bondage0." Prostrate before him lay the principalities and powers of hell. Yes, Satan, it was thy power that was then broken, thy shame that was then exposed, thy doom that was then irrevocably sealed. Thou art now an object of our con- tempt ; and the weakest amongst us will set his feet upon thy neck, and tremble at thee no morep. "Thou art fallen, O Lucifer, son of the morning;" "thou art fallen from heaven like lightning;" and lower still shalt thou fall; for we thy once infatuated vassals can triumph over thee now ; and thou shalt " ere long be bruised under our feetq."
Beloved brethren, " turn aside and see this great sight," — your triumphing Lord, and your despoiled enemies ! Nor cease to contemplate it, till you are filled with admiration, and gratitude, and joy.]
2. What folly is it to suffer ourselves to be di- verted from it !
[This is the particular improvement which the Apostle himself makes of the passage. He had guarded the Colos- sians against the sceptical pride of philosophers1 ; and he proceeds to guard them against the self-justifying pride of Judaizing teachers s. To the one of these the cross of Christ was a stumbling-block, and to the other foolishness ; but to those who viewed it aright, it was " the power of God and the wisdom of God*." Thus at this time we are particularly in danger of being led away from the simplicity of the Gospel, either by the conceits of philosophy, falsely so called, or by the observance of a formal round of duties. But let nothing draw your attention from the cross of Christ. It is by that only that you can be quickened : by that only you can be for- given : by that only you can obtain deliverance from the penal sanction of the law, or victory over the enemies of your salva- tion. When you can find another object, or other principles, that can effect these things, then we consent that you shall disregard the cross of Christ. But till then, determine to know nothing u, trust in nothingx, glory in nothing5", but Christ, and him crucified.]
0 Heb. ii. 14. and Ps. lxviii. 18. p Josh. x. 24.
<i Rom. xvi. 20. r ver. 8. s ver. 16.
* 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. u i Cor. ii. 2. * Phil. iii. 9.
y Gal. vi. 14.