſe they place all their hope of life in Chriſts death alone.

Verſe 28. Whom we preach] Miniſters do not only preach of Chriſt, but preach Chriſt, that is, they give what they ſpeak of. As the Manna came down in the dew; ſe doth the ſpirit in the Miniſtery of the Goſpel.

Verſe 29. I alſo labour, ſtriving] Labour to laſſitude, ſtrive even to an agony. Good Miniſters are great pains-takers: and God that helped the Levites to bear the Ark, 1 Chron. 15.26. will help his ſervants by his ſpirit, working in them with power.