þ See on Phil. 1. 2. He doth here take in Timothy and others, in acknowledging, of God's Grace to them which might expreſs his great good will tothem. 7 Deſcribing God to whom they render thanks both abſolutely and relatively as the Father of Jeſus Chriſt according to both natures. See on 2 Cor. 1. 3. With Eph, I. 3» k Always when they did addreſs themſelves to God by Prayer making mention of them, as he alſo wrote to the Philippians. See ON ch. Is 33 4»
4. Since we heard of your faith in Chriſt Jeſus, and of the love which ye have to all the ſaints m.
| He inftanceth in principal graces, as the matter of his thank(- 2iving, beginning, with Faith deſcribed and differenced from the fnecial object of it, Chriſt Jeſus, implying not a bare knowledge or a'{-nt, but a truft in him alone for Salvation, ſo Rom. 1. 5. under-
|
,
them as he heard it was in the Fpheſians and Philemon, *twas a (0: gent motive to engage them in ſolemn thankfulneſs to God, See on Eph. 1. 15. compared with Philem. v. 5, m He joins love 0r Charity to all the Saints, with Faith to our Saviour, becauſe they are in effett inſeparable, there being no real embracing of Chriſt without loving of him and all his Members for his ſake, Gz!. 5.6. 2 Tim. 1. 13. not as if Believers were not to ſhew love or charity to others who are of the ſame nature and ſo bear the Image of God, for this Chrift requires of them, Mar. 5. 44, 45. but by how much the nearer any are brought to God by SanRification, by ſo much the more a ſpecial love is to be ſhewed to them, as Fellow- citizens of the houſhold of God, and the houſhold of Faith, Ren, 15. 26, With Gal. 6. 10. Eph. 2. 19.
5- For the hope which 1s laid up for you in heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the goſpel o. =
2 Hope here in this deſcription of it ſeems chiefly by a Mie- tonymie to be put for the glorious eternal Salvation hopcd for, Rom. $8. 24. Eph. 1. 13. which may alſo include that lively zrace whereby we lay hold of eternal Life contained in the Pro- miſe, Tit. 1. 22 This indeed is ſet before Believers her: to et courage them to fly unto Chrift for refuge, Heb. 6. 18. and re- ſerved in the Heavens for them, 1 Pet. 1. 4. Which may well quicken in Chriſtian love to all the Members of Chrift in every condition: vet not with a mercenary affe&tion, 2 Cor. 5. 14. as if any by Offices of Chriſtian love to Brethren could merit what is laid up for thoſe who exerciſe Faith, Love and Hope, but that God 0 his meer grace and undeſerved love is pleaſed to reward {uch 33 diligently ſeek him , and thereby gives an exa& evidence of hs admirable liberality, Heb. 11. 6. which will abundantly weig! down thoſe light affliftions they ſuſtain here, 2 Cor. 4. 17. 0 Here- upon he puts them in mind of the means whereby they attained to this good Hope when they firft embraced the Goſp2l, i7. by hearing, Rom. 10. 14. the Word of Truth eminently, 2 Cr. 6.7 Eph. 1. 13. not only becauſe it is the Word of Jeſus Chriſt, v9 is the Truth and the Life, Foh. 14. 6. but becauſe thz- Goſp? (which is here put appoſitively) is the moſt excellent of all Tru ſurpaſſing all in Philoſophy and the Law, Foh. 1. 17.
6 Which is come unto you, as zt zs in all the world}, and * bringeth forth fruirq, as zt derh alſo in yoUs\ ſince the day ye heard of it r, and knew the grace 0. God in truth /.
p And paſſing the narrow bounds of F4./24, unto all or moſt ©: the regions of the World, v. 23. Mat. 24. 14. Atis 2+. 5+ Rome 1-0 & 10. 18, So admirable was the progreſs of it Eaſt, Welt, North and South, well nizh over the World as it was then known to the Greeks and Romans, whereupon the Apoſtle might We: write, Chrift was believed on in the World, 1 Tim. 3. 1%. 7”. Chrift had ſaid he was the light of the World and by a hgure 6 part for the whole, would upon his death draw all Men to 1! Foh. 12. 22, 46. yet let not th? Rhemitts or any other Roman
o £ A . q Fd La © + oY 112! ; think that the promulgation of the Myſteries of the Golp.1 0
rgnding Lis Saving grace with the conſequent was wrought in Ages when by Tyranay they impoſe for Doctrins the 1 rag nun
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om. 12, f
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Worſh
Chap. I.
fians did. q Viz. becoming the Golpel (as the Philippians did, ch. 1 27.) and true repentance, Mat. 3. 8. & 13. 23. Foh. 15. 16. and real holinels abiding in the hearts and lives of men, and effe&tu- ally working in them that believe it, 1. 55.10. Affs 5. 14. & 6. 7. & 12. 24. & 16. 17, 19, 20. 1 Thefſ. 2. 13. which the practical Religion of the Papiſts generally bears no proportion to, being contrary to that. » Which trom the firft receiving of the Goſpel, was found growing among the true Converts at Coloſſe, though it ſhould ieem falſe Teachers crept in to choke the good fruit with their Tares. { However they who had real experience of the grace of God , and the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt, Pal. 3+ 8. did hold bringing forth fruit in old Age, Pſa}. 92. 14.
7 As ye alſolearned of * Epaphras *, our dear fel- low-ſervant #, who is for you a faithful miniſter of
Chriſt w.
t To maintain the truth it d/4 much concern them to have a Zood opinion of him, who was an eminent inſtrument in commu- nicating to them, and therefore Par! doth here very opportunely commend Epaphras in oppoſition to thoſe falſe Teachers, who like- ly might infinuate ſomewhat to his diſparagement. u The reſpet they bare, and relation he ſtood in to them, being dearly beloved of him for his Sincerity in promulging the Goſpelz and being engaged with them in the ſervice of the ſame Maſter, chap. 4. 7+ Rev. 6. 11, 12. w His office which he diſcharged with fidelity and atfe&tion unto them. He did with all honeſty and integrity as be- came one entruſted by his Maſter Chriſt, diſcharge what was in- cumbent on him for their good, c. 4. 13. Foh. 12. 26, 1 Cor. 4» 1, 2+ Fph. 4. 12. 1 Tim. 4. 6. Heb. 13. 17.
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$8 Who alſo declared unto us x your love in the ſpirit y.