COLOSSTANS
original Integrity, they necded not to be inveſted with that they never loit; and Devils cannot be' ranked among New Creatures, neither can wicked Souls, Mat. 25. 41. Rev. 22. 15. neither are there new and old orders of Angels ; © that the do- minion Chritt 15 here (as elſewhere) aſflerted as Founder of, is the whole, not only new Creation, Rev. 5. 13:
things conlilt m.
I To obviate all exceptions to what he had ſaid before, the Apoſtle doth expreſly affert (what was implied before) Chriſt's pre-exiftence to all the things that were created, and therefore that he himſelf was not made, but eternally becotten, and ſo did exiſt, and was actually before all Creatures in cauſality, digni- ty and time; which proves his eternity (conſonant to other >CIIPEUres, Prove 8. 22. Jja. 44. 6+ Mic. 5. 2, fokn 1.1, & 17+ 5e KV. 1. 3, Ll, 17. & 22. 13.) becauſe before all things there was nothing but proper eternity, P/2l; go. 22 m Then follows this turther argument of Chriſt's excellency and perfe&tion, that he 15 not only the Creator or Founder, but likewiſe the Supporter or Upholder of all things whatſoever are created, yea even of the moſt excellent and uleful of them, who in him do live and move, Acts 17. 23. Heb. 1. 2. he being the conſervant as well procreant cauſe of the Heavens and Farth, with all things therein, becauſe in reſpe& of God, *tis the ſame action which is continued in converſation and providence which was in crea- tion, not breaking off the ſame influence which was exerted in producing them out of nothing, into being, Iſt. 46+ 4» Fobn 5. 19.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church »* who is the beginning o , the firſt-born from the
dezd p, that - in all things he might have the pre- CMINENCE 4.
2 Having ſpoken of Chrift in reference to the Creatures in general, or old Creation, ſhewing how he is the Creator, Pre- ſerver and Governor thereot, the Apoſtle doth here ſpeak ot him with a ſpecial reference to his Church, or the New-creation, whereof he ſhews here (as elſewhere, ſee on Eph. 1. 22, 23- with 4. 15. & 5. 23.) that he is the Head and Governour, his choſen and called being tne proper Subjects of his ſpecial King- dom, the choice Body, unto which he doth more peculiarly relate, v. 24. for the guiding and governing of it, he being that to it which the Head is to the natural Body, and more eſpe- cially in the two former reſpetts. (1) Of «heir union to God which Was chiefly deſigned and expreſſed in thoſ> words, who #s the begining. 0 1. e. The firſt foundation or principle of their union to God, whereupon the firſt corner Stone of the Churches happineſs is laid, he being the beginning of the ſecond Creation, as of the firſt, Kev. 3.14. And, (2) Of their reſtoration from im and death, being brought into that firft deiigned happineſs, which is the great intendmeat of that union, as appears from the following Expretſion. p The firſt-born from the dead, in a ſpecial diftinction from the dead, here too of rhe Creature, v. 15. The Apoſtle doth not Tautologize, but what he ſpoke of Chrift there with reſpett to the Creature, he doth here ſpeak of him with reſpect to his Church, as 1 Cor. 15. 20, 23. Rev. 1. 5. by the particle from is implied not only that he was hefore the dead, but that he was numbred among the dead in reſyet of that na- ture, wherein he was once dead; from which he was demon- ſtrated to be fuſt-born; his Reſurrettion with a glorious Body, (Phil. 3. 21.) being a kind of new-birth, whereby upon the re- union of his holy Soul and Body he was born from th? womb of the grave, the Head in regard of the Members : Reſurrection is called a Regeneration, Mar. 19. 28. and as there is a gracious Reſurrefion of the Soul upon effectual calling in converiion, ſo there is a glorious regeneration of the Body in the Reiurrettion, Litke 20+ 36+ in contradiſtintion to v. 34. Chriſt is the f»ſt- born of thele, in reference to God, As 26. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 20, 23 as the frſt fruits, or firft Ear of this bleſſed Harveſt, that was carried up into the Santtuary, and offered in due ſeaſon to the eternal Father, until the xeft do become ripe; and in reference to the dead, 7. e. in the Lord, 1-Cor. 15. 18. 1 Theſſ, 4. 14+ Reve 14+ 13. from whom he fſt roſe in regard of time fully and perfectly; and of whom , in regard of dignity and dominion, Pſal. $9. 27. Gal. 4. 1. he is chief, and Lord, (hath the pre- eminence as it follows) and is firft in regard of C:uſaliry of thoſe dead in him, ſtanding in relation to him their Head, Rom. 11. 15. With 1 Cor. 15, 20. Who ſhall be perfealy raiſed by virtue of his Reſurreftion. And however it be ſaid both in the Old and New Teftament, ſome were before raiſed: yet he was the cauſe of his own Reſurre&ion, as none others were, or can be. He properly roſe, and that by his own power, Pſal.1 10. 7. Fokn 10. 17, 18. others were and will be raiſed by his: in regard of the ſort and kind of Reſurrection, he it was firft which was not imperfe& as others, or Zazarzs who was raiſed , but to return to his former ſtate of Mortality ; but perfed&, Chriſt roſe to die no more, Kom. 6. 9. Heb. 9. 28, he was the firſt that roſe as a publick Perſon, Head 'of his Church, the ſe- cond Adam, repreſenting all his Members, 1 Cor. 15. 21, 22. who are raiſed together with him ſpiritually, virtually and repreſentatively, Eph. 2. 6. 1 Pet. 3. 21. thoſe attually rat- ſed before in another ſort were like {ingular kars of Corn , by occaſion more timely gathered for a ſpzcial inftance of Di- vine Power, but Chrift was the firſt that ever roſe in the na- ture and quality of the firſt fruits duly gathered, to ſanQity and conſecrate the whole Harveſt of the dead in him, who ſhall one day be raiſed to a conformity unto him , Y+::. 3« 21. The JSocinians from this Metaphorical Expreſſion ot Chriſt's being the firfl-bory from the dad , and fetching in that Taiſage VACIC it }S iro! arg iy Sor , this 137
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COLOS
32. do oppole Chrift's natural